A recent hunter education muzzleloading course

This past Saturday, I assisted another instructor in teaching the ADF&G Hunter Information Program Muzzleloading certification course. Eight students were originally signed up for the course and seven showed up. We were presenting the online version of the course.

There are two versions of the muzzleloading course. The first is referred to as the instructor-led course. This version is eight to ten hours long and involves the student having completed all the workbook portions of the study manual supplied when the student signs up for the course, passing a written test based on the workbook information, and finally, successfully passing a shooting proficiency test using state supplied rifles and shooting supplies.

The second, and by far most popular version because it is shorter and the students work at their own pace online, is known as the online course. When a student signs up for this version, they take the course online and must pass an online written test. With the successfully completed online test certification in hand, they then sign up for a four-hour “field day.” The instructors usually review the material from online, asking questions to allow the students to demonstrate a mastery of the course materials. This is followed by a shooting proficiency test where the students supply their own firearms and shooting materials.

For both shooting proficiency tests, the student is required to have a minimum of four out of five shots in an eight-inch circle at fifty yards using any of four shooting positions (standing, sitting, kneeling, or prone). In the instructor-led course where the state supplies the firearms and shooting materials, the instructors are looking for a group anywhere on the target or target backstop. These students are allowed practice shots to learn where the rifle is shooting, since the gun isn’t their personal firearm.

For the online course, the students are required to use their own rifles and supply their own shooting materials. The assumption is that the students have sighted in their personal rifles and, therefore, no practice shots are allowed. Further, the eight-inch group needs to be centered around the bullseye on the target. If the group isn’t centered around the bullseye but is, say, a foot to the right and six-inches low, the student failed the shooting proficiency test. If time permits, the failing student is allowed to reshoot the test for either version of the course.

I was in the original instructor certification course ADF&G sponsored back in, I believe, the late 1990’s. When I started teaching the course, the duration was a couple of evenings and a weekend day to complete everything, and the course was entirely instructor led. The first few years, the students were mostly older guys who had been shooting muzzleloaders for years.

Virtually all the personal guns used were sidelocks – percussion or flintlock. There may have even been one or two underhammer guns as well. After the state acquired rifles for use in the course, the rifles were all inline percussion guns. Most of the “old-timers” taking the course at that time had never fired an inline gun, so it was a new experience for them.

In contrast to the “old” days, in this most recent class, all but one of the students were fifty years old or less and had been shooting blackpowder for a year or less. One guy was shooting his friend’s rifle since his own gun had only arrived the morning of the class. The one experienced student was older than the rest and had been shooting for around thirty-five years.

All the students expressed a basic understanding of the material and were ready to go shoot. We strongly mandate safety during these courses and explain what is expected and the consequences if a safety rule is violated. I was a little surprised when the experienced student was unable to get his rifle to fire and left the course, probably in frustration. The other six successfully passed the proficiency test but a couple had to shoot a second round to pass.

The weather was bright and sunny, but there was a chilly wind blowing through the shooting area, making things cold and uncomfortable. I emphasized to everyone, both during shooting and after everyone was finished, that they needed to keep practicing and everyone agreed, although most said they were going to wait for warmer weather – like next spring!

I want to thank the students for their help in setting up the classroom and shooting area and in taking everything down.