Master Hunter materials have arrived, now what?

This is the first of a two-part series on materials of study for the Master Hunter program.

This is the first of a two-part series on materials of study for the Master Hunter program.

OK, I've applied for the Master Hunter program and it appears I'm referred to as a Master Hunter applicant.

The first business, according to the information letter, is to use the new Master Hunter Web site as the primary source for information about the program. So I checked out the site.

Indeed, it is a wealth of information and a way for the Fish and Wildlife Department's Master Hunter program chiefs to stay in contact with and provide the latest news to Master Hunters and applicants.

The first sheet also says an applicant may access the Hunter Education Student Manual online at the site by going to a specified Web site and then clicking on Hunter Education Online in the upper right hand corner.

Well, at first glance, I couldn't find such a term, but realized the entire right hand side of the page contains all of the chapters of the manual, or so it appears. There are 15 chapters, which means lots to study.

This is an important document because the entire contents of the manual is now a part of the study curricula, which means any part of it may be on the test.

In the package there is a hunter shooting proficiency certification. The requirement for rifle shooters is to shoot a minimum qualifying score of 60 percent off-hand at 50 yards and 80 percent off a rest at 100 yards on a B-3 target. Four such targets are included. I can't imagine any trouble with this part of the program, but will make copies of the targets to practice a bit.

It's not the bench shooting I'm a bit concerned about, but I am getting a bit older and the off-hand shooting isn't my strong position.

Perhaps I'll get straight shooter Thomas Stephens to give me some instruction, as he is a steady shot and seldom uses support. An unrelated person must witness the shooting proficiency and the document must be notarized.

The next page is a study guide, which outlines the areas to study. The first is ethics, composing 25 percent of the test. This breaks down to 5 percent on the history of ethical standards, 5 percent on the hunter's role in society, 8 percent of the hunter's responsibility to wildlife, 5 percent on responsibility to landowners, public, Fish and Wildlife and other hunters, and 2 percent on the CORT program.

The second area of study contains 20 percent of the test questions, including 15 percent on the beneficial laws and regulations and 5 percent on administration.

Wildlife and habitat make up 10 percent each of the test. Politics and the demographics of hunting contribute 15 percent of the test, including 5 percent on laws and legislation, 5 percent on organizations and their stated missions and 5 percent on hunting demographics and economics.

Woodsmanship makes up 10 percent of the exam, including 2 percent on leave no trace, 5 percent on route finding and wilderness navigation and 3 percent on survival and first aid.

The last 10 percent is about firearms and technology, including 4 percent about safety and accident data and 6 percent about operation of firearms, handling and shooting.

Wow, what have I gotten myself into?

The next page of materials is the master hunter proof of service. Each applicant is required to complete and document a minimum of 20 hours of voluntary service in approved project activities. An example would be to help with a goose banding operation.

This is an excellent element of the program.

All hunters should consider contributing as many hours of volunteer service as possible to the department every year. Helping to gut, skin and deliver deer and other big game animals to the butcher is another example of volunteer work suitable for the program.

An official, such as the biologist in charge when banding geese or an enforcement officer when working on confiscated big game animals, must certify the work.

Other examples of volunteer work include wildlife habitat improvement projects, support of Fish and Wildlife initiatives and partnerships, hunter education instruction and master hunter administrative support.

The object of the volunteer work is to begin and then sustain a lifetime of service. A great objective and one for which we all should strive.

Next week: A review of the remaining Master Hunter Program material.