Profieciency Test For Bear ?

[BEA]

Here's one that may start a healthy debate...

Would anyone support mandatory ( yearly) testing before a bear tag was issued to a hunter?

I would.

I've heard one too dang many stories of unrecovered bears in the last couple years.

[POINTY STICKS]

I'll bite. Are you asking this just for bow hunters, or all hunters? Are you asking to test the shooter or the gear or both. I think that there is a big difference between 3d and the real thing. But I also wonder if certain types of broadheads are more likely to fail and cause lost or non-recovered animals. I know that you know first hand the difficulties involved in taking a bear. I wonder if some of these losses could be corrected if the gear standard were set. Examples of what I mean would be such things like; minimum weight of arrow, disallowing some types of broad heads minimal draw weights and fps of cast. If it was made that you had to check the fps and penetration of the arrow before allowed to hunt bear would it help or would it be too much to enforce these things.

[BEA]

hhhmmm ..... all hunters I spose.


Most folks gear should be ok because of the law etc and the fact bowhunters actually have to pass a test in order to get thier certificate.

I doubt if it would work...but I do hear aot about unrecovered bears and I think the problem should be addressed one way or another....you know address the problem before someone else may...

[huntwisely]

I whole heartedly agree, but why stop at nears. Every year the number of unrecovered deer seems to be increasing too.

If I have to show a rudimentary ability with a bow to get a bowhunting card, why don't folks have to do the same for the firearm hunting card ?

When dad got a moose license a number of years ago, they had to pass a shooting test. About 60 per cent failed the day we were there. The test was to hit a 2 foot squre target, offhand, 2 shots out of 3, AT 50 YARDS.

I'm all for mandatory shhoting tests for all hunters.

Sometime over the summer have several testing days at gun clubs and local ranges. Give the guy a chance to ensure his scope or sights are in line or a couple of warm up shots with a bow and then have him shoot for the right to buy a license.

I know some one will argue - "It will result in fewer hunters" - Maybe it will for a bit, but the result will be a larger percentage of the hunters will be able to shoot their weapon of choice.

[POINTY STICKS]

What about also having to do a tracking course and pass it. Would that help at all? Bowhunters are given a slight run down on tracking, but rifle hunters are they? That alone could help lower the amount of lost critters just by increasing the ability to find them. The hardest thing to do is folow a blood trail thats not very visable in the dark or rain. I know that I'm not going to attempt to hunt bear for the first time or ant time with out having somebody around who knows what the deal is.

[alpo]

if it's ever req'd it should be req'd for all hunters, not just bear & not just big game.
I know it would eliminate alot of these crack shot women who get their deer at dawn on the first day every year, (wink wink), and definitely think that it would greatly reduce the amount of hunters, or atleast tags sold.
And it would further burden the DNR, or whoever had to administrate the testing, each year,
and force them to be present at the ranges on several predescribed days, where they would be very busy, but not doing even as much enforcment as they are now (which everyone says is not enough) AND... it would totally cut out all those folks who have not registered their guns, many folks are not even gonna get that card thingy till next year when they cannot get their tags with out it.
And BEA, I am pretty sure it was you, who gave me a strange look when i took the bowhunters course , but had no bow for the proficiancy test. I was pretty much taking it on a whim, with a freind who was really gung ho & wanted some company.......and i did not need as many arrows as some others who were there either.

[BEA]

And BEA, I am pretty sure it was you, who gave me a strange look when i took the bowhunters course



not me bud.......

[alpo]

on a similar note, when i inqured to a local yocal who un-officailly guides moose hunters in C.B., .. among his list of requirements for him to take , or accompany me, was that I go to the range a few times with him so he could see if/how serious I was.
Have you ever been in a position where you would demand more from a client BEA , as in proficiency testing, or be willing refuse a guy because you doubted his skills, ethics or judgement ?

[alpo]

ok, your posted pic's are all i was really going by, as i do not actually remember who was teaching the course, all us white guys look alike anyways..

[BEA]

I would ( and have) refused to take certain folks before.....but in all honesty....I have never refused because of shooting ability.... ( it was more the ethics end of it)

Many hunting camps are now going to a zero tolerence wounding policy...ie you draw blood and after a reasonable time/effort in tracking......and the critter is not found... your done ! I like that idea and if I ever go into this guiding thing in a bigger way I'll have a similar rule.

I know a fellow eho has this at his camp and he tells me, since he implemented this, his wounding rate has dropped. He figures because the hunters are not just blasting/flinging away , rather, they are waiting for the perfect opportunity ( like it should be).

[POINTY STICKS]

All good points guys. What I was getting at earlier in this thread about gear, is that I was told by someboby whom I respect greatly with his archery skills, that once in Nfld moose hunting their guide would inspect the broad heads and would refuse to take anybody using mechanical. Made the boys who used them switch to fixed, before going into the woods. I have never used them but there like everything else you only hear the bad things and thats what you have a tendency to remember.

[huntwisely]

Everybody is afraid of losing hunter numbers - WHY ??

I realize that we need a strong voice to keep what we have, but the ones that would drop out probably aren't adding any weight to the voice we have now. Might give the herd a chance to recover.

It wouldn't have to be DNR to be the testers. It could be the guys teaching the course now .

[camel]

I think that shooting tests should be done for both bow and gun when a hunter takes his saftey courses.After that maybe maybe not?If they had them i would go and have no problems going.I do think testing every couple years would be good and maybe make a fe w more hunters hit the range more often and become better shots.Resulting in less lost and wounded animals.

I do have to ask why shouldn't mechanicals be used on bears?

[jmac]

I think the tests would be a great idea, I know too many hunters out there every year that just take their gun or bow out the closet and start hunting never knowing if it's on or not. Thats just careless and shows little respect for your quarry.