ADVANCED HUNTER EDUCATION -- BOWHUNTER EDUCATION FIELD DAY EVENTS SCHEDULED

Event completes two-part independent study process

In preparation for the 2008 archery deer season, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) Hunter Education section is offering Advanced Hunter Education -- Bowhunter Education Field Day events. The Field Day completes the two-part independent study process required to attain the Kansas Bowhunter Education and National Bowhunter Education Foundation’s (NBEF) International Bowhunter Education Program (IBEP) certification.

Kansas has adopted NBEF’s program of bowhunter education. The internationally-accepted course, led by Kansas Certified Bowhunter Education (IBEP) volunteer instructors, is designed to teach bowhunters to be ethical, considerate, humane and safe. A few of the topics covered in an NBEF/Kansas Bowhunter Education course include hunter ethics, treestand safety, shot placement and shot selection, and blood trailing.

Before registering for a Field Day event, students complete (on their own time) the Kansas online distance learning course found at www.nbef.org. There is a $20 charge for taking the online exam, collected whether a student passes or fails. (The fee covers use of the online course materials and costs of administering the online exam. The entire fee is retained by Kalkomey Enterprises, Inc. and the NBEF.) Upon successful completion of the online portion of the course, the student will print out a Field Day Qualifier Exam Certificate required to attend the final portion of the bowhunter education course.

After completing the Field Day portion, which also includes successfully passing the Kansas bowhunter education state test, the student will receive official proof of course completion.

Times and locations of currently scheduled field day events include the following:

  • southeast Kansas -- Saturday, July 26 at Camp Alexander, 1783 Road P5, Emporia, 8 a.m. to noon;
  • southeast Kansas -- Sunday, August 10 at Neosho State Fishing Lake, 3645 Scott Rd, Parsons, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; and
  • northeast Kansas -- Sunday, September 14 at Prairie Center, 26235 West 135th St, Olathe, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Specific information regarding each event is found at the KDWP website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us. Pre-registration is required by phoning the Hunter Education Section at 620-672-5911.

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