Thursday, August 07, 2008
New apprentice license makes it easier to give hunting a tryout
Bill Cochran
Recent columns
It just got easier to introduce a friend to hunting, thanks to Virginia’s new apprentice hunting license.
Haven’t heard about it? You will.
The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has launched a blitz of information on the license. It is being mentioned in 1.3 million pieces of printed material going out to sportsmen, said Lee Walker, DGIF Information and Education Manager.
The license also is being highlighted on the DGIF Web site as HuntFishVA.com. The license will be played up big time -- and sold -- this weekend at the 25th annual Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show at the ShowPlace in Richmond.
Few, if any, DGIF ventures have been surrounded by more hype. The department wants the world to know about this new license.
“I think this is another example of our trying to be hunter-friendly,” said Bob Duncan, DGIF executive director.
The license looms big, because it just may be the last great hope of reversing the downward trend in hunting license sales, especially among young people.
What it does is allow a would-be hunter, young or old, to experience the sport before having to invest in a minimum of 10 hours of hunter education. And it can save that person some money, too.
“I can see where there would be a number of people that would just like to try deer hunting for a year or two to see if they enjoyed it,” said Matt Knox, DGIF deer biologist. “This has not been an option in the past with the hunter safety requirement.”
Hunters and wildlife officials nationwide have come to the conclusion there is a need to reduce barriers that keep people from giving hunting a try.
The biggest of these roadblocks in Virginia has been the requirement that would-be hunters complete a hunter education course before they can purchase their first hunting license.
Here’s where things get a bit tricky. While Virginia game officials want to open the door wider to new hunters, they don’t want to give the impression that they are going soft on hard-earned hunter-safety mandates.
This will be resolved by a requirement that the new recruit be under close supervision of a mentor who is a licensed hunters age 18 or above. National data reveals that this is the safest arrangements in hunting.
Add to that, said Knox, it also is one of the most enjoyable.
“It has been my experience that hunting with friends and family creates memories and stories that last a lifetime. I hope the apprentice license will do the same.”
At first glance, it can appear that the license is just for youngsters, but that is far from the case.
“I think folks need to be reminded that it is not limited to any one age group, or put another way, you are never too old to be introduced to the joys of hunting,” said Duncan.
Virginia is one of 27 states that recently reduced barriers for new hunters. This national movement is called Family Afields and is spearheaded by the National Wild Turkey Federation, the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance. In short, it has been a huge success with still more states expected to join the effort.
Some states that have introduced an apprentice license have seen a sharp increase in licenses sold to youth, as much as 10 percent to more than 100 percent.
It is difficult to estimate what sales will be in Virginia this year, said Ray Davis, a DGIF financial officer.
“I would estimate between 500 to1,000,” he said. “The state of the economy may adversely affect sales and some people may not get the word, although we are aggressively advertising every place we can think of.”
Sherry Crumley, DGIF board member from Buchanan, is optimistic it will work.
“Making it easier for anyone at any age to try hunting should help us to get new people into our sport at a reasonable cost and in a very safe way, accompanied by a licensed hunter,” said Crumley, who has been one of the major advocates of the apprentice license.
UPCOMING: Your questions answered on the new apprentice license. Send questions to Bill Cochran at xtrails@earthlink.net.
