EDUCATION AND SAFETY courses for the up-and-coming young hunters on the North Olympic Peninsula is quickly coming upon us.
It’s time to dream about bagging that first deer, elk or water fowl.
The North Olympic Peninsula Hunter Education program will be holding five classes this year.
They are set to start Tuesday and also are scheduled for March 6, May 1, June 5 and Aug. 7.
All courses will take place on Tuesdays.
In addition, all classes start at 5:30 p.m. at Port Angeles Veteran’s Center, 216 S. Francis St., Port Angeles.
All enrollment is online this year at http://tinyurl.com/23p4b5o.
Sponsored by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, the classes offer one or more instructors offering detailed classroom instruction, practical exercises and live-firing activities to prepare successful students.
The classes focus on three broad topical areas, including firearms and outdoor safety, wildlife management and hunter responsibility.
The average class includes four to six sessions, spanning 16-plus hours.
Successful students must pass a written test, demonstrate safe firearms handling skills and a positive attitude.
All hunters born after Jan. 1, 1972 are required to show proof of hunter education course completion or a previous Washington hunting license before purchasing a new hunting license.
Increasingly, states require proof of hunter education training prior to purchase of an initial hunting license.
Jefferson County class
Jefferson County Sportsmen’s Association also has a young hunter’s class coming up quickly.
The Association will host a Hunter Education class the week of Feb. 27 through March 3.
Each session will meet from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. during the weekdays at the Association’s club at 112 Gun Club Road in Port Townsend.
The Saturday class begins at 10 a.m.
For more information, contact Riley Brazil 360-774-0429, Rick Olson at 360-765-3947 or Mark Castillo at 360-732-4402.
To enroll in the course, visit http://tinyurl.com/23p4b5o.
State parks meeting
Now’s the time to have input on issues involving state parks as a major meeting is scheduled for next week.
At its regular meeting next week, the state Parks and Recreation Commission will hear reports and updates on a variety of topics, including the state parks budget, the Discover Pass, forest health and a progress report on a transformation strategy that includes partnerships and new ways of doing business for greater sustainability.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on Feb. 9 in the Washington Department of Labor and Industries Auditorium, 7273 Linderson Way S.W., Tumwater.
A full commission meeting agenda is available online at http://tinyurl.com/7lslrem.
Time for public comment is provided at all regular meetings, which are scheduled six times a year at pre-determined locations around the state.
