Minnesota: Time to sign up for DNR hunter education class

Image via Wikipedia

Now is prime time to sign up for a Firearms Safety Hunter Education Class offered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), according to Capt. Mike Hammer, DNR Enforcement Division education program coordinator.

“Now is the time for people to register for a class if they want to hunt this fall and need to complete a Firearms Safety Hunter Education class to be eligible to hunt,” Hammer said. “There are lots of dates and locations around the state to choose from this spring.”

Classes are taught by DNR certified volunteers in their local communities, typically in the spring and early fall. To become certified, students attend both classroom and field instruction sessions. The course provides students with basic safe firearms handling skills, wildlife identification, outdoor skills, and responsibilities that accompany hunting and firearms use.

Find a class online, or call 651-296-6157 or toll-free 888-646-6367.

Related articles

• Minnesota DNR looking for safe and responsible hunter mentors
• Wisconsin: Register now for hunter education courses
• Snowmobile safety awareness week is Jan. 15-21
• Minnesota deer harvest declines 7 percent in 2011
• Indiana: Deer harvest down in 2011, but still 4th best

Minnesota DNR looking for safe and responsible hunter mentors

Image via Wikipedia

People who have paid attention to recent outdoors newspaper, magazine and television stories may have noticed pictures of beaming youths following a successful hunt. What’s often missing from the picture is the young hunter’s mentor who made such a successful experience possible.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is in need of additional mentors to serve as guides for its safety training programs, particularly the “All Day Range and Field Day” portion of the hunter firearms safety course.

“The time shared between a youngster and a mentor is invaluable,” said Capt. Mike Hammer, DNR Enforcement Division safety education coordinator. “There simply is no better way to introduce a young person to safe, ethical and responsible aspects of hunting than with the close supervision of an adult mentor.”

Mentors work for about five hours with a group of three to four students, ages 11-15, facilitating, mentoring and evaluating students as they complete hunter-based scenarios that include big game, small game and turkey hunting, as well as shoot/don’t shoot, tree stand safety, outdoor survival, firearms transportation, common firearm action types, blaze orange and more.

Knowledge of various hunting activities and knowledge of the principles of safe, responsible and ethical hunting are required. Mentors also need to understand basic principles of mentorship and facilitation of “Range and Field Day” scenarios taught at instructor certification training sessions. Learn moreabout mentoring.

Mentor applicants must be 18 years or older and pass a background check. Prior to attending an instructor training session, applicants must complete instructor prerequisites.

Certification sessions are conducted by DNR trainers when and where there is a need.

People are encouraged to complete the instructor prerequisites as soon as possible, so they will be prepared when a convenient training session is offered.

More information is available by contacting the DNR Enforcement Education Program staff at Camp Ripley,15011 Highway 115, Little Falls, MN 56345. People also can call 800-366-8917 or send an email toenforcement.education@state.mn.us.

Related articles

• IOWA: Safe Hunting Year - For Most (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Michigan Workgroup Presents Recommendations to NRC for Mentored Youth Hunting (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Minnesota's Top 10 most common firearms deer season hunting violations (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Enjoy hunting? Then share the fun with someone new (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Enjoy hunting? Then share the fun with someone new (family-outdoors.blogspot.com)