Training Courses

 

Sharpshooting training specific for deer addresses, but is not be limited to site assessment, baiting strategies, stand site selection, shooting vehicle design, target selection, bullet types, caliber selection, shooting proficiency and nighttime range practice, site policing during operations, suppressors, night vision, thermal imagers, carcass retrieval, and meat donation.

 

We have trained firearms-proficient police officers and professional culling agents to safely, professionally, efficiently, and humanely cull a spectrum of species. Our training includes range exercises to acquire and efficiently place shots in a manner consistent with AVMA standards.  We have designed a practice regimen that will allow increased proficiency in accuracy, speed, and efficiency. It is imperative that no animals are wounded.

 

Our training also focuses on how to observe and understand wildlife behavior and then manipulate it for optimal efficiency. This includes selecting animals for priority shooting, when not to shoot, deer posture and position within a group, head orientation, and patterns of head movement to determine when to shoot. It is critical that no animal engaged animal is wounded for humaneness considerations, escapes and becomes “educated”,  and that no shots are missed.

 

After the initial training and practice period, each participant will be transitioned into all aspects of the shooting team under direct supervision. After weeks of practice, trainees will shoot reasonably well, but will not be ready to engage groups of animals under consideration.  Through the apprenticeship phase, the goal is to transition trainees as quickly as possible into an integrated team.  

 

The next step of training includes a demonstration phase when the actual program begins. This phase is part of the participants “micro-apprenticeship” that transitions to competence, in a complex, team-oriented task. The demonstration phase creates greater confidence and ensures the safety, humaneness, and efficiency of the program. Narrative training for a complex task is much less effective, and it requires prolonged training, thereby increasing the length of the project which:

 

• Increases the costs of the project.

• Creates the potential for legal or direct intervention due to the extended length of the project.

• Results in a higher percentage of animals that witness the procedures and become educated to the program.

• Decreases the potential for long-term success and lessens the visibility of the remaining deer to the public.

 

Our training approach transitions trainees to full operational competence, as quickly as possible, while also ensuring confidence building, the safety of the program, efficiency, and humaneness of the culling project.

 

 

Hunter Training

 

One of the most significant issues facing wildlife managers today is effectively managing the expanding regional deer populations as the number of licensed hunters declines, and access is often restricted.  Managers would benefit from hunters that are capable and willing to harvest more deer.  Our training course is designed to:

 

•  Teach specific skills for harvesting deer in developed environments.

•  Assist hunters in identifying and respecting their individual limitations.

•  Emphasize the need to work together as a team to collectively manage a deer population

 

The goal of our training program is to focus on safety, humaneness, discretion, and efficiency when hunting in human-developed environments.  This addition to traditional hunter education programs is especially critical in the suburban/exurban interface where hunters and their activities are more easily observed by the non-hunting public.  While acknowledging that safe hunting is the overriding concern, the objectives of the training program are:

 

• To increase the number of deer harvested per hunter

• To have the lowest possible wounding rates

• To demonstrate to the general public that hunting is a humane and effective deer management option

 

It is hoped that state agencies, hunting organizations, and local municipalities recognize the value of this concept and become partners in this initiative.  Landowners are more likely to allow access to “certified” Suburban Deer Hunters knowing they have been trained in Suburban/Exurban hunting methods and evaluated to a higher standard of excellence.  

 

In areas with high deer densities, certified hunters with advanced training will put their skills and time to best use to effectively reduce the deer population.  This program will produce a substantial corps of individuals who have the expertise in harvesting deer in challenging management environments, resulting in benefits to state agencies, local communities with concerns about deer conflicts, and sportsmen. 

 

Our mission is not to teach people basic shooting skills, but to develop an advanced level of proficiency, confidence, knowledge, and problem-solving ability to better address the complicated and specific challenges of suburban deer management.  The primary areas of content are proficiency standards, equipment options, tree stand safety, the art of baiting, stand site selection and preparation, shot selection, placement and follow-up, biology, ethics, and community/landowner relations. Certified hunters are expected to have the ability and desire to integrate easily into community deer management programs with the dedication to program goals and expectations. A certification shall be given to those participants demonstrating advanced proficiency in, and understanding of, each content area. 

 

Please Contact Us if you are interested in learning more about our training programs.