Take aim at archery season with class

By BUTCH AND

JEHNIFER EHMANN

For the Frontiersman

MAT-SU — Who doesn’t love surprises?

When my husband stashed a new compound bow in my office last fall I could hardly wait to venture out into the world of archery. Our first stop was Screamin’ Eagle Archery in Wasilla, where my husband introduced me to friend and pro staffer Wayne Foust. Wayne began by measuring my draw length and going over the basic anatomy of a bow. The next 10 minutes he walked me through the ins and outs of shooting, and in no time I was ready to give it a shot.

I drew back, exhaled and released.

Thwap! My new favorite sound; I hit the target.

Wayne continued to have me shoot and after each time would point out different things to do or keep an eye on. I love a good challenge, so every couple shots I had him turn up the poundage on the bow, because who doesn’t want to find out how strong they are? Turns out I need a can of spinach right around 50 pounds.

So that was my new goal, and it’s also what you have to pull in order hunt brown bear and moose in Alaska. We recommend starting off your bow at a poundage that allows you to shoot 30 to 50 arrows during a practice session.

From the beginning, I knew I wanted to take the Bow Hunter Certification Course offered by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game before hunting game in the field. The course is offered in two formats — online and traditional. The online format has the course information online for you to review and then complete a 50-question test with a score of 80 percent or better to pass. Once you receive your passing grade, you print the test and take it with you when you go to your half-day field proficiency shoot, which includes a blood trailing exercise. For the traditional class, you review information in a book and fill out written chapter reviews. Once completed, you sit for a full day class, half of which is class review and a 50-question written test (requiring 80 percent to pass). The class ends with the half-day field proficiency shoot.

The field portion of the test requires you take eight shots at four 3D targets, two shots at each target, one of which is standing and one kneeling, and you must hit each target in the kill zone one time. On one target you must hit the kill zone twice. This means you must make five of eight shots in the vitals, or “kill zone,” in order to pass.

There is also a blood trailing exercise you follow as a group. Distances, targets and elevations vary slightly between testing ranges, but generally speaking, expect to take shots between 10 to 30 yards, and at least one of your targets will be a shot involving elevation. You are allowed to use a range finder during your field test, but you are not allowed to share the distances with others who are in your group. Make sure you also bring a quiver or case to carry your arrows in, as you will not be allowed to carry them through out the course in your hand. All testing is done with field tips, not broad heads.

In order to prepare myself for the test, we set up a range in the back yard for practicing. I knew from the description of the class that I would be shooting at various distances and possibly elevations between 10 and 30 yards, so we put stakes in the ground at 13, 17, 20, 25 and 32 yards. I practiced shooting each night, rain or shine, standing and kneeling from each yardage. We recommend that while practicing you wear the exact gear you plan to wear during your test and/or gear you will wear hunting.

I opted for the traditional class format. There were 14 people in my class, which made for three groups for the field portion of the day. The class has information for every hunter, novice to expert, and if nothing else helps protect and maintain a positive stigma around bow hunting by requiring proficiency in the rules and regulation and most importantly shot placement.

Bow hunting classes certify about 800 hunters each year. Please note that Alaska does not require all bow hunters become certified, only hunters who wish to participate in archery only hunts. Pplease see game regulations for more information. Classes begin in May for Anchorage and the Mat-Su. Class information and schedules are listed online at adfg.alaska.gov.

Jehnifer and Butch Ehmann are local outdoors enthusiasts who live in Palmer.