The 2011 Firearms Safety and Hunter Education course finished with a field day on Saturday, May 7. The graduating students and the day’s instructors (L-R, front) Brian Finke Jr., Finn Garry, Damian Zimmer, Colton Furlong, Kyle Wiegele, Danny Lewis, Noah Roth, Alicia Smith, Marin Hay, Melanie Smith. (L-R, back) Darin Fagerman, Tom Wahlstrom, Doug Klein, Brandon Bockovich, Zach Brune, Devon Dahl, Paul Eiler, Andrew Thompson, Jack Viren, Eric Nelms, Dick Parker, Dave Ingebrigtsen. (Not pictured CO Mary Manning.)
The 2011 Firearms Safety Hunter Education course began April 18 and students attended two-hour classes on Monday and Wednesday afternoons after school for three weeks.
Following 12 hours of classroom instruction, which included a written test, students participated in three hours of field exercises on Saturday morning, May 7. The sunshine, warm temperatures, and light winds were a welcome contrast to the rain that had been forecast. Students fired a rifle at targets, handled rifles and shotguns in simulated hunting situations, learned how to safely use a tree stand, and reviewed regulations for transporting firearms.
The DNR provided registration and test materials, student workbooks, instructional handouts and videos, ammunition, targets, and eye and ear protection. Firearms and most props were provided by the instructors or had previously been donated to the course by local residents.
The Sons of The American Legion donated gun storage socks, target holders, a heavy-duty ground cloth, and two extra-small .22 rifles.
Dave Ingebrigtsen instructs students in safe gun handling in a simulated group hunting situation that includes loading, walking, crossing obstacles, and unloading.
Cook County Community Education advertised the course and collected registration forms and fees from students. The Cook County Community Center provided classroom space.
Volunteer instructors 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 Thomas Wahlstrom. Rob Staples made his property available for field exercises.
The students completing this year’s course were Brandon Bockovich, Zachariah Brune, Devon Dahl, Brian Finke Jr., Colton Furlong, Finnian Garry, Marin Hay, Danny Lewis, Noah Roth, Alicia Smith, Melanie Smith, Andrew Thompson, Jack Viren, Kyle Wiegele, and Damian Zimmer.
The students each received three donated items: a compass from the Sons of The American Legion, a blazeorange vest from Superior Lumber and Sports, and a water bottle from the Ruffed Grouse Society. They will receive their certification card from the DNR in about two weeks.
Paul Eiler supervises students firing .22 rifles from prone position at targets 50 feet distant.
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. Students must be at least 11 years old to participate. The course is conducted by volunteer instructors with assistance from DNR conservation officers, and is offered each spring in Cook County.
Leave a Reply