A group of seventh graders received firearms safety training from certified firearms instructors recently and once completed, they are now allowed to use their certifications to hunt this fall. Photo courtesy of Ann Sullivan
On Sunday, September 27, seventh graders at ISD 166 finally were able to take part in their Firearms Safety Field Day, allowing them to receive certification for the class they took last spring semester. As students completed their Firearms Safety Training (the first time it has been taught online in Cook County), the DNR cancelled all field day activities due to the pandemic.
Students and families were left concerned that they would be unable to get certification, and for some who wanted to hunt this fall, that put their dream at risk.
In August, the Minnesota DNR notified each of their certified volunteer safety instructors (CVSI) that they had developed COVID-19 protocols for Field Day and had modified firearms safety certification requirements accordingly. Emma Spoon, an ISD 166 licensed teacher and CVSI, coordinated efforts to have a Field Day for last year’s students, notifying last year’s students and parents. CVSI Paul Eiler spent a week getting the site for Field Day secured, planning activities, supplying and organizing equipment, and lastly setting up the stations students would circulate through. Emma and Ann Sullivan (CVSI and former teacher) created a review session using Google Classroom for students and recorded it, so those that were unable to see it live could review it later.
The event began with a health screening and temperature check for each student before they got out of their vehicle once students and parents/guardians arrived. Once students passed their health check, they received a name tag and vinyl gloves. Parents left, and students were organized into groups of four or five students and assigned to an adult group leader.
In addition to Emma and Ann, Cameron Hood, a Grand Portage tutor, and Ed Belmore, a U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement officer, helped lead the small groups of students through their four stations: Tree Stand, Field Walk, Conservation Officer presentation, and the Shooting Range. Students were placed in groups of no more than five to allow for clear observation of each person’s muzzle control throughout the event, along with the ability to socially distance when at the stations.
The Tree Stand station was run by Mary Manning, one of our local conservation officers (CO). Students practiced putting on a safety harness, going safely up a tree stand, hooking themselves in, and then going carefully back down. After individual students had done this successfully, Tom Wahlstrom, another local CO, spoke about what he might look for in the field (license, proper tagging, appropriate limit, wearing blaze orange, vehicle registration) when coming upon someone fishing, hunting, or riding a recreational vehicle, such as an ATV or snowmobile.
A third conservation officer, Kylan Hill, provided the Conservation Officer presentation, as it was missed last spring due to COVID-19. Kylan talked about limits and possessions, why the DNR changes those numbers some years, the importance of animal identification, and a number of other topics pulled from the Minnesota 2020 Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Several students, after listening to Kylan, commented they were thinking about becoming a Conservation Officer as an adult. Kylan provided lots of inspiration for the students.
During the Field Walk station, students reviewed types of actions, what gauge or caliber firearm to use for a particular game bird or animal, what carries to use when in various group situations, how to safely cross a stream, and lastly, how to cross a fence when with someone or when alone. This station was run by certified instructors Dave Ingebrigtsen and Scott Dowling and was very well received by students.
Paul Eiler, the Range Officer, assisted by CVSI Eric Nelms, managed the range, where students fired a .22 rifle at targets. Students received instruction on shooting positions, loading and unloading, and range safety. Students were able to take their targets home as a Field Day memento.
When asked the most memorable part of the day, one group reported in unison, “the bear!”
Yes, a black bear joined Ann Sullivan’s small group when they were being instructed about how to cross a fence. A student yelled, “Bear!” Ann thought the remark was referring to a student in her small group who happened to be named Bear. But when a black bear scurried down an adjacent pine tree a second later, everyone knew what, “Bear!” really meant. The black bear visited again during the final Conservation Officer presentation, coming to get apples from a nearby tree.
Property owner Rob Staples told everyone that the bear has been dining regularly on his apples for a couple of weeks, loading up on calories for hibernation. What a memorable way to end a most unusual, COVID-19 Field Day!
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