John Willoughby: Greene Publishing, Inc.
Want knowledge on how to “think SAFE” while hunting? Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is bringing an online hunter safety course to Pinetta on Saturday, March 10, beginning at 9 a.m.
The online Hunter Safety Course and Skills Day covers the knowledge, skills, and attitude needed to be a safe hunter. The course teaches hunting laws, regulations, ethics and responsibility. Safe firearm handling, clearing, matching, loading, and unloading are also explained. Other subjects covered are safe and effective shot placement and marksmanship.
“Think SAFE” is the new acronym the FWC's Hunter Safety program uses to remind hunters to focus on the four primary rules of preventing hunting accidents. They are Safe Direction: always point the gun in a safe direction; Always be sure of your target and what lies beyond; Finger is outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot; Every firearm must be treated as if it is loaded.
Any person born on or after June 1, 1975, may not be issued a license to hunt in Florida with the use of a firearm, gun (including a muzzleloading rifle), bow or crossbow without first having completed a hunter safety course. Law enforcement and military personnel are not exempt from the hunter education certification requirement.
To register for the Saturday, March 10 online course, and for other valuable information, log onto myfwc.com/education/outdoor-skills/hunting/. If you have any additional questions, contact your FWC regional office at (386) 758-0525.