Confidence is Born: Success in the Online Hunter’s Safety Course

Do you know a young child interested in hunting but isn’t sure where to start? There are two main ways you can approach this in Michigan. The first is through a mentor or apprentice relationship and hunting license purchases. There are some benefits to this because you can help a young hunter discover the tradition in many engaging and direct ways as long as you stay by their side. The state of Michigan allows youth to hunt as an apprentice for two years, but after that, they need to get their hunter’s safety certificate.

The second approach for older kids is to go through a Hunter’s Safety Course first. This is the way I started my four boys hunting, and it provides a strong foundation of knowledge. I also find it’s a good refresher for me, so that I don’t gloss over important details.

You can do this online or in person. Bayliee and I are taking the second approach through the online course. I’ve shared about our education journey in previous blog posts. Our first time cracking open the course was exciting, and we went through Units 1 and 2. Then we met again for Units 3-4 and Units 5-6.

Final Units of Online Hunter Safety:

Today was our last study session. We decided to power through the final four units: 7–10. It took us about 3 hours to go through this content. Unit 8 was about Preparation and Survival Skills, Unit 9 covered Understanding Wildlife, and Unit 10 is called Virtual Field Day. The online study guide is free to access and review.

At eleven years old, the course could be challenging at times for Bayliee because some of the content was presented in an audio format and her attention would wander at times. However, when videos were mixed into the learning, that helped keep her engaged in the education.

Gun Safety and Hands-On Learning:

I also added hands-on learning by pulling out an unloaded rifle and letting her hold it while we went over the different parts of the gun. It’s important to stress here that handling firearms should always be done under adult supervision, and the firearm should be checked multiple times to ensure it is unloaded and safe for handling. As an added precaution, I also make my kids personally check every firearm they handle to make sure it’s unloaded.

Learning about rifle and gun safety was one of her favorite subjects. But as she handled the gun, I was quickly reminded of a few things I needed to teach: proper handling of how to hold it with two hands and keeping the barrel pointed in a safe direction.

My boys grew up around guns and saw me handle them more often and with extreme caution. Bayliee has not been around guns as much and will need heavy supervision until it becomes more natural for her.

The Fun in Hunter Safety:

The audio voice for the Hunter Safety course added some comic relief for Bayliee. She found the mispronunciations entertaining and would giggle from time to time. She commented about the wrong emphasis when the computer read the word “compass”.

Taking Breaks in the Course:

Some of the sections of the course can be detailed and dry for an 11-year-old. To make it more digestible, I would pay attention to Bayliee’s focus. If I saw her losing interest or her eyes wandering around, I knew it was time for a break. We would refresh her glass of water, grab a snack, or stand up and stretch.

After about 60-90 minutes of learning, we also took a longer break and went to a park where she could play and run around. The fresh air and exercise helped sharpen her mind and body as well as reduce some of her fidgeting. Bayliee compared it to recess at school and how it’s good for kids to use their energy. We both observed that this helped her concentrate better for the second half of every study session.

Muzzle Control 101:

Helping Bayliee get comfortable around guns is important for her success. She needs to be familiar with the parts of the gun, how to hold it, and how to be safe. Much of this information was reviewed in Unit 10 for the Virtual Field Day content. Bayliee was surprised to learn about all of the different ways someone could get hurt while hunting.

First, I had her hold my rifle and point out the different parts, and show me where she could keep her hands. We started out sitting on my sofa with the rifle on her lap. Then we moved to a standing position so I could observe her and correct gun handling mistakes.

At first, she had trouble thinking through how to put the rifle over her shoulder safely. So we practiced that a few times by passing it back and forth between us. The repetition helped her learn, and it reminded me how new and unnatural this will all be for her. Her instincts are not ingrained in her movements yet.

Course Completion Joy:

Witnessing Bayliee grow over the last few weeks and gain new knowledge brings both of us such joy. I love sharing my knowledge and seeing the possibilities of my family tradition continuing in another young hunter. Bayliee is gaining life skills and confidence as she tackles something completely new to her.

She has had to overcome some boredom, attention issues, and patience to slow down during the quizzes to avoid mistakes.

Unit 10 was all about safety and field day review. This Unit covered an array of topics from firearm transportation, tailgate safety and how to exit a vehicle to field carries, trigger fingers, safety harnesses for tree stands, and more.

It was exciting to finish the final unit and exhilarating to watch her pass the review quizzes. I can remember the amazement on the faces of my boys, too when they passed the Hunter Safety Course. I wanted to bottle it up and watch it over and over again. That’s why I help young hunters. To share something that has brought me years of joy.

Online Hunter Safety Course – Youth Tips for Success:

When I asked Bayliee what some of her tips would be for other young hunters, she mentioned these:

• Find a mentor who can help you study and stay on track.
• Spend time reviewing sections so you get a solid grasp of the material.
• Take breaks and go for walks just like recess at school.
• If you get distracted, stand up and stretch.
• When you get to a boring part, grab a snack and push through.
• Take your time on the questions to avoid mistakes.
• Pay attention to the safety topics and stay safe!

Next steps:

We are signed up for her Field Day on April 27 in Rockford, Michigan. Wish us luck!