Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania lawmakers propose hunter education course in schools
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- Firearm safety instruction would be included, but no firearms or ammunition would be allowed in school buildings.
- Students who complete the program would be certified to obtain a state hunting license.
Members of the state House and Senate are looking to add Hunter-Trapper Education Course opportunities in schools across Pennsylvania.
Rep. Anita Astorino Kulik, a Democrat from Allegheny County and chair of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, and Sen. James Malone, a Democrat from Lancaster County and minority chair of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee, are partnering on the legislation.
Both lawmakers circulated similar memos to their colleagues on March 30 seeking support for their bills.
“To foster conservation, promote an understanding of wildlife management, and encourage current and future generations to safely participate in Pennsylvania’s rich outdoor heritage, it is crucial that hunting and trapping education be offered in schools. Educating the youth of the Commonwealth in the proper methods and practices associated with these endeavors will produce safe, responsible, knowledgeable, and involved hunters and trappers,” they wrote.
The planned legislation would provide that the Pennsylvania Department of Education work in consultation with the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) to develop an age-appropriate hunting and trapping education program. This program would include firearm safety instruction for students in grades six through 12.
The memo reads that the firearm safety instruction would be required to comply with the firearm safety training requirements of the commission’s basic hunter-trapper education course and be taught by an individual who is a certified firearm safety trainer for the PGC. However, it is important to note that firearms and ammunition may not be brought into a school building as part of the firearm safety instruction of this program.
Under this legislation, a school entity may provide a Department of Education and PGC approved hunting and trapping education program as an optional extracurricular class, or as part of an existing course for the purpose of outdoor recreational activity.
The memo concludes that any student who completes the program would be deemed as having completed the commission’s basic hunter-trapper education course that is required to obtain a hunting license under state law.
Presently, youth wanting to get a hunting license need to sign up for a Game Commission class held at sportsmens clubs, other venues across the state or online.
The proposed bills have not yet been introduced.
Brian Whipkey is the outdoors columnist for USA TODAY Network sites in Pennsylvania. Contact him at bwhipkey@gannett.com and sign up for our weekly Go Outdoors PA newsletter email on this website’s homepage under your login name. Follow him on Facebook @whipkeyoutdoors.