Hunter's Education from a Homeschooling Perspective

It is funny how this delight-directed learning approach can jump out at you from the most unexpected places. Reagan has decided that after years of pursuing shooting sports at the range (both archery and rifle), she is wanting to make the next step into hunting. Pennsylvania Game Commission offers free 10.5 hunter's education classes throughout the summer. Since it has been almost 30 years since I took it myself, I decided I would tag along for a refresher so we can now hunt as a family.

Last night was our first 3-hour session, and I was surprised to find over fifty people in attendance. We were informed that there will be a 65 question test at the end of the course on Saturday, and we needed to pay attention and take notes in order to pass. Without passing, there will be no licensing.

I opened up the wonderful materials they provided each of us with and my mind went right into homeschooling mode. The wealth of information here, that these guys were just flying through without much more than a cursory mention was unnerving! As I scribbled notes away in the margins, Reagan recognized the crazed look in my face..."You are going to make this a unit study , aren't you?" Then she gave me a big knowing smile.

I had to admit...how could I NOT take this information and run with it? Just in just the first four chapters we studied last night, we were introduced to the following topics:

• hunter/trapper education goals
• funding of education programs, the wildlife restoration act, and excise taxation.
• hunter responsibility and ethics, including public image and relations, and resource conservation
• firearm safety, parts of the firearm and various actions of different types, safety mechanisms and sights.
• differences between shotguns and rifles including the math and physics behind various bores, calibers, and gauges
• basic parts of ammunition, including the chemistry behind ignition and firing .
• the physics in the relationship between choke, distance and shot pattern, and general firearm range.
• the mechanics of a working firearm
• timeline history of firearms
• storing, transporting, and cleaning of firearms
• wildlife conservation and habitat management; carrying capacity of land and various control practices
• wildlife identification, including large mammals, small mammals, upland birds, waterfowl, and rare,threatened and endangered species.

Information overload, as you can imagine!!! As they passed through the material at break-neck speed, I am imagine all the rabbit trails we will follow after the class is over. Physics experiments we can do at the range, hands-on cleaning and identification of firearm parts, and a visit to an uncle who fills his own shotgun shells. Maybe a trip to a firearm museum, and some research on gun laws and taxation. And that is before we get into any of the wildlife identification and conservation activities!

Reagan was completly excited about all these ideas, and wants to run with them for the rest of the summer, along with math, even after the class is over. We will be spending more and more time in the woods, familiarizing ourselves with our new hunting spot. We'll be going to the range as well, to ensure that our shots are clean and will not leave any wounded animals suffering. She was fascinated with the need to help control the exploding population of snow geese, and is trying to hook up with a friend whose father is an avid waterfowl hunter...looking forward to the experience of getting out there with the dogs. She was even mentioning going online to look for wild-game recipes to try.

Her excitement is contageous. As I looked ahead in the book, I realize there are seven more chapters, chock full of rabbit trails for us to find. Am I morbidly ironic in realizing that at the end of one of these we may actually eat the rabbit in a stew?