Crossbow course

Could this be the future of hunting and gun safety courses in Canada? Nova Scoita’s Department of Natural Resources has introduced an online certified crossbow hunter course—the first such program in the country (see the new release here). Hunters in the province must pass the course to use a crossbow during the General Open Season for deer. The training is free. Students must subsequently score a minimum of 80 per cent on each of five quizzes on different aspects of crossbow hunting to get certified, which costs $29.95 plus GST. (Hunters who provide proof of previous crossbow training can skip the online course.) To enroll in the course, hunters must have either a hunting or bow certification and a Wildlife Resources Card.

Currently, hunters in Manitoba and P.E.I. can also take an online hunting safety course, though in each case students must pass an off-line exam to receive certification. Can other provinces be far behind in this initiative?