On Target: A Bow Hunter's Safety Course

Before they head out to the woods and fields of New York State for the upcoming season, bow hunters in Rockland are making certain they are on-target with the latest rules and regulations and safety guidelines.

"Hunter's safety is a mandatory class for anyone who wants to hunt," explains Stan Pascoo, the Master Gun and Bow Instructor for Rockland County for the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Safety and ethics were the themes of a Bow Hunters Safety Course Stan held last week - one of several hunting courses.

Hunting season begins in the fall and different game seasons come and go as the as winter passes. The mandatory safety course is an eight-hour class that spreads over three sessions.

In this latest program, a meeting room at Clarkstown Town Hall in New City became a hunting classroom. DEC Officer Nick Desotelle answered questions and displayed some basic bow technique. Desotelle expressed the importance of not only hunting safely, but doing it legally.

The course also had a hands-on field exhibition held at Camp Bullowa in Stony Point. Again, safety and ethics were at the forefront. Discussions and demonstrations of how to properly secure equipment and how to safely deal with animals and the terrain were given throughout the class.

A hunters education course, which is mandatory in the state of New York for all who wish to hunt, will be held on Sept. 14, 15 and 16 from 7 – 11 p.m. at Clarkstown Town Hall.

For more information go to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's website.