While the Constitution upholds the right to bear arms, hunting is a privilege that must be earned and maintained.

To start, prospective hunters in the state of Washington born after Jan. 1, 1972, must take the required training course through the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Every year, in April, May and June, a state certified course is taught at Joint Base Lewis-McChord's Skeet Range on Division Range Road, south of the Scouts Out Gate.

The weeklong course focuses on safety, ethics and laws enforced in the state of Washington for all hunting seasons.

"It's all about how they handle and maintain safe use of the gun," said David Pedroza, chief instructor and Skeet Range facility manager.

About 20 students ranged in age from pre-teens to older parents and in between during the course taught April 15-20. While there is no minimum age to participate in the class, each individual is responsible for a written test, a field test and a shooting test using a 20-gauge shotgun.

"It could be challenging," Pedroza said. "I've had a 7 year old pass the class, and I've had plenty of adults fail." One of the younger aspiring hunters was Nicholas Fonseca, 12, who enrolled so he can eventually go hunting with both of his parents.

"I like learning about all of the different ways you can use a gun and how important safety is for guns," Fonseca said.

For students like Larry Sheppard, having his 13-year-old son Carl become a certified hunter would strengthen the father-son bond while refreshing safety and ethics. But the course is also a way for Sheppard to prepare himself for becoming a certified instructor with more than 30 years of experience.

"It's kind of hard to find a class from time to time," he said.

"It's difficult at best to come (to base) from Lake Lawrence (in Yelm)."

All experience levels are welcome, because experience doesn't necessarily equal safety.

"Just because a hunter has hunted for 35 to 40 years, does that make them a safe hunter?" Pedroza said. "That's why we're here; to identify techniques and procedures."

The class only grades students on knowledge and demonstrating safe use of a shotgun, not on how accurate their shot is.

"That's going to come with experience and repetition," Pedroza said.

The students learned to safely hunt for animals such as deer isn't just limited to how a hunter holds his gun, but also of being aware of the surroundings - knowing what's behind the target, what you are hunting and where other hunters are nearby.

"All of those things come into play within seconds," Pedroza said. "Sometimes you have to make a choice to let that animal go."

Hunters should also consider giving an animal the proper chance to survive - shooting a duck that is in the water against flying in the air.

"You could choose to shoot it on the ground, but ethically it's not fair chase," Pedroza said. "As a hunter, you have an obligation. There are elements that make you a quality hunter."

Pedroza said there is an evolution of hunters from wanting to shoot everything into what is called a trophy hunter.

"Then you find you're just out there to have a good time," he said. "You grow as you start out."

Other topics discussed included not to shoot endangered species, how to properly harvest the meat of the animal you hunted and how the hunter who has rights to a deer is the one who pulls the trigger the fastest.

Prospective hunters can now apply for classes scheduled for May 13-18 and June 17-22.

For more information call the Skeet Range at 253-967-7056 or the Northwest Adventure Center at 253-967-6263.

Information is also available online at www.jblmmwr.com/nw_adv_ranges.html.