Fellow tradgangers, if you're in CA and are a safe, ethical hunter, we can use a little help. DFW needs some hunter education instructors. I just finished the exam and waiting for some paperwork to get shuffled before I'm officially an instructor. From chatting with our local district coordinator, there is high demand for classes but sometimes too few classes being offered. In other words, there are some kids and new hunters that want to learn and get started but can't get a license because we don't have somebody to teach the class.
CA offers an incentive program to instructors. It's a lottery drawing for a bunch of premium hunts & such. It's certainly not the primary reason to do it (it takes 3 years to be eligible anyway). But it's a nice thank you, for sure.
If you're in CA and can help out a weekend or two each year, please contact your district coordinator to see if you can lend a hand. CA faces enough headwinds against hunters as it is. We need good folks who can help the next generation of hunters get started off on the right path & help continue the tradition.
Northern District: Liz Gregory, (209) 274-9923, Liz.Gregory@wildlife.ca.gov
North Coast District: Bart Bundesen, (415) 892-0073, Bart.Bundesen@wildlife.ca.gov
Central District: Shawn Olague, (209) 827-0895, Shawn.Olague@wildlife.ca.gov
Southern District: Mike Norris, (562) 429-7249, Mike.Norris@wildlife.ca.gov
Why don't the kids needing instruction have fathers willing to help? May be an incentive for them. Another thing we do is take new hunter ed graduates and ask them to help if they seem intelligent.
We make sure they're w other instructors and we train them the way we need.
Women are often overlooked. Bet if you asked some they'd help too. A friend of mine moved to Oklahoma. She was a great instructor. She taught hunter ed and archery classes w me. She's had enough resistance being a female out there she gave both up. Shame. Nothing she couldn't teach. Ask women and be welcoming to them.
Many companies offer hunter ed instructor discounts. There's more incentive for ya.
Great idea to recruit from the student & parent population who attend the classes.
One other thing if you are an adult and know of a kid with out a dad that wants to try hunting step up and take them to the nearest class and get them going.
I grew up with out a dad from 2 years old. I'm 62 now, been hunting most of my life and the only reason is the neighbor found out I wanted to try he grabbed me up and off to the nearest hunter Ed class we went. I have a life time of memories thanks to that man