T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Belmont County sheriff’s Sgt. Tom DeVaul, seated, and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 6 Vice President Stan Galownia review materials for a free hunter safety course to be held in early November. The class is required for first-time hunters to obtain a license.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — For the second year in a row, Sgt. Tom DeVaul of the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department and other law enforcement and state officers are offering a course that is required to obtain a hunting license.

DeVaul said they are motivated by a love of the sport and a desire to see more people take to hunting and do it right.

The course will be offered 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 6, located at 72200 Gun Club Road, St. Clairsville. DeVaul added that he is an experienced deer hunter and turkey hunter, and he has heard many people express a desire to him to include their children in a hunter safety course provided by the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

“In order for you to get your first hunting license in the state of Ohio, you have to have this class.

“It’s primarily directed at kids, because that’s when you get your first license,” DeVaul said.

They are joined by Dave Canon, a deputy from the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Department who is a certified instructor in the hunter safety education class.

“He and I have been talking about having a class down here, because there’s just not a lot of classes here in this area, which is needed,” DeVaul said, adding that the closest sessions have been offered in Monroe County. “There was a call for it. We got together, and I talked with the sheriff about us and the FOP lodge hosting a class and making it available for the kids.”

Last year local officials held their first class in Belmont County.

“It was a big success, and we’re doing it again this year. We’re just trying to get more word of it out,” he said.

DeVaul said last year’s course attracted 18 participants. This year there are limited seats for up to 30. The instructors take both children and adults who have never had a hunting license. Anyone wishing to participate must register at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website at ohiodnr.gov.

“We’re hoping to get more kids,” DeVaul said. “That’s why we’re really pushing it for the Nov. 3 class.”

He added that the instructors will review hunting laws and gun safety.

“It focuses on firearms safety, firearms handling, the ethics of hunting, the right way to do things,” he said. “Proper etiquette and courtesy to land owners — it focuses primarily on safety.”

Stan Galownia, vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 6, added that the course follows the state curriculum and standards.

In addition, DeVaul has contacted various hunting organizations he is a member of, including the National Wild Turkey Federation, Buckmasters, Deerassic, Ducks Unlimited and Whitetails Unlimited. Peck Martin of Gobbler’s Choice Wild Game Calls has donated some turkey calls, which will be given out at a drawing.

“They have sent us all kinds of materials and things to give the kids,” he said.

“We hope to do many more in the future,” Galownia said, adding that they utilize relatable teaching methods during the lengthy course. “With the seriousness of teaching what it taught, we try to keep it very interactive, interesting and upbeat.”

Local game warden Brian Baker also speaks to those who enroll.

“We try to make it more interesting and fun for the kids,” DeVaul said, adding that the youngest attendees in 2017 were ages 6 and 7.

The class is free, and a lunch is provided.

The organizers added that as law enforcement officers, they frequently hear complaints of improper and illegal hunting practices, such as hunting from the road.

“You can’t hunt from the road. You can’t be driving down the road, jump out and shoot a deer,” DeVaul said, noting that another frequent complaint is about spotlighting, or using a vehicle’s headlights to spot and shoot a deer once it is mesmerized by the light. Both practices are unlawful, as are poaching, taking a deer just for antlers and not tagging them in.

“When you shoot a deer or a turkey, you have to check it in through the state of Ohio,” DeVaul said. “A lot of people are just shooting, them, taking the antlers and leaving them at that.”

Participants also will watch a video about gutting a deer. They are instructed in basic marksmanship, although no live fire is used. They also touch on first aid and what to do in the event of illness or accident in the woods.

“There pretty much is no stone left unturned when it comes to basics of hunting and hunting safety,” DeVaul said.

DeVaul said all the participants were satisfied with last year’s event.

“All the kids last year were very happy with the course,” he said.

DeVaul can be reached at 740-312-2589 for more information.