Thursday, August 14, 2008
Your questions answered on the new apprentice hunting license
Bill Cochran
Recent columns
NOTE: In his most recent column, Bill Cochran covered basic information on Virginia’s new apprentice hunting license. Now here are his answers to your questions on the license
Q. I bought a hunting license way back when you didn’t have to take a hunter education course. I used it one year, and then quit hunting. I now want to get back into the sport. Can I re-enter via the new apprentice license?
A. No. If you’ve ever bought a basic hunting license, resident or non-resident, you are prohibited from purchasing the apprentice license. This is for first-time hunters.
Q. It seems to me one of the challenges of the apprentice license is lining up a would-be hunter with a licensed hunter. If the would-be hunter lives in a family of hunters or has friends that hunt, that may not be a problem. But what if that isn’t the case? What if you have a guy interested in hunting, but no one to take him? Are there provisions being made to help non-hunters link up with hunters?
A. I am not aware of any such effort, but you have raised an excellent ideal. Maybe hunting clubs can promote a team approach of getting hunter-recruits lined up with licensed hunters willing to be mentors. Lacking that, the apprentice license may not enjoy the kind of sales that advocates have hoped for.
Q. For years, the importance of hunter education has been pounded in our heads. Now along comes a new license you can get without taking hunter training. I think this is crazy idea and is going to result in a bunch of accidents. I don’t want to share the woods with people who have no safety training.
A. It can appear that the apprentice license goes soft on hard-earned hunter safety mandates. But be aware: an apprentice license holder must be accompanied and directly supervised by a hunter possessing a valid Virginia hunting license who is over the age of 18. National research has shown that mentored hunters are the safest in the woods.
Q. What is meant by “directly supervised?”
A. The law defines that as being in close visual and verbal contact so the licensed hunter immediately can assume control of the firearm of the apprentice hunter. The licensed hunter, for example, is not going to be able to leave the apprentice in one stand while he goes to hunt from another stand. The regulation calls for close contact between the apprentice hunter and his mentor.
Q. I couldn’t find anything in the brochure being handed out on the apprentice license as to how much it costs. What’s the big secret is? You said in your column the new license would be cheaper than a regular license. What’s it going to coast and when does it go on sale.
A. For a resident, the license costs $11 including the clerk fee. It is valid for two years. The cost for nonresidents is $21. For comparison, a regular resident hunting license is $18 and is good for one year, so the savings is obvious. The savings is even greater for nonresidents. A nonresident hunting license is $86 and is valid for a year. The apprentice licenses has been on sale since last month.
Q. Does the apprentice license cover everything, or do you still have to buy a big game license, muzzleloading license, archery license and the like?
A. Yes, you still have to purchase the add-on licenses, such as a big game license if you hunt turkeys, deer or bear; or a muzzleloading license if you hunt during the special muzzleloading season or a bow license and/or a crossbow license if you hunt during the archery season or a national forest stamp is you hunt national forest property. There is no price break on these for an apprentice license holder.
Q. How many times can an apprentice license be renewed?
A. None. It is good for two years, and after that you must purchase a regular license to continue hunting. That means you will have to successfully complete hunter education training to meet the requirement of purchasing a regular license. Game officials hope that once someone gives hunting a try with an apprentice license he or she will be hooked on the sport and will be anxious to join the ranks of established hunters.
Q. Is this thing just for kids?
A. No. It is available to adults as well. As for youth, I recommend they go ahead and take the hunter education course and buy a regular license. They can save money that way, not to mention getting a jumpstart on their hunter training. A youngster under 16 can purchase a junior combination hunting license for $16, and that includes a basic hunting license, a big game license, an archery license, a crossbow license and a muzzleloading license. That is the best bargain in town.
