Thursday, May 20, 2010

Master Hunter Program

I apologize for the lack of posts this Spring and truly appreciate your patience, comments and loyalty. Here is an overview of what I've been up to in between rain, snow and wind.

I have been studying and meeting the requirements for Oregon's Master Hunter Test that the Oregon Department Of Fish and Wildlife offers to hunters who have successfully completed their basic Hunter Safety Education. The Master Hunter is a continuation and more involved test than the former. Building upon the basics while also asking more of the student, both in the class room and the field. There are over 125 questions in a study book, covering topics from land use, fire safety, firearms, game care, specialty hunting, first aid, water safety and hypothermia. Plus a myriad of ethical questions that require a full description of your reasoning and how you came to your conclusion. There is a 4 hour class room study session followed by a 50 question multiple answer test. Each student is required to do 20 hours of volunteer service to benefit a natural resource such as BLM, Oregon Hunter's Association, RMEF, DU or similar. A shooting test is also required and consists of shooting a caliber legal to hunt elk in the state of Oregon which happens to be a .25 or larger. The shooting test consists of 5 rounds from 100 yards using a kneeling, sitting or standing position without a rest at an 8" diameter circle, of which 4 of the 5 shots must be within an 8" diameter target. This may sound easy to some of you and I invite you to go try it for yourself. Trust me it's not as easy as it sounds. I used my new(to me) .257 Roberts in Remington that was my friends fathers rifle. It is a real tack driver as they say. This is the best I have ever shot with a rifle, and to say I was thrilled is an understatement! The black on this target defines the 8" diameter.

My friend and I completed the last of our 20 hours on Tuesday. Our paperwork is on its way to Salem to be approved, at which time we will be issued Master Hunter certification cards that will give us precedence for big game emergency hunts. Here is the definition from ODFW, "A hunt held on short notice to resolve an acute game mammal damage problem to livestock, agriculture, or timber."

I have yet to go Spring bear hunting as a result of weather and work. As I write this post it is raining buckets and the winds are steady at 15 with gusts to 40. I guess this year we are going from Winter to Summer without much Spring. Snow level is getting back down there too. On the other hand I continue to plod along with my woodworking picking up dovetail drawer orders here and there. At least enough to keep the lights on and cover my overhead.

Thanks for stopping by and as inspiration finds me I'll be writing and sharing of my escapades here on the pages of Women's Hunting Journal. Hope everyone is having a good Spring and are getting out into the wilds of this wonderful world we live in.

Women's Hunting Journal Integrity For The Hunt

12 comments:

Main Line Sportsman said...

Impressive grouping...and impressive going for that test...here in Penna we only have basic hunter safety.
As for getting out...no hunting until Doves on 9/1/10 and then mid-September rail birds....BUT wife and I are taking the kids canoe camping for 2 nites/3 days on Lower Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks in August...Island camping is great!

Karen Thomason/Gordon Setter Crossing said...

Well that sounds very cool Terry. You didn't say though, HOW you took that shot at the 8" target. Kneeling, sitting, or standing? I pictured you kneeling...

Terry Scoville said...

Main Line,
Thank you and camping in the Adirondacks sounds like a great trip forth coming. Beautiful country there, enjoy!

Karen,
I thought about that after I had posted not disclosing how I shot. I was sitting on my butt with knees up and feet on the ground with 2 wraps of my sling to get a snug grip everywhere I was able to. Phew, relieved to have pulled it off. I knew that was going to be my biggest challenge of the test.

Anonymous said...

That does sound like quite the achievement to say the least and just by reading your blog since I found it I no doubt would think you would not have a problem certifying.

I really like that group you got going there as well.

Terry Scoville said...

Rick, coming from you who has shot rifles most of his life I really appreciate your compliment. Rifle shooting is so different from shotgunning. I still have a long ways to go, yet now I know I can shoot well. Practice, practice, practice.

Tovar@AMindfulCarnivore said...

Congratulations on your certification, Terry, and the fine shooting!

Karen Thomason/Gordon Setter Crossing said...

I would think that would be a difficult position, but you pulled it off. Way to go!

gary said...

Neat! That would be nice if Idaho had a program like that. Sounds like they would use you for predation hunts.

Thats some great shooting for off hand. I've always felt that on the average, females can zero in more consistantly then us guys. I've shot a lot more then Sue and I don't think I want to get into a competition with her either.


Congrats, and now go get that bear as time is about out!!!

Terry Scoville said...

Gary, thanks for the kind words. As for bear hunting, it is currently snowing here at 4200' and I can only imagine what it's doing at closer to 6000' where I typical hunt. I have til months end and hope for a window in the next day or so.

Jennifer Montero said...

Well done Terry. We've got a DSC - Deer Stalker's Certificate - here in the UK and I would like to do it but it is hugely expensive. There is a level 1 & 2 I think.

Congrats on the new rifle. I shoot better and more consistently with some of my rifles and not others. Half of it is whether or not I trust that particular gun and calibre - sound weird? My Remington 700 .308 never lets me down.

Looking forward to your future posts and hunts!

Holly Heyser said...

Sounds like a great program! And ditto on your shooting - I'm sure I could not get a grouping like that shooting off-hand.

bluecollarson said...

Good job Terry! Shooting that size of a group sounds easy until a person actually gets out and tries it. .257 Roberts is a great caliber.

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