ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Since hunting season kicks off in late September, a local hunter safety course is set for this month, but spaces are limited.

Belmont County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Thomas DeVaul, who started the course six years ago, said it offers a guide to best hunting practices.

“We’re having it again Aug. 26 at our FOP lodge,” DeVaul said, noting the goal is to interest more young people in the sport of hunting and to give them the tools to pursue that sport responsibly. “This year again the focus is on the kids so they can get their first hunting license, but adults are welcome to take it also. We have slots for 30 kids, and seats are filling up, so anyone that’s interested in taking it, I recommend that they get registered for the class as soon as possible.”

There has been a wide age range among participants.

“We’ve had them as young as 7 years old, clear up to 18, and we have parents that’ll take it with them, and we’ve even had some adults that are looking to go hunt out of state and maybe they took the course years ago and they can’t find their card,” DeVaul said. “Most states require in order to get an out-of-state hunter’s license, you have to show proof of taking a hunter safety course, so we always have a few who take that for that reason also.”

The course is eight hours, starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m. DeVaul said a lunch will be provided.

DeVaul said the syllabus will cover the basics, and the instructors will add their own points of interest.

“It’s going to be over hunting ethics, hunter safety, a lot of nomenclature about the difference between rifles, shotguns and compound bows and crossbows,” he said.

“We add our own personal experiences involved in it, which really seems to help the kids get a grasp on things. I bring in issues that have occurred to me while I’ve been hunting and also in my career,” he said. “The instructors have experience in the same way, but also a couple members from here at the sheriff’s office who assist me also add in their experiences. It helps the kids get a grasp on it and keeps them interested when they hear stories.”

He said the course has continued to grow.

“We’ve had a full house every year we’ve done that, and hopefully we’ll have that again this year,” he said. “I am seeing more of an interest. A lot of parents are coming up and asking me when we are having this class, because they want to get their kids in it. You’re seeing in general more interest in the hunting and fishing sports now. We make it as interesting as we can for the kids, so they get the most out of it,” he said.

DeVaul also brings his law enforcement perspective and shares examples of what not to do.

“Our main thing we’re seeing is hunting without written permission (of the property owner) and road hunting. It is illegal to just drive down the road in your truck and get out and shoot a deer. Then you’re dealing with the violations of shooting from the road, using a vehicle while hunting, and also typically you’re taking that animal off of the ground you do not have permission to be on,” he said.

He said it is also illegal in Ohio to use a spotlight to hunt. DeVaul said he works with the county game warden, who is reporting more cases of taking animals out of season and exceeding bag limits.

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website, a hunter can harvest just two deer in a two-deer county during the 2022-23 season. Belmont County is designated a two-deer county.

The instructor will be Dave Cannon, a Tuscarawas County sheriff’s deputy. He will be assisted by Dave Cassanta, retired Ohio park ranger, and Roger Wade, a local resident who has taught hunter safety for the past 20 years. They will be joined by Rob Paboucek, a sergeant at the jail.

“He brings up some of his experiences, and he helps the kids a lot also,” DeVaul said. “He’s helped me the last couple of years.

“It’s good to see kids getting back into the hunting sport,” he said. “I don’t think it’s the parents pushing it on them, it’s the kids themselves that have the interest. They’re exposed to it, they get the interest, and the parents that have experienced hunting are working with them and it’s really great to see that.”

Instructors will also give various items to the attendees such as tools and magazines. DeVaul thanks donors and sponsors including Hardy’s Custom Game Calls, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Buckmasters store, and Whitetails Unlimited, as well as Belmont County Sheriff David Lucas.

“Everyone who is involved with putting this class on is very, very passionate about hunting, and it’s a team effort,” he said. “We really like to see the kids enjoy the class. They leave there with some tools and some items that’ll get them started.”

The FOP site is at 72200 Gun Club Road, St. Clairsville, off of Ohio 331.

To sign up or ask questions, call 740-695-7933 or 740-312-2589. You can also sign up at ohiodnr.gov.