Video Game Technology Helps Hunter Education

The Idaho Department of Fish Game has a new high-tech hunter education tool. "Laser Shot" is designed to help people involved in shooting sports improve their skills.

Fish and Game purchased the Laser Shot system with funding from the Idaho Chapter of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, The Idaho Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and SCI Sportsmen for Conservation Fund, Inc.

The system sets up and plays like a video game. A projection camera linked to a computer projects images of various game animals on a screen. The shooter has a life-like rifle that uses a laser rather than live ammunition to shoot at the targets. It can also be used for situations in which a shotgun would be used.

According to Hunter Education Coordinator Ron Fritz, Laser Shot is more than a video game. It teaches students how to hunt for big game animals, waterfowl and upland game, while teaching safety, responsibility and the ethics of hunting.

Among the educational features is a program that teaches the anatomy of game animals. "It teaches students where the vital organs are so they can practice getting a clean shot," Fritz said.

Another component called "Virtual Hunter" puts students in various scenarios they might experience in the field. The student must consider numerous factors when deciding whether to take a shot. The system then tells the student whether he or she made the correct decision. "They learn that, in some cases, it's best not to take the shot," Fritz said.

There is also a program that explains how firearms work, breaking down the components and explaining how a round is chambered and what processes lead to the gun firing.

Unlike other shooting simulators, this system only requires a 10 by 10 foot space, making it perfect for sportsmen's shows, fairs and other events. Laser Shot will be available to hunter education instructors as an additional tool for hunter education classes. The system offers life-like target practice without the cost of ammunition or lead disposal. It can also be modified for archery with additional software.

The system can be checked out by any of the sponsoring groups. Other groups interested in checking it out should contact their regional Fish and Game office. Fritz says the department is working on getting systems for each region in the state.

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