ManInBlack
Regular Member
I recently bought a compound bow and intend to hunt with it in the fall season. I took the online bowhunter education course, which requires that you come in for a 3.5 hr "field day" (mine was tonight). The class was held at the IDFG Boise Hunter Education Center just off of Chinden in Garden City. I arrived about 10 minutes early and found that there were about 20 folks already in the classroom (and I was surprised to see that 1/4 were lady hunters). The instructor (and IDFG volunteer named Shane Sisler) was sitting at a desk in the front, and when I walked over to sign in and pick up my materials, Mr. Sisler greeted me with, "Is that sidearm unloaded?"
Me: "No, sir."
SS: "Could you please unload it?"
Me: "Is this a state-owned building?"
SS: "Uh, yeah." (the sarcastic tone of his voice was intended to make me feel like I was in the wrong)
Me: "In that case, no, I'm not required to." [you should have seen the look on his face! priceless!]
SS: "Why would you take a loaded gun to a class?" (again with the sarcastic tone, bear in mind that he is speaking noticeably louder than polite conversation level)
Me: "It goes wherever I go, for protection."
SS: "Well, I promise I'm not going to rape you or anything." (on my honor, direct quote. at this point he begins getting my materials together)
Me: "I wasn't worried about you." ("until now," I wanted to add)
SS: "We just don't like loaded guns..."
Me: "I promise it'll stay right where it's at."
I picked up my things and went to my seat. Mr. Sisler began the class and for about the first hour and a half, continued to draw attention to my firearm, which didn't seem to rile up anyone in the class, but made me vaguely uncomfortable. Things like, "What do you do for protection against predators while bowhunting elk? You pack what he's got!" and "What happens if you encounter anti-hunters? No, you can't shoot them!" (pointing at me). After awhile, I think he got the hint that I wasn't amused, and the rest of the class went on without incident. None of the other students even came up to me and asked about it during the break, which both surprised and pleased me.
Overall, I'd rate this experience as neutral. While Mr. Sisler was unaware of the law, we have to bear in mind that he is a volunteer, and unlike IDFG enforcement officers, probably has no training in dealing with armed citizens. His immature attitude, tone of voice, and comments did peeve me slightly, but he seemed like a decent enough fellow and did know his stuff when it came to bowhunting elk. And, being obviously unaware of the law, I will give him credit for making the logical assumption that someone who is open carrying and seems to know what he is doing is probably not breaking the law, rather than the illogical assumption that something must be wrong and that calling additional armed strangers is necessary. At the very least, I hope that the encounter provoked at least one student to google "open carry."
Any comments or constructive criticism is welcome!
P.S.: Later in the class, he admitted, "You guys are going to rag me for this, but I'm actually originally from Kalifornia." I wanted to stand up and shout, "No, REALLY?!?" :lol:
Me: "No, sir."
SS: "Could you please unload it?"
Me: "Is this a state-owned building?"
SS: "Uh, yeah." (the sarcastic tone of his voice was intended to make me feel like I was in the wrong)
Me: "In that case, no, I'm not required to." [you should have seen the look on his face! priceless!]
SS: "Why would you take a loaded gun to a class?" (again with the sarcastic tone, bear in mind that he is speaking noticeably louder than polite conversation level)
Me: "It goes wherever I go, for protection."
SS: "Well, I promise I'm not going to rape you or anything." (on my honor, direct quote. at this point he begins getting my materials together)
Me: "I wasn't worried about you." ("until now," I wanted to add)
SS: "We just don't like loaded guns..."
Me: "I promise it'll stay right where it's at."
I picked up my things and went to my seat. Mr. Sisler began the class and for about the first hour and a half, continued to draw attention to my firearm, which didn't seem to rile up anyone in the class, but made me vaguely uncomfortable. Things like, "What do you do for protection against predators while bowhunting elk? You pack what he's got!" and "What happens if you encounter anti-hunters? No, you can't shoot them!" (pointing at me). After awhile, I think he got the hint that I wasn't amused, and the rest of the class went on without incident. None of the other students even came up to me and asked about it during the break, which both surprised and pleased me.
Overall, I'd rate this experience as neutral. While Mr. Sisler was unaware of the law, we have to bear in mind that he is a volunteer, and unlike IDFG enforcement officers, probably has no training in dealing with armed citizens. His immature attitude, tone of voice, and comments did peeve me slightly, but he seemed like a decent enough fellow and did know his stuff when it came to bowhunting elk. And, being obviously unaware of the law, I will give him credit for making the logical assumption that someone who is open carrying and seems to know what he is doing is probably not breaking the law, rather than the illogical assumption that something must be wrong and that calling additional armed strangers is necessary. At the very least, I hope that the encounter provoked at least one student to google "open carry."
Any comments or constructive criticism is welcome!
P.S.: Later in the class, he admitted, "You guys are going to rag me for this, but I'm actually originally from Kalifornia." I wanted to stand up and shout, "No, REALLY?!?" :lol:
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