Developing Wildlife Identification Skills - Hunter
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Course Outline
- Unit 1: Introduction to Hunter and Trapper Education
- Topic 1: Firearm Safety Rules
- Video: Welcome to Hunter Ed
- Rules About Firearm Safety
- Topic 2: The Importance of Hunter Education
- Why Hunter/Trapper Education?
- International Hunter Education Association
- Hunter and Trapper Education Goals
- Topic 3: Funding for Hunter Education
- Hunter Education Funding Sources
- Pittman–Robertson Act
- Topic 4: Summary
- What You Learned
- Topic 1: Firearm Safety Rules
- Unit 2: Be a Responsible and Ethical Hunter
- Topic 1: Why Do We Have Hunting Laws?
- Before Hunting Laws
- Benefits of Hunting Laws
- Fair Chase
- How Hunting Laws Are Passed
- Hunting Law Resources
- The Hunter's Image Matters
- Topic 2: Hunter Ethics
- Being an Ethical Hunter
- Respect Natural Resources
- Video: Approached by a Conservation Officer
- Respect Other Hunters
- Respect Landowners
- Respect Non-Hunters
- Hunter's Personal Code of Conduct
- Gray Areas of Ethical Behavior
- Topic 3: The Five Stages of Hunter Development
- Becoming a True Sportsman
- Five Stages: Shooting Stage
- Five Stages: Limiting-Out Stage
- Five Stages: Trophy Stage
- Five Stages: Method Stage
- Five Stages: Sportsman Stage
- True Sportsmen Become Involved
- Topic 4: Hunter's Dilemma
- Possible Situations in the Field
- Dilemma #1: "That's My Deer!"
- Dilemma #2: Ducks on the Pond
- Topic 5: Summary
- What You Learned
- Topic 1: Why Do We Have Hunting Laws?
- Unit 3: Know Your Firearm Equipment
- Topic 1: What Is a Firearm?
- Defining a Firearm
- Basic Parts of a Firearm
- Animation: Parts of a Bolt-Action Rifle
- Animation: Parts of a Pump-Action Shotgun
- Animation: Parts of a Double-Action Revolver
- Animation: Parts of a Semi-Automatic Pistol
- Topic 2: What Is Ammunition?
- Defining Ammunition
- Basic Components of Ammunition
- Selecting the Correct Ammunition
- Rifle and Handgun Cartridges
- Centerfire and Rimfire Ammunition
- Shotshells
- Choosing the Correct Type and Size of Shot
- Shot Sizes
- Non-Toxic Shot
- Topic 3: How a Firearm Works
- The Basic Firing Process
- How the Rifle and Handgun Fire
- Video: How a Cartridge Is Fired
- Video: How the Rifle and Handgun Fire
- How the Shotgun Shoots
- Topic 4: Common Features of Firearms: Firearm Actions
- Introduction to Firearm Actions
- Bolt Action
- Video: How a Bolt-Action Rifle Fires
- Lever Action
- Video: How a Lever-Action Rifle Fires
- Pump Action
- Semi-Automatic (or Autoloading) Action
- Video: How a Semi-Automatic Handgun Fires
- Break (or Hinge) Action
- Video: How a Break-Action Shotgun Fires
- Revolving Action
- Video: How a Double-Action Revolver Fires
- Common Actions on Rifles and Shotguns
- Common Actions on Handguns
- Topic 5: Common Features of Firearms: Firearm Safeties
- Safety Mechanisms
- Typical Locations of Safeties
- Types of Safeties
- Safeties Don't Replace Safe Handling
- Topic 6: Common Features of Firearms: Magazines and Sights
- Magazines
- Introduction to Sights
- Sights: Bead and Open
- Sights: Aperture (Peep)
- Sights: Telescopic (Scope) and Dot
- Topic 7: Differences Between Firearms
- Differences Between Rifles, Shotguns, and Handguns
- Rifling in the Rifle or Handgun Bore
- A Rifle's or Handgun's Caliber
- A Shotgun's Gauge
- Shotgun Choke and Shot String
- Types of Chokes
- Shot String at Various Distances
- Steel Shot
- Topic 8: Using the Correct Ammunition
- Match Firearms and Ammunition...Correctly!
- Safety Practices to Help You Avoid Using Wrong Ammunition
- The Danger of Using Wrong Ammunition
- Topic 9: A Firearm's Range
- Know Your Firearm's Range
- Maximum Projectile Range: Rifle
- Maximum Projectile Range: Shotgun
- Maximum Projectile Range: Handgun
- Video: Understanding Ballistics
- Topic 10: Cleaning and Storing Firearms
- Firearm Cleaning Basics
- A Cleaning Kit
- General Cleaning Instructions
- Steps for Cleaning a Firearm
- Where to Use a Brush, Cleaning Rod, and Cleaning Cable
- Video: Cleaning a Firearm
- Storing Your Firearm
- Storing Ammunition
- Topic 11: Summary
- What You Learned
- What You Learned (cont.)
- What You Learned (cont.)
- Topic 1: What Is a Firearm?
- Unit 4: Wildlife and Conservation Management
- Topic 1: Wildlife Conservation
- Wildlife Conservation in Pennsylvania
- Conservation and Preservation
- Lessons in Wildlife Management
- The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation
- Causes of Threatened and Endangered Species
- Habitat Management
- Habitat Balancing Act
- Carrying Capacity
- Factors That Affect Surplus of Game Animals
- The Hunter's Role in Wildlife Conservation
- Topic 2: Wildlife Management and Conservation Principles
- The Wildlife Manager's Role
- Wildlife Management Practices
- Beneficial Habitat Management Practices
- Topic 3: Wildlife Diseases
- Cleaning Game
- Chronic Wasting Disease
- Hemorrhagic Disease
- Lyme Disease
- Rabies
- Mange
- Topic 4: Wildlife Identification
- Wildlife Categories
- Developing Wildlife Identification Skills
- Large Mammals
- Small Mammals
- Upland Birds
- Waterfowl
- Birds of Prey
- Rare, Protected, or Endangered Species
- Pennsylvania Threatened and Endangered Species
- Continue Your Wildlife Education
- Topic 5: Summary
- What You Learned
- What You Learned (cont.)
- Topic 1: Wildlife Conservation
- Unit 5: Outdoor Safety
- Topic 1: Importance of Planning and Preparation
- Preparing for Risks
- Four Key Parts of Preparing
- The Hunting Plan
- Physical Conditioning
- Clothing
- Video: Effectiveness of Blaze Orange
- Day Pack-Survival Kit and Equipment
- Topic 2: Topographic Maps and Compasses
- Reading a Topographic Map
- Selecting a Compass
- Understanding Declination
- Plotting Your Progress
- Global Positioning System (GPS)
- Topic 3: Survival Skills
- Switching Into Survival Mode
- Rules of Survival
- S.T.O.P.: Stop, Think, Observe, Plan
- Preparing a Shelter
- Starting a Fire
- Signaling for Help
- Drinking Enough Water
- Finding Food
- Topic 4: Coping With Extreme Weather
- Hypothermia
- Symptoms and Treatment of Hypothermia
- Frostbite
- Basics of Cold Survival Without Fire
- Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
- Topic 5: First Aid
- Basic First Aid
- First Aid: Bleeding
- First Aid: Broken Bones
- First Aid: Burns, CO Poisoning, and Chest Wounds
- First Aid: Drownings, Heart Attacks, and Falls From Tree Stands
- First Aid: Shock
- First Aid: Snakebite
- The Red Cross and Good Samaritans
- First-Aid Kit
- Topic 6: Summary
- What You Learned
- What You Learned (cont.)
- Topic 1: Importance of Planning and Preparation
- Unit 6: Basic Hunting Techniques
- Topic 1: Planning and Preparation
- Steps You Should Take to Prepare for a Hunt
- Know Your Quarry
- Understand Animal Characteristics
- Topic 2: Hunting Strategies
- Introduction to Hunting Strategies
- Still Hunting
- Stalking
- Posting
- Using Ground Blinds
- Video: Hunting From a Ground Blind
- Using Elevated Stands
- Game Calling, Scents, and Decoys
- Driving
- Flushing and Hunting With Dogs
- Trapping
- Topic 3: Turkey Hunting
- Staying Safe During Turkey Hunts
- Identification
- Male Wild Turkey
- Female Wild Turkey
- Turkey Hunting Safety
- Topic 4: Vital Shots
- Where to Shoot
- Where to Aim When Turkey Hunting
- Animation: Choosing the Proper Shot Angle
- Shot Angles: Broadside
- Shot Angles: Quartering-Away
- Shot Angles: Quartering-Toward
- Shot Angles: Head-On
- Shot Angles: Rear-End
- Trailing Wounded Game
- Approaching Downed Game
- Topic 5: Field Care of Game
- Field Care Basics
- Field Dressing Techniques
- A Game Care Kit
- Field Dressing Deer
- Field Dressing Larger Game
- Transporting Game
- Topic 6: Summary
- What You Learned
- Topic 1: Planning and Preparation
- Unit 7: Advanced Hunting Techniques
- Topic 1: Know Your Muzzleloader
- Introduction to Primitive Equipment
- Parts of a Muzzleloader Firearm
- Muzzleloader Locks
- In-Line Muzzleloaders
- Muzzleloading Rifles, Shotguns, and Handguns
- Accessory Equipment
- Powders for Muzzleloaders
- Projectiles for Muzzleloaders
- Topic 2: Basic Muzzleloader Safety and Skills
- Basic Muzzleloader Safety
- Steps for Loading a Muzzleloader
- Loading an In-Line Muzzleloader
- Steps for Loading an In-Line Muzzleloader
- Unloading a Muzzleloader
- Firing a Muzzleloader
- Muzzleloader Hang Fire Situations
- Cleaning a Muzzleloader
- Video: Modern In-Line Muzzleloading Safety
- Topic 3: Know Your Bow and Arrow
- Speed and Range of Modern Bows
- Common Bow Types: Longbow (Stick Bow)
- Common Bow Types: Recurve Bow
- Common Bow Types: Compound Bow
- Stringing a Bow
- Parts of an Arrow
- Common Types of Arrowheads: Points
- Common Types of Arrowheads: Broadheads
- How a Broadhead Causes Death
- Topic 4: Bowhunting Safety and Skills
- Preparing for Safety Before You Go Out
- Bow-Shooting Safety
- Broadhead Safety
- Safety Accessories
- Bow-Shooting Position
- Nocking an Arrow
- Drawing and Anchoring the Bow
- Aiming the Bow
- Holding and Releasing the Bow
- Video: Archery Practice
- Topic 5: Know Your Crossbow Equipment
- The Crossbow
- Comparing a Conventional Bow to a Crossbow
- Parts of a Crossbow
- Recurve vs. Compound Bow
- Crossbow Safety Mechanism
- The Need for Cocking Aids
- Cocking Devices: Cocking Harness
- Cocking Devices: Hand Cranks
- Uncocking a Crossbow
- Topic 6: Crossbow Shooting
- Preventive Maintenance
- Centering the Crossbow String's Serving Area
- Cocking the Crossbow
- Holding the Crossbow
- Shooting the Crossbow
- Video: Crossbow Safety
- Topic 7: Game Recovery
- Game Recovery Steps When Bow and Crossbow Hunting
- How to Judge Distance
- Video: Hey, I Got One
- Topic 8: History of Primitive Hunting Equipment
- History of Firearms
- History of the Bow and Arrow
- Topic 9: Summary
- What You Learned
- What You Learned (cont.)
- Topic 1: Know Your Muzzleloader
- Unit 8: Trapping and Furtaking Basics
- Topic 1: Benefits and Best Management Practices of Trapping
- Benefits of Trapping
- Best Management Practices (BMPs)
- Topic 2: Types of Traps
- Kill Traps
- Live-Hold Traps
- Which Trap for Which Animal?
- Trap Maintenance
- Topic 3: Trapping Practices
- Learn Best Practices
- How Animals Are Used
- Releasing Non-Target Species
- Dispatching Trapped Animals
- Characteristics of a Responsible Trapper
- Topic 4: Summary
- What You Learned
- Topic 1: Benefits and Best Management Practices of Trapping
- Unit 9: Basic Shooting Skills
- Topic 1: Good Marksmanship and Accuracy
- Fundamentals of Good Marksmanship
- Selecting the Proper Firearm and Ammunition
- Determining Accuracy Limits
- Protecting Your Vision and Hearing
- Topic 2: Rifle Firing
- Sight Alignment
- Aligning an Open Sight
- Determining Your Dominant or Master Eye
- Sighting-In a Rifle
- Optional Sighting-In Techniques
- Sighting-In Procedure
- Adjusting Your Sight
- Video: Sighting-In a Rifle
- Rifle-Firing Techniques
- Firing Positions: Prone
- Firing Positions: Standing
- Firing Positions: Sitting
- Firing Positions: Kneeling
- Topic 3: Shotgun Shooting
- Shooting a Shotgun vs. a Rifle
- Choosing the Proper Choke
- Matching Choke to Your Quarry
- Patterning Your Shotgun
- The Patterning Procedure
- When Is Your Shot Patterning Correct?
- Shotgun-Shooting Stance
- Shouldering, Pointing, and Pulling the Trigger of a Shotgun
- Leading the Target: Swing-Through Method
- Leading the Target: Sustained Lead
- Snap-Shooting
- Topic 4: Handgun Shooting
- Handgun Loading and Handling
- Handgun-Shooting Position and Grip
- Handgun Sight Alignment and Aiming
- Handgun-Shooting Techniques
- Topic 5: Summary
- What You Learned
- What You Learned (cont.)
- What You Learned (cont.)
- Topic 1: Good Marksmanship and Accuracy
- Unit 10: Safe Hunting Skills
- Topic 1: Why Firearm Safety Is Important
- Introduction to Firearm Safety
- Firearm Safety in the Home
- Hunting Incidents
- Main Causes of Hunting Incidents
- Video: Staying Safe After the Shot
- Importance of Safe Backstops
- Firearm Safety at the Shooting Range
- Helping Accident Victims
- Topic 2: Safely Carrying Firearms in the Field
- Introduction to Safe Carries
- Video: Safe Firearm Carries
- Proper Field Carries: Trail Carry
- Proper Field Carries: Sling Carry
- Proper Field Carries: Elbow or Side Carry
- Proper Field Carries: Two-Handed or "Ready" Carry
- Proper Field Carries: Cradle Carry
- Proper Field Carries: Shoulder Carry
- Proper Field Carries: Three Hunters, Side by Side
- Proper Field Carries: Three Hunters, Walking Single File
- Proper Field Carries: Hunters Facing One Another
- Crossing Obstacles: Alone
- Crossing Obstacles: With Others
- Passing a Firearm to Another Person
- Video: Safe Fence Crossing
- Checking for Obstructions
- Video: Clearing Plugged Gun Barrels
- Topic 3: Safely Loading and Unloading Firearms
- Loading Firearms
- Video: Loading and Unloading Firearms
- Unloading Firearms
- Topic 4: Transporting Firearms
- Safely Transporting Firearms
- Gun Cases for Transporting Firearms
- Video: Transporting Firearms Safely
- Topic 5: Safe Zone-of-Fire
- What Is a Zone-of-Fire?
- Determining Your Safe Zone-of-Fire
- Maintaining Your Safe Zone-of-Fire
- Video: Safe Zones-of-Fire
- Topic 6: Other Safety Considerations
- Self-Control and Target Identification
- Shooting Accuracy
- Alcohol and Drugs
- Beware of Hang Fires
- Stay Out! Stay Alive!
- Topic 7: Hunting From Elevated Stands
- Introduction to Elevated Stands
- Pros and Cons of Elevated Stands
- S.T.E.P.S. to Safe Tree Stand Hunting
- Types of Portable Tree Stands
- Portable Tree Stands: Hang-On Stands
- Portable Tree Stands: Climbing Stands
- Portable Tree Stands: Ladder Stands
- Tripods, Quadpods, or Tower Stands (Freestanding)
- Elevated Stand Location
- Video: Preparing to Hunt From a Tree Stand
- Fall-Arrest Systems (FAS)
- Fall-Arrest System Safety Guidelines
- Avoiding Suspension Trauma
- Hauling Hunting Equipment Into a Stand
- Elevated Stand Safety
- Video: Tree Stand Hunting Safety
- Topic 8: Hunting With Boats
- Trip Preparation When Hunting With Boats
- Transporting Firearms in a Boat
- Zone-of-Fire in a Boat
- Surviving Water Emergencies
- Types of Personal Flotation Devices
- Dealing With Cold Water Immersion
- Survival Steps If You Cannot Get Out of the Water
- Topic 9: Hunting With All-Terrain Vehicles
- Introduction to All-Terrain Vehicles
- Rules for Safe and Ethical Operation When Hunting With ATVs
- Know the Law Before Hunting With ATVs
- Topic 10: Summary
- What You Learned
- What You Learned (cont.)
- What You Learned (cont.)
- Topic 1: Why Firearm Safety Is Important
- Unit 11: Expanding Your Opportunities
- Topic 1: Where to Hunt
- Introduction to Opportunities
- Pennsylvania Geographic Information
- Public Land Area and Management Agencies
- Hunting Opportunities on Public Lands
- Hunting on Private Land
- Topic 2: Advanced Programs
- Wildlife Conservation Groups
- Hunting and Trapping Opportunities
- Successful Bowhunting
- Successful Furtaking
- Social Media Sportsmen
- Outreach Programs
- Mentor Someone
- Topic 3: Summary
- What You Learned
- Topic 1: Where to Hunt
Developing wildlife identification skills is a basic requirement for hunters. Knowing the key characteristics of animals will help you distinguish between similar species and between the male and female of the same species.
- Mistakes in identification can lead to:
- Illegally harvesting non-game animals or…
- Accidentally shooting a person who was mistaken for game.
- Identifying animals accurately can be difficult, but it is a skill that improves with experience. To identify game animals properly, you must learn to recognize key characteristics of the animal you’re hunting. These characteristics include:
- The animal’s shape, size, coloring, and any other distinguishing features
- Wildlife sign, such as tracks, scat, and calls
- The animal’s habitat and range
- What the animal eats (herbivore, carnivore, or omnivore)
- Nesting locations for birds
- Daily habits, such as following a specific routine, being nocturnal, or being solitary
Many resources are available for learning about wildlife. Good sources are books, television shows that feature hunting and nature topics, and websites, such as that of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
- Unit 4 of 11
- Topic 4 of 5
- Page 2 of 10
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