Even if you’ve been a hunter for a long time, taking one of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission’s free hunter education classes is a good idea.
The classes reinforce the fundamentals of gun safety while covering a variety of other topics — hunter ethics, first aid, hunting laws, wildlife conservation, archery hunting, muzzleloaders and rules of fair chase.
Being a hunter and gun owner means being prepared, educated and careful so that mistakes don’t happen and cast a bad image on responsible hunters and gun owners.
During a recent hunter education class in Palm Beach County, lead instructor Ray Mowen offered this to think about: Do you keep both guns and ammunition locked and in separate locations? If not, you could be liable if someone gets hurt with one of your guns.
Mowen also covered codes of good taste. Is it legal to strap a dead animal to the trunk of your car and drive into town? Yes, but it could be offensive to others, including hunters with young children.
Mowen and other instructors volunteer their time to teach hunter safety. Other class expenses are covered by the federal excise tax on guns an ammunition.
After completing classroom work and a 50-question test, hunter safety students shoot bows and arrows, shotguns and .22-caliber rifles with instructors on the range.
Completing the FWC’s hunter safety course is required for youths who want to get a Florida hunting license after they turn 16. The first half of the course can be taken online, but I prefer the traditional two-day class.
The next hunter safety course at the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area is set for Feb. 16-17. To sign up, go to www.myfwc.com/huntersafety.
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Pro bass anglers are coming to Lake Okeechobee this week for the FLW Tour, set for Thursday through Feb. 10.
The 174 pros and 174 co-anglers will compete for cash prizes — up to $125,000 for pros and up to $25,000 for co-anglers.
Weigh-ins begin at 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Roland & Mary Ann Martin’s Marina in Clewiston. On Saturday and Feb. 10, the weigh-ins begin at 4 p.m. at the Clewiston Walmart.
An FLW Outdoors Expo will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on the final two days at Walmart. Country singer Dylan Scott is scheduled to perform at the final weigh-in.
For more information, go to www.flwoutdoors.com.
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Snook season opened Friday and will remain open through May 31 on Florida’s east coast.
The snook season remains closed through Aug. 31 on the Gulf coast, including Monroe County and Everglades National Park.
To be legal to keep, snook must measure 28 to 32 inches in total length. Anglers must have a saltwater fishing license and a snook permit to keep a snook, unless they’re exempt. The daily bag limit is one snook.
