Photos by Darin Fagerman Left: The students who took part in 2009 DNR firearms safety training, with their instructors are (L-R) Dylan Deschampe, instructor Dick Parker, Mark Weisberg, Casey Deschampe, Kody Cronberg, Zachary Anderson, Rusty Day, Aaron Breitsprecher, Nicholas Wiegele, Zachary Buchheit, instructor Doug Klein, Andrew Farley, Lino Rauzi, Isaac Twiest, instructor Paul Eiler, Kaylee Cronberg, Raynee Wolke, instructor Eric Nelms, Ashley Berglund, instructor Mary Manning. (Not pictured – Daniel Ahrendt and Kyle Martinson).
In Minnesota, anyone born after Dec. 31, 1979 must have a Firearms Safety Certificate in order to buy a license to take wild animals with a firearm. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Division of Enforcement, designed and administers a Firearms Safety Hunter Education Course to certify students. The course covers safe and responsible use of firearms and hunting equipment, hunting laws and regulations, and wildlife management. Also covered are fundamentals of shooting, hunting ethics, survival, and wildlife identification.
The course is conducted by volunteer instructors, with assistance from DNR conservation officers, and is offered in Cook County each April. Volunteer instructors in 2009 were Paul Eiler (lead instructor), Dave Ingebrigtsen, Rick Johnson, Doug Klein, Eric Nelms, Dick Parker, and Bob Sopoci. Conservation Officers were Darin Fagerman, Mary Manning, and Tom Wahlstrom.
Cook County Community Education collected registration forms and fees from students, who ranged from 11 to 14 years old. The Cook County Community Center provided classroom space. The DNR provided registration and instructional materials, ammunition, targets, and eye and ear protection. Firearms and most props were provided by the instructors or purchased with donated funds. A recent cash donation from the Sons of The American Legion paid for a shotgun, three gun cases, six pr. of target holders, a staple gun, and gun repair parts. Rob Staples made his property available for field exercises.
Below: Instructor Doug Klein explains the importance of proper installation of a deer stand.
Following 12 hours of classroom instruction over three weeks, which included a written test, students participated in three hours of field exercises on the morning of May 2. While enduring cool temperatures, wind, snow, and hail, they fired a rifle, handled firearms in simulated hunting situations, learned how to safely use a tree stand, and reviewed regulations for transporting firearms.
The students completing this year’s course were Daniel Ahrendt, Zachary Anderson, Ashley Berglund, Aaron Breitsprecher, Zachary Buchheit, Kaylee Cronberg, Kody Cronberg, Rusty Day, Casey Deschampe, Dylan Deschampe, Andrew Farley, Kyle Martinson, Lino Rauzi, Isaac Twiest, Mark Weisberg, Nicholas Wiegele, and Raynee Wolke. Each received two donated items: a compass from the Sons of The American Legion and a blaze-orange vest from Superior Lumber and Sports. They will soon receive their certification card from the DNR.
Bottom: Instructors Paul Eiler and Eric Nelms watch as firearm safety training participants practice what they learned.
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