Outdoors - Hunting and Fishing

POSTED: Thursday, Dec. 04, 2008

Enroll soon for master hunter program

Persons interested in Washington's Master Hunter program may enroll for the 2009 class starting Thursday, Jan. 1.

To be certified as a Master Hunter, successful applicants will:

Pass a comprehensive test based on study materials.

Take a Criminal Observation and Reporting Training (CORT) class.

Do at least 20 hours of approved wildlife conservation volunteer work.

Sign a master hunter code of ethics.

Consent to a criminal background check (passing threshold criteria).

Demonstrate a high proficiency and skill with legal hunting weapons.

Commit to lawful and ethical hunting practices.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, in concert with its Master Hunter Advisory Group, will hold be three recruitment seminars in January and February at Olympia and in Yakima and Spokane.

Prospective master hunter enrollees can familiarize themselves with the application and certification processes as well as the role they will be expected to fulfill as top hunters. Not pre-registration will be required to attend these events.

In the future the department expects to utilize master hunters in such important activities as the removal of damage wildlife causing property damage or threatening public safety.

Department officials say such sensitive, high profile situations require conscientious people who will adhere to the highest standards of hunting ethics and who are fully conversant with conservation issues and landowner relations.

For more information about the Washington Master Hunter Program and enrollment, log on to http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/masterhunter/.

The 2009 enrollment period ends March 31.