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Local Alabama Hunter Education
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Local Alabama Hunter Education Certification Course

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Everyone in Alabama who was born after Aug. 1, 1977 must take our state approved certification course to be able to purchase a hunting license. As a matter of fact all fish and wildlife services in all the states require some form of certification. Currently there are two ways to accomplish this, online and through a local hunter education course (traditional class) conducted by volunteer teachers. Of the two, we believe that the human taught course delivers the best bang for the buck, especially when you factor in that it is totally free. All materials and instruction comes with no charge.

In Alabama, human powered hunter safety instruction has been delivered to thousands of folks starting as far back as 1973. As of this writing there are over 700 active teachers around the state, and many belong to our AHEA organization which is a homespun autonomous effort that works closely with but is not operated by our Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. AHEA is short for Alabama Hunter Education Association and you are on our website now. We receive no pay or remuneration whatever for our service and our only perk is to see our students graduate and have confidence that they have been taught to the best of our abilities to be honest, ethical, and safe hunters.

The GREAT news is that we know for a fact that because of our teaching work and hunter certification over the years hunting accidents are down across the entire state of Alabama. More folks are getting injured falling out of their tree stands than in firearms mishaps. (We are working to reduce that with our hands on tree stand safety instruction!) We know this because we get a yearly statistical breakdown which shows this. What we don’t know is how many firearms accidents outside of hunting season that we have helped to prevent. We’re clearly in the “knowledge is power” crowd when it comes to gun and firearms issues.

Becoming An Instructor

To become an Alabama state certified hunter instructor so that you can actually teach our official hunter education program one must take and pass the regular certification course, teach at least three classes, and then take the instructor test. In the meantime all volunteers are thoroughly background checked by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to make sure we are who we say we are. That way, you the student can be confident in your instructor’s honesty and integrity.

We make no bones about it. We firmly believe that our human powered hunter safety education courses delivers the most complete educational experience for the student. One reason is that the mandatory minimum time we’ll spend together is eight hours. We get to know each other and the instructor is able to cater to the individual students. For example instructors thrill when hands shoot up in class!

While all instructors teach out of the same generous and fact filled book, class structure differs from area to area. Sometimes classes are split into two weeknights and a Saturday morning. Sometimes the whole class is done in a single Saturday. When and how the class is conducted is up to the instructors who know the local area.

How Classes Happen

So how do the hunter safety courses come about? Well, usually one instructor chooses a time, passes it along to the Department of Conservation, which makes the dates available to the public. Most often in each county there are clusters of volunteers who work together to teach a fun and instructive class for the students. They will split up the chapters in the book provided by the state and take turns. Many times the instructors will choose chapters according to their interests and experience. For example, Jack may be a whiz with black powder and Jenny may be an old pro first aid.

The result for you, the student, is that many times you get not only the benefit of the excellent (and free) training manual, but also first hand knowledge from those who know. My wife sums it up thusly. If you decide to learn how to safely jump from an airplane, who would you rather be your instructor? Someone who has only read about it or a person who has actually jumped a few times? With our local courses you get experienced teachers!

What to expect in and out of class

When class begins after the introductions the first instructor will teach a chapter from the book you have before you. The course will be taught by chapters of our book, and not necessarily in order. Many times a Conservation officer will also drop by and he may teach from the manual, or just give a general talk about his job. We all learn things from these wonderful guys, students and instructors alike. More, it is the student’s opportunity to ask questions that they may have been wondering about. The officers can and will quote chapter and verse about what is legal and what is not. We all look forward to having them to class!

Particularly if the class is split into multiple days it is a wise thing to read over the chapters as they are presented. Homework, if you will. The book itself is a very valuable resource and something you’ll want to keep on your bookshelf. Hunting and firearm safety is not rocket science, it’s just good old fashioned common sense. The neat thing about our local courses is that even old timers will learn new things, and in many cases be reminded of old things they have forgotten.

More Than Hitting The Books!

You WILL get to handle all sorts of firearms during the course. Every weapon you are likely to use or come in contact with will be on display for you to see. Chances are that you’ll get to demonstrate the safe use of them too. It’s fun! Some courses even have live fire venues. We’ll also have lots of other equipment available. My partner here locally is the guru of tree stands. Our students get to suit up and show that they can safely enter and exit. That way, they do not do unsafe things that will cause them to fall on their heads later as our instruction kicks in and they make wise choices.

On the last day, or at the end of the day key areas of the book will be reviewed and then you’ll take the test. It is very important to keep in mind that volunteers are in the business of passing students, not failing them. Also, students with handicaps or reading disabilities are given individual help. This has always been a part of our local class training.

Once you pass the test you’ll be issued a very special card that entitles you to go get that hunting license and join with the thousands of other safe hunters that have made the grade. At that point you’ll be a certified hunter! While our time as teacher and student is short, you’ll carry the lessons learned with you for a lifetime. It is is always a profound pleasure when years later a student meets their hunter safety instructor somewhere and thanks them.

Practical Field Technology

One thing to note. While I stress the hunting safety aspect of our local hunter safety course, it teaches many other things. Equal to woods safety will be your firearms safety training. It begins with stressing the importance of keeping the firearm pointed in a safe direction. You’ll also learn things like elementary first aid, proper use of tree stands, how to find your way back, and the importance of letting someone know where you are. Personally, I always stress having a lighter in the pocket…just in case.

Best of all, our local hunter safety courses are steeped in hunter ethics, for we know all the mechanical training in the world is useless unless the student practices ethics. Ethics is what a hunter does when no one is watching. This aspect alone makes the local hunter education class a no-brainer, in our opinion. Person to person training gives that hard to define “something extra” that you can’t get from an LCD screen.

For Best Experience Always Choose LOCAL

So, we of the Alabama Hunter Education Association hope that you’ll choose local. It’s not as convenient as working from a tablet on the couch, but it’s a darn sight more fun and productive. What we’ll teach you about safely pursuing the wonderful sport of hunting and sporting firearms will stick with you for a lifetime. All we ask is that you come, participate, and have ALL the fun with us. We even furnish the pencils! It’s all free!


Curated National Hunter Safety Course
News Of Interest!

Random Fired Up
Hunter Safety Courses from around the nation. Great minds think alike! What the other guys are up to.


 

Calhoun County Alabama

Why it pays to go local with a Traditional Hunter Safety Certification Course in Calhoun County Alabama. Great advice for your Alabama locale too!


Teaching kids about safe hunting | KIMT 3

Source: http://kimt.com/
 

Instructors with the Franklin County Conservation wrapped up yet another one of their hunting safety courses on Saturday. Dozens of kids signed up for the course in an effort to learn more about hunting, survival skills, and …

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Nature Matters: Waterfowl Hunting Safety Camp …

Source:
http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/news/local/80505752.html

While conservation officers look for hunters breaking the rules, conservation clubs want to teach new hunters how to follow those rules. In this week’s Nature Matters, Dave Anderson tells us about a camp that teaches safe and …

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Kansas Has Record Year for Hunting Safety – Ammoland.com

Source:
http://www.ammoland.com/

Rules of gun safety are just one of many lessons taught during Hunter Education courses in Kansas, and the program is a big reason hunting-related incidents in the state are at an all-time low. Since 1973, more than 500,000 …

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ODFW promoting hunter safety in Umpqua Valley – KPIC.com

Source: http://www.kpic.com/news/local

Hunters in the Umpqua Valley should also be thinking about safety, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has a hunter education program promoting safety for hunters under 18-years old.

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Hunting Safety | Moose FM 93.1

Source:
http://moosefm.com/chmts/news/

The Cochrane OPP is reminding hunters of safety practices now that hunting season is upon us. Back and rural roads will have hunters out, and the OPP and MNR will be working together to ensure safe and ethical hunting …

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Hunter Safety Course reaches milestone – Beauregard Daily News

Source:
http://news.google.com

Hunter Safety Course reaches milestoneBeauregard Daily NewsThe Beauregard Hunter Safety Course has reached a milestone, according to Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Joe Toler. BPSO Deputy Mike Halter, an International Hunter Education …

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Nearly One Hundred Take Hunter Education Course – 5newsonline.com

Source:
http://news.google.com

Nearly One Hundred Take Hunter Education Course5newsonline.comFORT SMITH (KFSM) — In preparation for bow season, nearly one hundred students took a hunter education course Saturday (Sept. 20) at the Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center. …

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Take hunter education before heading to field – LubbockOnline.com

Source:
http://news.google.com

Take hunter education before heading to fieldLubbockOnline.comAUSTIN — With
hunting season under way, don’t forget hunter’s education if you’re not yet
certified. With the option to take a hunters education course online, now
it’s easier than ever to …


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Don’t let this happen to you. Sign up for your local traditional hunter safety training course. If you’re an adult, do it with the children. It’s the most fun you can have for free!