Wyoming’s Game and Fish Commission just made online hunter’s safety/ed courses an option with a split vote to acknowledge hunter education certifications via online programs. However, this will only be for hunters 18 years old and older. So my kids will still be required to take in-person courses when the time comes.
Personally I applaud our Game and Fish Commission for making this move. Over 30 states already accept online hunter education course certification and I believe it streamlines the process for adults who want to get into hunting. At the same time I understand the concerns about firearm safety in the field but making hunting more accessible is a great way to ensure the future of this grand tradition and the cornerstone of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.
I remember when my wife wanted to get into hunting while we were still only dating. She enrolled in a local course taught by certified instructors at the local Game and Fish field office. She was the only adult in the class, which wasn’t a big deal for her but having the ability to take an online course would have been a better option. An advantage for her was that she had me to guide and instruct her in the tenets of firearm safety, game laws and hunting etiquette, things that not all new hunters have at their disposal, more’s the pity. However, with online learning increasing at an exponential rate, why not allow hunter education certification to be done in one’s spare time, at home?
Perhaps it’s just my disdain for government overreach but I see the loosening of restrictions, in most cases, as a good thing. Afterall, we live in the land of the free and while that freedom comes with great responsibility, it should also be exercised to the fullest extent.
Thank you Wyoming Game and Fish Commissioners for making online adult hunter education certification a reality.
