Victoria CORE Courses
C.O.R.E - Conservation Outdoor Recreation Education
2023 CORE course schedule
CORE COURSE
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Registration:
Please contact Robin Pike or Murray Kilshaw for cost, availability and details.
All classes are held in Victoria (Westshore).
The Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education (CORE) Program is British Columbia's Hunter Education Program. It is also a great program for anyone interested in outdoor recreation.
The goal of the CORE Program is to ensure that prospective hunters meet acceptable standards of knowledge and skill for safe and ethical participation in hunting recreation.
Our 2-day CORE course consists of class room instruction, a practical firearms handling test, and a written examination on all of the following subjects:
Conservation and Ethics
1. Hunter's heritage and role in wildlife management.
2. Ecology and wildlife management; succession, conservation, wildlife management, carrying capacity, habitat, ecology, harvestable surplus, mortality factors.
3. Four basic requirements of all wildlife.
4. Wildlife management.
5. Examples of ethical behaviours concerning the hunter in relationship to: land owners, hunting companions, the public, wildlife and the environment.
6. Recognize descriptions of ethical behaviours, the need for them and identify likely consequences of unethical behaviours.
7. Basic steps in: preparing for the hunt, taking the shot.
Laws and Regulations
1. Recognize the four law making bodies that can effect hunting and firearm use and choose two examples of laws affecting hunting.
2. Connect hunting, archery and firearm regulations to purposes of wildlife conservation and the protection of people, wildlife, property and promotion of sportsmanship.
3. Use the Hunting and Trapping Synopsis and information concerning the LEH Regulations synopsis to obtain requested information.
Outdoor Safety
1. Recognize the basic components of the following; trip preparation and planning, clothing, survival and first aid kits, first aid and lost situation procedures, ice and water safety procedures.
2. Identify from descriptions the following illnesses or injuries and their basic first aid treatments in the field; No breathing, no pulse, shock, unconsciousness, hypothermia, bleeding and wounds, heat stroke and exhaustion, heart attack, stroke, compound and simple bone fractures.
3. Identify descriptions of basic compass use, and definitions of magnetic north, true north and declination.
Firearms Safety
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​1. Identify ammunition, rifles and shotguns by action type and name their components.
2. Recognize the basic differences between rifles and shotguns.
3. Recognize the requirements of safe target identification.
4. Recognize appropriate safe zones of fire.
5. Identify requirements of firearm and ammunition storage, transportation and maintenance.
6. Select any specified firearm type or action.
7. Demonstrate prescribed safe firearm pickup and handling procedures.
8. Read and use information printed on firearms and ammunition. Choose those that may be safely used together.
9. Recognize and use firearm safety devices.
10. Recognize and demonstrate field carry and shooting positions.
11. Demonstrate prescribed loading and unloading procedures using dummy ammunition.
12. Demonstrate a safe procedure for crossing obstacles, alone and with a partner, using a deactivated firearm loaded with dummy ammunition.
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Animal Identification
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1. Identify from pictures or descriptions ungulate species of B.C. through knowledge of their characteristics, habitat, distribution and/or sex differences.
2. Identify from pictures or descriptions carnivore species in B.C. through knowledge of their characteristics, habitat and/or distribution.
3. Select the best definition of the following terms related to mammals: Antler, brow tine, palmate, horn, annuli, bell or dewlap, cervid, bovid, browser, grazer, ruminant, carnivore, herbivore, omnivore, metatarsal gland, migratory, predator, rut and ungulate.
Bird Identification
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​1. Identify group characteristics of dabbling ducks, diving ducks and sea ducks.
2. Identify to which group a duck belongs from descriptions of a duck's characteristics, habitat and/or distribution.
3. Identify from pictures or descriptions of their characteristics, habitat and/or distribution the birds of B.C.: Geese (5), Coot, Common Snipe, Mourning Dove, Band-Tailed Pigeon, Swan, and Merganser.
4. Identify Upland Game Birds of B.C. from pictures or descriptions of their characteristics, habitat and/or distribution.
5. Select the best definition of the following terms related to birds: Speculum, Eclipse Plumage, Gallinaceous, Crop, Raptor, Comb, Crest, Beard, Wattle and introduced species.
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