BC guys: What's the advantage of taking PAL before CORE?

MD

MD

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I got my BC hunter number by being grandfathered in at 17 and challenged the PAL test when that came in, so I'm a bit ignorant of the procedure for a new guy.

A good buddy in his 40s wants to get his hunting licence now and I've heard that taking the PAL first makes CORE easier.

Why?

Do the CORE examiners ALL skip the firearms component if you've gt your PAL?
 
Assuming you know nothing about either, I'd assume the learning curve is more gradual if you've already taken your PAL course. Get him to take his RPAL too!

Speaking of CORE though, what area of the province is he getting his in?
 
If you do the PAL first then you already have all the firearms safety stuff fresh in your head, so that aspect of the CORE is easier. There is a firearms safety component to CORE so it helps to know a little.
 
It's been a while :) But just guessing off the top of my head, i'd personally argue that if you take the core, then you wouldn't have to study for the pal at all really - the training is pretty much the same as I understand it and you could just challenge the pal by reading the manual without bothering with the course. Especially if you've had him to the range and gone over the basics with him. That would save him from taking one course.
 
id do it the other way for the reasons foxer said, core has a firearms component so you dont need to take a course for your pal, just read the book and freshen up a bit
 
haven just taken CORE, PAL and RPAL, you can take CORE and then your PAL if he's wanting to save money. CORE basically covers the majority of information that PAL covers, so if he takes CORE and then studies the PAL manual to learn and remember the finer details, he can challenge the PAL program and take the test and pay $15 for the manual and $25 for the test rather then $85 for the whole program.
 
scott said:
if you take the pal first, you won't have to do the firearms handing test for the core.
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Probably the greatest advantage, if you show me your valid PAL I don't have to test you on the firearm practical section.

I find it a little disturbing that someone today can get their PAL and hunting license without actually firing a real gun....back in my day about 25 years ago when I took my CORE (ouch that is starting to make me sound old) we had a shooting exam that we had to pass for both 22 and centerfire rifles.

Cheers
 
If you have your PAL, you skip the practical section of the CORE test.

Atleast thats what happened to me and my dad.
 
I find it a little disturbing that someone today can get their PAL and hunting license without actually firing a real gun....back in my day about 25 years ago when I took my CORE (ouch that is starting to make me sound old) we had a shooting exam that we had to pass for both 22 and centerfire rifles.
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I kinda know what you mean, but i have to wonder if it's a real problem or not... realistically while you CAN get a license without having fired a gun, i wonder if anyone actually does? I would bet someone took 'em to the range at least a few times before they committed to the whole CORE training or even the firearms training. And I suspect the majority of folk who did would make the range their next stop - where they'll likely be watched over by people who know a thing or two and to whom they can ask questions if they need to.

I'd rather not complicate the process I think. I mean, i get where you're coming from, but unless we start having a problem i'm thinking lets not make it any harder to get folk out there.
 
Hi Foxer,
I am not saying it is a problem that has been identified, and definitely not suggesting we need more restrictions. It was just an observation sparked by that thread about the 55 year old guide needing a bear gun.....case in point where lack of knowledge could lead to a dangerous or deadly situation for more than just her...wherever you have people you will have both ethical and unethical, educated and uneducated, diligent and undiligent. unfortunately any press that seems to come out of incidents is most likely to be spun into bad press.

For the most part new hunters really want to learn to hunt the proper and ethical way. Today however it seems firearms are not everyday tools like they used to be, and the general public has a stigma against guns and hunting. Just an observation.

The mentoring approach like Gatehouse is the way to go, bringing someone into the sport safely and with a smile is the way to go. :) My two nephews are coming to visit for three weeks and their first question was "Can we go hunting?" We'll definitely go shooting and fishing even though there's no opportunity to hunt.
Cheers
 
Huh?

Hey guys, please excuse me for the interruption, but what is this Core you're all talking about?? I've got my PAL, RPAL, but this is the first I've heard anything about a Core... what is it all about, you've really got my curiosity up.:confused:
 
The mentoring approach like Gatehouse is the way to go, bringing someone into the sport safely and with a smile is the way to go.
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I can't argue there. I've taken a few into the woods myself and in fact it was Gatehouse that helped me bag my first bear when i decided to start hunting 'em. ;)

The bc gov't is rumoured to be releasing some new rules regarding 'mentoring' this year. We'll have to see how they did.
 
tyger,
CORE - Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education. is the BC Hunter training course, sorry about that. I forgot that there was a world beyond the Rockies for a minute ;)
It is the course one takes when they want to hunt, but there are a lot of people who take it just for the education...
 
Ike, this is good to know, as there are rumours that I may be posted out west. Tell me, would I have to take the CORE course to hunt in BC, since I already have my PAL and RPAL, and been an active and ethical hunter in 3 provinces, with a clean record as of this date (Knock on wood!)

I'm not saying I wouldn't take the course for the possible gain in knowledge; just interested as to whether its' a mandatory-across-the-board course, no questions asked, or whether there's a "grandfather" clause for those more experienced hunters that are moving into the province.

Again, that damn curiosity bug is gonna get me in trouble one of these days! LOL!
 
Ike said:
I forgot that there was a world beyond the Rockies for a minute ;)
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THERE IS? :eek:

would I have to take the CORE course to hunt in BC, since I already have my PAL and RPAL, and been an active and ethical hunter in 3 provinces, with a clean record as of this date (Knock on wood!)
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pals and such dont matter for hunting and YES you would have to complete the CORE program to be eligable to hunt big game in BC if you bacame a resident
 
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pals and such dont matter for hunting and YES you would have to complete the CORE program to be eligable to hunt big game in BC if you bacame a resident
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I'm not sure thats true IF he's completed a hunters training course in another province already. I believe they will accept that.

BUT - you will need to provide proof of that fact. They used to just take peoples' word for it, but now they demand proof.
 
That too easy then, I've done them twice!...:D. When I moved from NB to ON, thought I lost my paperwork proving I'd done the courses, so I redid them here in ON. About a month after I'd done the courses, I found my paperwork from the NB courses! Gods, but I felt like an "fill in the blank!" Oh well, I really wanted to make sure I could go out duck hunting!
 
My buddy got the Aiming for Safety book out of the library and is studying it.

Jeez, if he does his CORE this fast I'll have to take him hunting now.

He's never been hunting before, but he's been eating my game for close to 10 years now and helped me butcher a couple deer so far.

At least he's 10 years younger than me and 6 ' 2' and I've been looking for a Sherpa for some time.
 
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