By Mike Roche

It is only the middle of July but fall and hunting seasons will be here before you know it. Now is the time to get busy planning for the hunting seasons, taking care of details and getting your gear in order.

One of the important details for first-time hunters is taking a Massachusetts Hunter Education course. This past Saturday the local class was held at Mahar Regional School in Orange. Hunter ed has changed considerably since this writer first began teaching classes back in the ‘70s. Then, students were almost exclusively 15-year-old boys who were eager to get their hunting license. There were always a number of younger students who were taking the course to hunt in Vermont or New Hampshire, where you could get a non-resident youth license when you were 12. In Massachusetts, you could not get a hunting license until you were 15, although you could hunt with an adult – sharing one gun and one bag limit – at the age of 12.

That demographic has changed dramatically, with adults in their 20s, 30s and beyond making up a majority of the students who attended the in-person field day. The field day is part of the blended format curriculum. Before attending the field day, students must successfully complete an online Hunter Education course. After successful completion, students can attend any one of the multiple field days that take place across the state.

The field day includes several hands-on learning stations designed to reinforce the curriculum included in the at-home online study. This format has become very popular, and it is obvious that people today are comfortable with online learning. After the round robin sessions and other instruction, students take the final exam, which requires an 80% score to pass and receive a hunter education certificate. The curriculum is the same taught in all 50 states, along with Canada and Mexico, and is overseen by the International Hunter Education Association with the certificate recognized in all states and provinces. This year, the class was the smallest ever since Hunter Education has been taught at Mahar Regional. I know that because yours truly has been teaching classes for nearly 50 years. The average has been over 50 students and this year 22 students enrolled and all were successful in passing the course.

It is hard to figure why the number was so low. First, there were only a few high school students participating and involvement in hunting by young people is clearly down all across the country. It may also be a case where students elected to take the field day at another location as they are taking place all summer.

If you, or someone you know is looking to complete a Hunter Education course, there are two curriculum choices. The blended format has become the most popular but traditional classes are still held. They require 12 hours of traditional classroom instruction. There is a traditional course that will be held in Palmer with two sessions on Aug. 10 and Aug. 17. You can call the Hunter Ed Office at MassWildlife at (508) 389-7830 to inquire if there are any openings. You can also go online anytime to take the online study guide and then attend one of the eight field days that are presently scheduled. You should not waste time and go to the MassWildlife website to get started on the process if you want to hunt this season.

Massachusetts hunting season will be starting soon and it kicks off with the Early Canada Goose Season on Sept. 2. The Youth and Veterans Waterfowl Hunts will take place on Sept. 21 and Oct. 5. The Youth Deer Season will be on Sept. 28 and archery season statewide opens on Oct. 7. Previously, only some eastern Mass zones opened early, but now bow hunters statewide enjoy two more weeks of bow hunting. Shotgun deer hunting starts Dec. 2 and primitive arms opens Dec. 16. Massachusetts woodcock season begins Oct. 3, and the pheasant and grouse opener is Oct. 19. Fall turkey season will open for archers on Oct. 7 and shotgun hunters start Oct. 21.

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Meanwhile, grouse and woodcock open in Vermont on Sept. 28 and in New Hampshire on Oct. 1. My plans are still a work in progress as my hope is to get north to Vermont or Maine early before heading to New York for a week or so and then focusing on local covers after that. Getting the dogs ready is still behind schedule and there is definitely some time at the range needed so the dogs don’t give me that sour look when the birds escape unscathed. So much to do and so little time!

Tuesday’s thunderstorm saw some serious wind, rain and lightning. The woods, like my lawns, are lush and green right now.

Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the Mahar Fish’N Game Club, counselor and director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, former Connecticut Valley District representative on the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, has been a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.