National Bowhunter Ed. Course

[Onions]

I completed my the NBEC today, I did the online course then went in for the full day class.
Wondering what others experience's have been with the class?
I am sure that the quality of the class depends on the instructor(s).
The class I took was very weak! I was expecting to do more "field" stuff, (treestand safey, blood trailing, parts of bow/arrow, sharpening, maybe topo map overview). We did do a blood trail. We shot guns???? (The class was in conjuction with general hunter safety). Not much related specifically to bowhunting. I was disappointed and thought the class was a waste of my time.
Is this typical of this class???

chris <><

[Shinken]

Definitely differs from state to state AND as you point out - it will be highly dependent on the instructors involved!

Typically, if you want better courses, then it is time to step up and become an instructor since participation is all voluntary - at least in the states that I am familiar with....

It is definitely a SERVICE to the community and to the sport!  Effective ambassadors will be impact players!

Shoot straight, Shinken

[Bowwild]

Onions,
Like most training programs, you are correct the quality of the class is very much up to the instructor. The great bowhunter education instructor (and there are some terrific ones out there) can save a new bowhunter so much time and grief. Magazine articles can be ok, some hunting videos teach a little, and some books on the subject are very good. However, an experienced bowhunter who happens to be a terrific instructor is worth his or her weight in gold. One of the items that gets glossed over very badly in combined courses is scouting. If a new bowhunter doesn't learn how to scout, select and prepare stand locations, etc. that young bowhunter might become frustrated and quit the sport.  I'm not a fan of the combined courses with general hunter education because the bowhunter ed part is often watered down to just the things needed to know to pass the bowhunting questions. However, I understand why this is done because there just aren't enough bowhunter education instructors to meet the demand in many states. I am an NBEF instructor and an NBEF board member.  Almost every student I've had in my NBEF courses is a veteran bowhunter who needs the certification to hunt in a mandatory state. These types of classes are best taught by getting lots of feedback from the audience -- everyone, including the instructor learns some valuable information!

[Dale Hajas]

onions- just wondering if you were required to take the class for a specific reason, like access to hunting area, hunt up in Canada etc.

[acadian archer]

fortunately, in Nova Scotia, the hunter safety and Bowhunter courses are two Separate courses.
The bowhunter course I took years (too many lol0 ago was well done and I'm scheduled to take the instructor course this coming weekend

You only need the bowhunter course in Nova scotia, new brunswick and a few other provinces believe. In british Columbia you only need the general hunter safety.

regradless of whether you need it to hunt a particular area the non combined NBEF course is well worth it and very very few individuals wouldn't learn something. You're never too old to learn some new tricks.

[vtmtnman]

Hunting saftey courses deal mainly with saftey,landowner relations,and following game laws.It's great they go over these topics,as the world seems to be progressing into stupid faster than a snowball melting in July.

I barely remember my Bow course,but I'd like to think that were I an instructor (I would like to take the course and become one someday),I would try to give alot of hunting and bow knowlege in my courses.Maybe some do.I'm sure you'll get better input from the course instructor folks on here.

[Onions]

I took the class b/c I am going to Alaska this fall on a deer hunt. You need the certification to buy a tag in AK.
I have been bowhunting since I was 12, (I am now 38), so when I took the class, I wasn't expecting anything really new, but was expecting something more advanced then general hunter safety.
I also figured since I took the online course, and passed with flying colors. Why did I need to sit through all day class?
Personally, I thought the instructor could have seen my test results and put his signature on my card, and I could have been done and gone home.

chris <><

[Gary Logsdon]

I've experienced your frustration Christopher. Unfortunately, the overall quality of the IBEP has deteriorated in many states, including my home state of Kentucky. I taught the IBEP courses for decades serving as instructor and later as master instructor. I had the honor of being certified by IBEP founder Bill Wadsworth himself, who would be deeply disapointed at how his original concept has been watered down for a multitude of economic, demographic, and political reasons.  A few years ago my youngest son needed certification so he could legally hunt in our state; he is very uncomfortable with firearms and decided to seek bowhunter certification only.  Having been out-of-the-loop for several years I decided to contact my state hunter education coordinator seeking advice on where to find a traditional NBEP course for my son.  Two things became immediately apparent. Most - if not all, of the courses available were NOT traditional IBEP courses; in reality they were highly condensed versions that were being combined with/added to, the regular hunter education course.  This was not what I expected or wanted my son the experience, so we began looking for courses in nearby TN, which still offered a good number of traditional NBEF courses, ones totally independent from the state hunter ed. curriculum.  The course he took in TN was excellent, taught almost exactly the way it was years ago in KY; the course covered the same topics as the original, with some updating. The instruction included tree stand safety, blood trailing, shot placement, etc. . . highly detailed, hands on, and well delivered.  Hopefully there are similar experiences still available for those who seek it.

[ChuckC]

The NBEP course is a beginners course, not an advanced course, although there is some talk of having a separate advanced course made available.  It is meant to teach the basics.  

Tree stand safety should have been a large part of the course, as well as shot placement and some others.
ChuckC

[JAG]

Here in Alabama, I try to make sure that the IBEP Practical Day is fun and educational.  As stated before, it all depends on the Instructors.  I have a standing offer, if someone does not enjoy the course, or have a good learning experience, I will pay the fee, for them, out of my own pocket.  (in Al. we have to charge a small fee, we're not state funded)  So far no takers.  I even offered one guy a course on my dime, just to get him to take it.  He'd been running down my course and Instructors.  He wouldn't take me up on it.  So there good and bad on both sides.
My Instructors are dedicated.  They travel on their own nickle, as we're not funded.  They take time away from their families and work, to help educate Bowhunters.
Become an Instructor, and change the program, if its not good!
Johnny/JAG

[Keith Zimmerman]

I am doing the online course now.  I have been bowhunting with Traditional Gear for 28 years.  BUT, I need it to hunt AK this fall.  It's a joke so far.  Now I have to miss a Saturday of work to take the stupid class.  That means I lose money since I sell cars.  Can you tell I am excited about this:)  Zman

[Keith Zimmerman]

Oh, and I have no classes close to me for the next several months.  Looks like I am going to have to drive 2 hours to do it!

[Steve O]

Guys, I thought you only needed the IBEP certification in Alaska if you were going into a BOWHUNTING ONLY area.  

It is my understanding if you are going in any weapon area and hunting with your bow, you are OK without it.  This is 99.9% of Alaska hunts.

[imhntn]

I have been through the course twice in Oklahoma and had great experiences both times.  That was 25 yrs ago though.  Could have changed by now.

[Bill Sant]

Steve O is right on. In Alaska  you only have to take the course if you are putting in for draw hunts that are specific archery only hunts, or areas that are archery only areas.  You can hunt anywhere else in Alaska without it.  As for being a "weak" course, yeah in some aspects, but you always have to teach to the least factor in any group.  The guys that are experienced will find a lot of redundancy.  As far as the "weakness of the course" goes,  your complaint doesn't wash, as you should have taken the full blown classroom, lectures, and field work, instead of the online.  You get out of it what you are willing to put into it.  Shortcuts often sound good but seldom pan out.
Just remember, the guys that teach are probably "giving up work" or their weekends to teach you.  Don't complain unless you are willing to better the system with your time and effort.

[stickbowmaniac]

i'm from louisiana.The class i took was very interesting.We did treestand safety,we had blood trails to follow.Also they preached that to keep your broadheads sharp so you cut the veins,arteries,organs and muscle .Not just push them asside . So you get a quick clean kill.Then they had 10 3d targets set up for us in the woods to judge yardage and choose if it was a shoot or no shoot situation.

[Bowwild]

As others have wrote, the quality of the course is very much related to input by the instructor. Bill Wadsworth was also the one who 1st trained me (Kansas circa 1989-1990). Interestingly, maybe it was because we had a large class but we didn't do any shooting or blood-trailing.  We did go outside to do a bit of treestand work but in those days harnesses weren't used -- I don't even remember if "safety" belts were part of the regimen then. The great classes will have lots of outdoor work, fake blood trails, tree stands, fall restraint demonstrations, etc. Super ones, will even field dress a deer if one is available. Much of the difference in a minimal class and a fantastic one is the kind and quality of the visual aids and exercises. One thing that is pretty constant is that most instuctors do this for free. I'm unaware of any instructor or course that charges a fee and in most states the wildlife agency provides the training manuals for at no cost to the student. I received an e-mail this morning from a fellow near Knoxville looking to come to KY for a class I haven't even scheduled yet.  Like many in the east, he needs to dot an i in order to hunt in Alaska this summer.

[Bill Turner]

The bowhunter education course I took in 2007 was taught by a non-bowhunter TX Dept of Wildlife staff member. He was thrilled to find that he had 2 experienced traditional archer/bowhunters in the class. My bud and I stuck around and took the instructors portion of the course as well. Later, we teamed up to teach a class and had great reviews. Soon after that teaching experience our contact left the state wildlife dept and we have not heard from the guy/gal who took his place. Would gladly teach again if opportunity presents itself, but I'm not interested in finding a location and selling the event. I would offer my services gratus and represent the state wildlife dept at their facility, but I am not interested in turning the course into a money maker for me or anyone else.

[Northwest_Bowhunter]

I took mine in 2007 as well, taught by two old guys (Walt and Charlie), one shot compound and one shot traditional.  And between them I have to guess they knew more about bow hunting then I could ever learn in the time I have left of this Earth.  But it didn't stop there, they brought in friends and fellow hunters with different experiences (a lady hunter, a fellow that both bow and rifle hunt...etc) as well as people that stalked or sat in tree stands. They do a real service and I hope they are still teaching the class when my boys are ready to go through it.