After completing the field portion of their three-week firearm safety and hunter education course, students posed for a photo. (L-R, seated) Rory Bakke, Leo Johnson, Owen Anderson. (L-R, kneeling) Dylan Works, Colton Thompson, Jaret Baker, Andrew Fenstad-Lashinski, Austen Graham, Kyler Johnson, Selien Morawitz, MaeAnna LaFavor. (L-R, standing) Sean Manahan, Joe Rauzi, Jack Wieben, Brandon Curtis, Lucas Phillips, Trace McQuatters, Shauna Blake. (L-R, back row) Tom Wahlstrom, Mary Manning, Jacob Carlson, Eric Nelms, Paul Eiler, Doug Klein, Dave Ingebrigtsen.
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.
Thecourse is conducted by volunteer instructors, with assistance from DNR conservation officers, and is offered in Cook County each April. Volunteer instructors in 2010 were Paul Eiler (lead instructor), Dave Ingebrigtsen, Doug Klein, Eric Nelms, Dick Parker, and Bob Sopoci. Conservation Officers were Darin Fagerman, Mary Manning, and Tom Wahlstrom.
Cook County Community Education advertised the course and collected registration forms and fees from students, who ranged from 11 to 13 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 donated to the course by local residents. Rob Staples made his property available for field exercises.
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 8. The threatening weather of the previous night and dawn hours abated as the field day began, and the sky was clear when field exercises ended at noon. Students fired a rifle, handled rifles and shotguns 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 Owen Anderson, Jaret Baker, Rory Bakke, Shauna Blake, Jacob Carlson, Brandon Curtis, Andrew Fenstad-Lashinski, Austen Graham, Kyler Johnson, Leo Johnson, MaeAnna LaFavor, Sean Manahan, Trace McQuatters, Selien Morawitz, Lucas Phillips, Joseph Rauzi, Colton Thompson, Jack Wieben, and Dylan Works. Liam Abelon was unable to attend the field day but is expected to make that up and be certified by fall.
Each received five donated items—a compass from the Sons of The American Legion, a blaze-orange vest from Superior Lumber and Sports, and a hat, pen, and lanyard from the Ruffed Grouse Society. They will soon receive their certification card from the DNR.
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