Ahe Program Still Improves The Hunt For All

Virtually anyone can be a hunter in Washington. Being a good hunter requires a bit more effort.

We’re not necessarily talking about the waterfowler who kills the most ducks, or archer who bugles in his bull without fail. Nowadays, the term “good hunter” is a higher calling.

A state program that helps sportsmen rise to the status of master hunters is five years old this year, and still a good deal, a Washington Fish and Wildlife Department official says.

About 4,800 people have completed Advanced Hunter Education, said Mik Mikitik, department hunter education coordinator. The program encourages sportsmen of all ages to go beyond the one-time hunter education course new hunters must complete before they can buy a hunting license.

AHE graduates must:

Complete a home study course that covers material ranging from wildlife management strategies to dealing with anti-hunting sentiment and public image.

Pass a test that shows they understand current wildlife issues.

Serve at least 12 hours in a conservation project every five years.

In return, AHE graduates enjoy special hunting opportunities, ranging from fall turkey seasons to deer permit drawings.

‘We get people enrolling in the program every week, but the special opportunities in the hunting (seasons) pamphlet are the real hook,” Mikitik said.

The state pays virtually nothing for the program. “It’s a user-pay program through the Washington Hunter Education Association,” he said.

However, Mikitik’s one assistant to help run the state’s hunter education program has been canned because of the agency’s recent budget crisis.

“The program continues, but we can’t deliver the level of service we did in the past,” Mikitik said. “Advanced Hunter Education participants have to be more self-motivated. We don’t have anyone to help them get involved in the required conservation project.”

But Mikitik said the program remains effective.

“Landowners like the idea that hunters are stepping forward to become more knowledgeable about wildlife and landowner issues,” he said. “The hunters themselves say it’s making a difference in the responsibility they take for the sport.”

Dealing with AHE graduates is a dream compared with conducting programs directed to the general public, he said.

“These hunters obviously are more committed. It’s usually like pulling hen’s teeth to get responses to a general survey. But AHE graduates are eager to respond and participate.”

AHE doesn’t concentrate on corralling violators. Instead, it recognizes the good and positive things about hunters, Mikitik said.

The program helps develop a peer group that won’t accept unacceptable behavior.

“The goal is to make it so the bad apples eventually won’t have anybody to hunt with,” Mikitik said.

Worthy chain letter: On a recent hunting trip, my good friend Skip Hensler bagged a limit of pheasants even though his yellow lab never left his heels for longer than a few seconds during the entire hunt.

I almost didn’t see the humor in his ribbing at the end of the day, when his dog had the energy to jump into the back of the pickup, while my Brittany, who accounted for two of his three birds, was so tired he had to be lifted in.

Luckily, Skip didn’t join me two days later when my dog ran over the horizon in the first few minutes of the hunt and didn’t return until he had flushed every pheasant out of Lincoln County.

His humor might have escaped me then, too.

Dog performance obviously has been on Skip’s mind. Perhaps that’s why he passed along a chain letter any bird dog owner can appreciate:

Dear Bird Dogger,

Does the mangiest mongrel on the block retrieve birds better than your pure-bred gun dog?

Did your dog flunk obedience training? Does it ignore pheasants and point skunks? Does it forget it’s own name once it gets beyond a stone’s throw?

This chain letter is meant to bring you relief. Unlike most chain letters, it doesn’t cost money.

Simply send a copy to six other dog owners who are dissatisfied with their dog’s performance.

Also bundle up your dog and send it to the dog owner at the top of this list, and add your name to the bottom of the list.

Do not use a return address or the post office may try to contact you.

In one week, you will receive 16,436 dogs, and at least one of them should be a keeper.

Have faith in this letter. Do not break the chain.

One owner broke the chain and got his own dog back.