After advertising locally and posting information on the Nebraska Game Commission website, local volunteers conducted a “Hunt Safe” class on Monday evening, Oct. 27.
Lead instructor Bruce Curtiss, along with new instructor Luke Altwine, prepared and conducted the two-hour class, to certify students who had already completed the detailed on-line classes on the Game Commission web site. Both firearm and archery certifications’ were offered and taught.
The class was attended by two Plainview students, Maysen Ickler, and Zane Kromarek. A total of 14 students attended and were certified, from communities including Norfolk, Osceola, Monroe, Allen, Pierce, Ewing, Stanton, and O’Neill.
The Nebraska Hunter Safety Program has a long history of educating new hunters and reducing hunting injuries and fatalities.
Much of the study for the Hunt Safe class that is offered in Plainview occurs on-line, and is then refreshed and confirmed by the in person class. Topics covered in the Hunt Safe two-hour class include Equipment safety (both firearm and archery), shots to avoid, and fields of fire when hunting in groups. In recent years shooting accidents have declined, but falls and injuries involving tree stands have made up an increasing number of hunting related injuries, so tree stand safety has been added and emphasized.
Following completion of the class, successful participants are certified to the Game Commission, which then issues completion certificates and hunter safety ID cards.
Plans are in progress for another class over the winter, to prepare students for next year’s spring turkey season and the early fall seasons. New hunters aged 11-15 are required to take the class and be certified before hunting without immediate supervision by an adult hunter. New hunters 16 and over must also be certified, but if they pass the online class the two hour hunt safe session is optional for them.