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Reaching More People with Hunter Education
| Name | Thomas M. Beam | | Situation | The state of South Carolina had over 50 hunting related accidents in 2002 with four resulting in fatalities. One of these was the death of a Lancaster High School teenager. In 2003, the need for more emphasis on firearm and hunting safety education in the Lancaster area was great.
| | Response | The Clemson Extension Service endeavored to reach more people with this information through an expanded Hunter Education Program. Lancaster County Clemson Extension Service has offered the Hunter Education Course in the past as a take-home study course through the viewing of videos and an interactive CD-ROM. In evaluating the course in 2003, it was decided that one issue needed to be addressed: how can we increase interest in Hunter Education in Lancaster and surrounding counties?
In addition to the take-home course, a day-long, hands-on, interactive program was planned. It was strategically planned in August 2003 prior to the opening of deer season when interest would be at its highest. Additionally, publicity for the course was increased through the use of the local newspaper, fliers, and internet. The goal was to reach a larger audience in addition to the kids and adults Extension typically reached with the take-home course. Our expectation for the day-long course was to have 30 participants complete the course in its entirety and pass the hunter education exam. In addition to the aforementioned goals, increased creditability was sought by having speakers with experience in firearm and hunter safety issues. These speakers included a local police officer, a DNR game officer and a wildlife specialist. In addition, there were a variety of visual aids and hands-on demonstrations, intermixing short videos.
| | Impact | The day-long hunter education course was filled a week prior to the beginning of the class with several interested clientele turned away. Of the participants that attended, all passed the Hunter Education exam except for one. This was a 35% increase in pass rate as compared to the take-home course. With the increased pass rate of the hunter education exam, having the expanded day-long course proved to be more effective in training participants than other take-home study methods. The day-long class additionally enable Lancaster County to educate more individuals in hunter safety. |
Last update8/14/2008
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