Master Hunter Orientation

Introduction
Congratulations on taking the important first step toward becoming a Certified Master Hunter. The process is both challenging and rewarding. The challenges consist of meeting four requirements:

• Extensive home study followed by a comprehensive written test.
• Shooting proficiency witnessed at a shooting range.
• Performance of 20 or more hours of wildlife conservation work;
• Completion of a CORT session.

In addition, you must pass a Criminal Background Check conducted by the Department. This check is similar to those required of Hunter Education Instructors and Teachers. This is the final step prior to certification. Regardless of meeting all other requirements, candidates will not be certified if a significant conviction is found on their record.

The rewards include the elevation of yourself, as a hunter, to the highest level of stewardship and conduct, the opportunity to assist the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in various wildlife management programs including damage hunts (hunts arranged to eliminate animals causing damage to crops or habitat), association with others who have made the same commitment to the sport of hunting, and other avenues of service to enhance and perpetuate our sport.

The purpose of this document is to help orient and assist you in the challenge of becoming a Master Hunter. First is an explanation of the new Master Hunter Program. It is critical for you to understand what a Master Hunter is and is not, and what the Master Hunter Program is and is not.

Next, each of the four requirements that you must complete is reviewed and advice provided.

The Master Hunter Program
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife began the formal program of training and certification of Advanced Hunter Education (AHE) Master Hunters in 1992. The purpose was then, and is now, to create a pool of highly qualified hunters to assist the Department in managing wildlife in problem situations. Since that time the program has been very successful, but not without a few highly visible problems.

The successes consist of thousands of animals removed humanely from damage situations. Millions of dollars in crop damage have been avoided. In almost all instances, AHE Master Hunters have performed admirably both with respect to shot selection and landowner and public relations.

However in the past several years a few serious breaches of game laws and ethical behavior have cast a cloud over the program. The Department therefore must ensure that such behavior ceases completely. The Master Hunter Program is too important to be compromised by a handful of unethical people.

Accordingly, in early 2007, acceptance of new applications was suspended while members of the Department and the AHE Advisory group examined the Program and developed plans for improvement. This work was completed late in 2007 and the newly created Master Hunter Program was opened to new applicants in January 2008. As a result of this work, numerous changes to the Program were made to help ensure that the hunters who apply understand the standards and expectations they must meet.

First among these is our Code of Ethics:

Master Hunter Code of Ethics
As a Master Hunter, I am a steward of the future of hunting. I pledge to act in accordance with the highest ethical standards, and to display proper respect for game, landowners, other hunters and the public.

Stop reading now. How did you react to the Code of Ethics?
If your reaction was not positive in all respects, then this Program is not for you. But if you thought, “That’s me.” Then you’ve made a good decision by applying.

We also defined the Master Hunter:

Who is a Master Hunter?
A Master Hunter is a person who possesses the desired combination of Ethics, Stewardship, Knowledge and Skill as applied to hunting and related activities.

Ethics: Fair chase Respect for laws Respect for game Respect for landowners Respect for the public Zero tolerance for violations	Knowledge: Law & Regulations Game Firearms Hunting heritage Safety Habitat vs Human activity
Stewardship: Conservation Mentoring Service CORT (Crime Obs & Rept Tng) LNT (Leave no trace) Education	Skill: Shooting Hunting & tracking Care of meat Wilderness survival

Ethics: There’s a lot of information embodied in these words. Let’s look at Ethics. Respect for laws, game, landowners and the public should be clear. If you are going to wear our patch on your shoulder, then you are expected to set the proper example both by your attitude and by your conduct.

Zero tolerance is a newly adopted requirement. What it means is that we will tolerate no deviation from strict obedience of game law and regulations, laws related to your conduct in the field, and ethical behavior. Master Hunters who are convicted of wildlife misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, or felonies; trespassing-while-hunting; or reckless endangerment involving hunting weapons, will be removed from the Master Hunter Program for life. Master Hunters who commit wildlife infractions, such as failure to wear hunter orange in the manner prescribed, may be removed from the Master Hunter Program for up to a five-year period.

If a Master Hunter is charged with a wildlife or trespassing violation that does not result in a conviction, or an ethical violation that does not rise to a criminal law or regulation violation, a Master Hunter Peer Review Committee, selected by the Master Hunter Advisory Group, will evaluate the behavior to decide whether it was egregious. If the Committee deems the behavior egregious, the Department may suspend the violator’s Master Hunter privileges for any amount of time, up to and including life.

Master Hunter applicants must submit to a Criminal Background Check. Persons who have prior wildlife or trespassing-while-hunting convictions within the past 10 years, or prior felonies prohibiting the possession of firearms (unless firearm possession is reinstated), or who have current hunting license suspensions in another state, cannot apply for the Master Hunter program.

Stop reading again. Once again, if your reaction was positive, you’ve made the right decision by applying. If not, this Program is not for you, because unlawful and unethical behavior on your part will get you ejected from the Program and prosecuted, when appropriate. Master Hunters are held to a higher standard than the general hunting public. We must set examples for best behavior. The Program’s credibility depends on these examples, and swift action will be taken to remove a violator from the ranks of Master Hunters.

Stewardship means that you personally assume responsibility for the wildlife and its habitat in Washington state. That means that you will personally be involved in wildlife habitat conservation, you will leave every forest, field and stream that you visit better than you found it, and you will serve as a positive example for young people and the non-hunting public. You will seek out opportunities to assist less knowledgeable or less capable hunters. You may be or may become involved in Hunter Safety Education. You will look for opportunities to “give back” to the system that gave you the opportunities that you enjoy.

We also added the requirement for you to complete CORT. CORT means “Crime Observation and Reporting Training”. Once again, stop reading. Did the word “crime” make you nervous? How about “reporting”? If so, you may not want to proceed. Master Hunters are expected to report suspected violations. Law enforcement officers need this support. Violators must be prosecuted.

Knowledge: Master Hunters are called upon to kill and remove game animals in the act of damaging private property. Safety is always the most important consideration. We must have a thorough knowledge of firearms and their use. And we need to be familiar with the game and its habits. Often Master Hunters are asked to control depredating game in sensitive settings visible to the general public. You must know how to conduct yourself accordingly.

We must follow all laws and regulations. Being selected to remove a game animal causing damage does not relieve the Master Hunter from any laws and regulations.

As Master Hunters we have the opportunity and the responsibility to present a positive image to the public. Understanding the heritage of sport hunting, and the role of hunting in game management, and the importance of habitat to game populations is vital in assuring the public that regulated hunting can have a positive effect on game populations, and that by far the greatest threat to game populations is loss of habitat.

Skill: We must be skilled marksman, not just on the range, but in the field. We must be able to exercise extreme care in shot selection and shot placement.

We must have the skill to find an animal if it is wounded and deal with it once it is down. We must be able to efficiently recover the meat and dispose of the remainder of the animal properly.

We also must be able to take care of ourselves in the field, especially under adverse conditions. We cannot expect that damage control will only be needed in pleasant weather.

The Requirements for Becoming a Master Hunter
There are four requirements to be completed in order to become a Certified Master Hunter. Guidance is provided to assist you in using this material and meeting the other requirements.

Home study and the written test
You have received a package of material. Some of the material may be written and some may be on electronic media. Everything in this package matters. You will have to answer questions on a written test on this information.

A suggested approach to dealing with the packet is to quickly scan all of the material and then examine the Study Questions pamphlet. This should help orient you to the nature of the information provided and the kinds of questions you will be answering.

Then it is necessary for you to study all of the material. The written test will include questions from all of the material of the package. Take the time to read all of the material, but don’t take so much time that you forget what you’ve already read. This is hard work for most people. It takes time and commitment. You need to set aside enough time to get it done. Many applicants do not pass the written test the first time. Those who fail usually say, “I should have studied everything”, or “I didn’t take it seriously enough”, or “I thought I already knew enough to pass”.

It is your responsibility to make arrangements to take the written test from the appropriate Department Regional office, or to arrange to have a local Certified Hunter Education Instructor proctor the examination. A list of offices is included in the package.

Shooting
Master Hunters may be called upon to make challenging shots. Furthermore, Master Hunters should be able to make a clean kill every time they take a shot. Accordingly, you must demonstrate a high level of shooting proficiency. You may qualify with your choice of any of five firearms: rifle, handgun, shotgun, muzzleloader or bow. You may qualify with more than one firearm; some Master Hunters have qualified with all five. However in order to be certified, currently, you need only qualify with one.

Qualification consists of meeting minimum requirements for that firearm. Minimum requirements are included in the package. Any unrelated adult may serve as a witness for the Master Hunter shooting qualifications. Relatives may not serve as witnesses for shooting qualifications. Your report of shooting must be notarized. Misrepresentation of shooting proficiency is a violation of law.

Skeet or trap shooters must shoot clay targets at an official skeet or trap range. A pamphlet listing ranges in Washington State is included in the package.

All hunting equipment used to qualify must meet legal requirements for general hunting seasons.

Conservation
The relationship between human activity, animal habitat and animal populations is now well understood by biologists and conservationists. However the general public does not appreciate that the principle cause of decline of wildlife populations is loss of habitat.

As a Master Hunter, you are a steward of the sport of hunting. Every interface with the public and with landowners and other hunters is an opportunity to enhance the image of hunters as conservationists. One of the best ways to do this is to roll up your sleeves and improve the habitat for wildlife. Applicants must complete 20 or more hours of wildlife conservation work.

Conservation projects must be approved in advance by the Master Hunter Program Coordinator unless they meet the guidelines on the Conservation Project page AND you have obtained the support and guidance from WDFW personnel in your local area. A list of acceptable volunteer project categories and some specific tasks can be found on the Department’s Master Hunter Program web site.

Wildlife conservation organizations, private landowners, and public landowners who have partnerships with the Department to accomplish mutually beneficial wildlife conservation work are also good sources of volunteer projects for Master Hunter applicants.

Conducting Hunter Education classes also can earn hours for certification or re-certification under certain circumstances.

Master Hunter volunteers working on Department projects or on behalf of the Department as part of a private land or public land partnership must comply with Department Volunteer Policies and Procedures. Requirements include formal registration as a volunteer; submittal of monthly time sheets during each month volunteer work is performed; and completion of appropriate safety training. It will be the responsibility of the Department supervisor of Master Hunter volunteer projects to provide needed training and to provide necessary forms and paperwork that will be required. For more information, you can contact the WDFW Volunteer Coordinator, at volunteers@dfw.wa.gov. It is your responsibility to locate a project and obtain approval.

CORT
We demand adherence to law, regulation and ethical behavior. We now have a zero tolerance policy. We also expect Master Hunters to help enforce this policy. CORT, “Crime Observation and Reporting Training” is a program designed to train hunters and other people in the principles of identifying violations and gathering information necessary to prosecute the violators.

CORT sessions are conducted throughout Washington state. There is currently no charge, and the training generally is conducted in a single session. Applicants are responsible for locating a session and attending. Proof of completion is a copy of the Certificate issued after the session. Sessions can be located using a link on the Master Hunter website.

Re-certification Requirements
Initial certification lasts for five years. If you wish to continue to be a Master Hunter, you must re-certify before the end of the five-year period. Recertification extends your Master Hunter status for another five years. You may re-certify every five years for as long as you wish. With the formal establishment of the new Master Hunter Program in early 2008 (WAC 232-12-073), the requirement for re-certification is to spend 40 or more hours doing volunteer wildlife conservation work. The period of performance covers the entire five years of each period of certification. We consider an average of eight hours of service per year to be a very modest requirement.

As with your initial project work, re-certification volunteer projects must be approved in advance by the Department’s Master Hunter Program Coordinator unless they meet the guidelines on the Conservation Project page AND you have obtained the support and guidance from WDFW personnel in your local area. Locating and completing the activity is your responsibility.

Other requirements may be added in the future. The purpose of re-certification requirements is to ensure that Master Hunters remain committed to the principles and Mission of the Program, that they remain involved with projects that benefit wildlife, and that they continue to provide service to the heritage of hunting.

Success and Failure
Throughout the history of the Master Hunter Program more than 10,000 people have applied. Only 2,450 of them successfully completed the requirements and were certified. Some who were certified later dropped out or elected not to re-certify. There are currently about 1,880 Certified Master Hunters. Why have so many applicants failed, and why have some dropped out?

Most applicants who fail to complete the requirements either don’t commit the time or don’t take the requirements seriously. It’s tough. It takes a lot of work and it takes a lot of initiative on your part. You have to decide that this is for you and you have to make the commitment to do the work. Nine months seems like plenty of time. But if you start and stop a few times you’ll be out of time before you know it.

Master Hunters who drop out usually do so because they had the wrong impression about the program. Some think it is a special opportunity to kill a trophy animal, or a chance for special hunts that the regular hunters don’t get. That’s not what it is. Master Hunters provide game management skills and operate in full view of the public. We perform a service and we represent the hunting sport.

If all of this sounds like you, then get to work, make a schedule, set aside time to work every week, and join us. If not, stop now and don’t waste your time.

Prepared by the Master Hunter Advisory Group of Washington
January 2008