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Show New Hunter Training Program Being Studied Utah's hunter education programs have always been trend setters among the states. At the annual meeting of the Western States Association Assoc-iation of Hunter Safety Coordinators Coor-dinators held recently in Portland, Port-land, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' hunter education coordinator, Lee Robertson, discussed a proposed "Dual Certification Hunter Education Educat-ion Program." If adopted, the new dual certification program would divide the subject matter heretofore taught in one series ser-ies of classes into two phases or programs. Phase I would be the junior program and would instruct students in the basic hunter education subjects sub-jects beginning at age 11. Phase II is called the "Advanced "Advan-ced Hunter Education" program prog-ram or the senior program. Its main objectives would provide pro-vide additional instruction in big game hunting and advanced advanc-ed outdoor preparation. . The new instruction plan would call for additional training train-ing for both instructors and students, as well as a new hunter education handbook. Robertson said, n "Although the dual certification program will require more training and additional commitments on the part of instructors and students, we feel the future of safe, ethical hunters afield is the main ingredient of the discussion We don't allow people to drive a car without first proving his or her ability to do so proficiently. We are planning to provide the mechanisms mech-anisms to properly train the hunters of the future." "We are planning to hold district instructor meetings between now and late summer sum-mer to present the new concept con-cept to our present force of instructors. We will also be soliciting their ideas on lesson material and subject matter." This proposal was brought to the attention of the public by Wildlife Resources Director Direc-tor Don Smith during his community forums last November Nov-ember and December. More public comment will be solicited solicit-ed before a final decision is made. Phase I Phase I, or basic hunter education, would encompass essentially the same curriculum curricul-um as the current education program. It would not be as comprehensive. Youngsters could sign up for Phase I beginning at age 11 in preparation prepar-ation for obtaining the small game license at age 12. Hunter ethics, good sportsmanship sports-manship afield, small game conservation and management, manage-ment, small game hunting and identification, waterfowl identification iden-tification (usually their first hunt), some survival training, water safety and firearms instruction with both shotgun and .22 caliber rifles will be included in the Phase I course. Phase II Phase H, or the advanced hunter education, will take the young hunter from small game interests to big game hunting and safety. The program pro-gram will cover such topics as big game management and conservation, big game identification, identi-fication, advanced waterfowl identification, water safety, wilderness survival and first aid. In addition, hunters will be educated in the use of weapons used in hunting big game animals. Young hunters will be eligible elig-ible to sign up for Phase II classes at age 15, which will give them one year to prepare for their big game license. One of the most significant changes in the new system will be the handling and proficiency tests which will be required to plass Phase II. Each student will be required to handle and fire high-powered rifles, handguns, muzzle-loaders muzzle-loaders and archery equipment equip-ment to receive his certificate. Field tests will give instructors instruct-ors the opportunity to evaluate evalu-ate each student's knowledge and attitude around the weapons. wea-pons. This will be accomplished accomplish-ed by means of a field test conducted among targets of various animal and man shapes. The student will be required to identify each shape and may correctly raise an unloaded weapon to shooting shoot-ing position only if the shape is a legal target if he or she is to pass the exam. The student's stud-ent's actions will also be tested in life-like situations such as crossing streams and fences, etc. Robertson said the new program will increase demand for target ranges throughout the state and that the division's divis-ion's master plan has already begun analyzing existing ranges ran-ges and population densities to determine priorities for new facilities. Ranges will be built as soon as federal aid monies for hunter education are made available. |