| Hunting is an avid pastime enjoyed all over the | | | | from the different hunting seasons on to first-aid. |
| world. Once it was used as a means of providing | | | | They also teach rudimentary gun safety and |
| the family with fresh meat but has since become | | | | what type of clothing is needed for each season. |
| more of a sport than anything else. There are | | | | Some classes can instruct students on how to |
| some groups that are vehemently opposed to | | | | field dress or track an injured animal. Typically |
| hunting, stating cruelty to animals. In some parts | | | | hunter education classes are offered to middle |
| of the world, overcrowding and a lack of food | | | | school children before they reach the age of being |
| causes greater cruelty by starvation. | | | | able to hunt by themselves or with an adult. |
| Man has hunted since the beginnings of time and | | | | Safety is the most important aspect of these |
| will continue to do so. Whether or not you are | | | | classes. |
| opposed to hunting, it remains an avid sport for | | | | What are game seasons? |
| many people that enjoy nature and the predatory | | | | Game seasons are the weeks of a year that a |
| skills honed by hunting. If you are a beginning | | | | certain animal is allowed to be hunted. Most game |
| hunter, or are interested in learning some of the | | | | seasons have a limited number of kills that are |
| general basics of the sport, this article will cover | | | | allowed and this limit can also vary by type. |
| some of the particular when it comes to hunting. | | | | Duck hunting is a sport in which you not only |
| Do I have to have a license? | | | | have to have the prowess to shoot and kill a |
| In most cases, yes you must have a hunting | | | | duck, but you must also identify the duck before |
| license. Each hunting license is specific to the type | | | | shooting. Game seasons have strict rules on |
| of game you are going after. You cannot go duck | | | | bagging and tagging the animal so it is imperative |
| hunting if you only have a deer hunting permit. | | | | to know your prey before you journey out into |
| The end result will be a very heavy fine. There | | | | the field, marshland or woods. |
| are some exceptions to having a license. Some | | | | What laws are associated with hunting? |
| states have annual days that are allotted for | | | | There are numerous laws associated with hunting. |
| people to be able to hunt without having a license. | | | | The first is the requirement is a hunting license. |
| Please make sure and check to find out when | | | | Other laws include what time of year the season |
| these "free" days are. | | | | begins, when it ends and what the limitations on |
| Also, most states require a hunter's education | | | | killing game are. |
| course in order to buy a license. The courses not | | | | Remember: it is important to know your state's |
| only teach you gun safety but also give you | | | | laws or the state laws in which you will be hunting. |
| some education on how to hunt. These courses | | | | Failure to read the rules will not help you if you |
| can make the difference between life and death. | | | | are caught by a Fish and Game officer. |
| The Department of the Interior is the one that is | | | | Should I mount my trophy? |
| responsible for the overall regulation of all individual | | | | Most hunters elect to mount trophies from their |
| states Department of Natural Resource or U.S. | | | | kills that they are proud of. Most often you will |
| Game and Fish Department both of which | | | | see bucks (male deer) that sport many points on |
| regulate hunting seasons and hunting licenses. | | | | their racks. Points on a buck are the little horns |
| There are some sports that have a limit on the | | | | that branch off from the main set of horns rising |
| number of license that can be purchased in a | | | | from their skull. |
| particular season. The reason for this is to protect | | | | Whether or not you elect to mount a trophy kill is |
| the numbers of animal bagged and also apply to | | | | completely up to you. You do have to decide |
| fishing as well. | | | | rather quickly and the expense can be quite a lot |
| What material is covered during hunter education | | | | not to mention the amount of time you will have |
| classes? | | | | to wait to have the trophy returned to you. |
| Hunter education classes cover topics ranging | | | | |