West Virginia Wildlife from Eyewitness News

Hunters Education Class

Teaching kids about hunting, before they hit the woods.

August 23, 2006
Reporter: Patrick McMurtry
Videographer: Brad Rice

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It's that time of year again...Time to start getting ready for the upcomming hunting seasons. As always, the DNR wants to emphasize safety in the woods, and that safety starts in the classroom with the Hunter Education Classes.

Jerry Paine DNR Conservation Officer says:
"It's a state law, anyone born after 1975 has to take a hunter education class before they can participate in hunting-that's the legal part of it. the good part of it, in addition to that, they are going to get a complete overview of safety regs, point the firearm in a safe direction, treat the muzzle like it has a laser on the end of it and it's going to cut whatever it points at. There are a lot of things they'll get in a formal class instruction that you as a parent might not remember to touch on."

That is key. Jerry says unless you're trained to teach hunter education, you'll likely forget to pass on potentially life saving information as you get your child ready to hunt. These classes make the woods safer for future generations of hutners as well.

Jerry Paine DNR Conservation Officer says:
"It's just like everything else, if you want to stop it, you've got to teach the kids, the kids that originally took it are adults, now they're kids are taking it and it really helps."

As hunting season approaches, the DNR's hunter's education classes are filling up. If you want to get your young hunter enrolled, you might want to act now.

Jerry Paine DNR Conservation Officer says:
"When fall rolls around, everyone thinks about hunting, classes fill up and the advantage to doing it in the summer time, the classes are 10 hours and the classes don't get over until 10 and by the time you get home and get the kids in bed, it's getting a little late-this is the time of the eyar you want to get your kids in the class."

Because before you know it, you'll want to get your kids in the woods.