The Honorable Hunter Instructor Training Manual

The Honorable Hunter Instructor Training Manual is for any teacher, instructor, family member or writer that interacts with hunter education students, young hunters and people who use firearms. The book’s main theme is that educating and cultivating virtuous and strong character is the best method for defending and promoting hunting. The Honorable Hunter concept embodies more than being an ethical or skilled hunter or a fan of hunting. The Honorable Hunter possesses the mental, physical, and ethical traits that breathe life and vitality into hunting and the promotion of hunting. The Honorable Hunter possesses the skill and the will to defend and promote hunting based upon the morality of the consequences of hunting. Cultivating links between hunting and stronger moral character offers the highest probability of success for sustaining hunting.

The book is divided into two sections:

The Internal Section defines honor and ethics and illustrates arguments, anecdotes, analysis, and skills to help teachers cultivate ethics, confidence and competence in young hunters.

The External Section guides the instructor to engage with, and teach young hunters to engage with, the non-hunting community and to articulate the virtues of hunting, increase public support for hunting and to refute unjustified anti-hunting attacks. The skillful use of rhetoric and how to craft persuasive ethical arguments based on facts and consequences learned as an attorney and lecturer enrich this material. 

What others are saying:

“Mike—I read your book. I think it‘s brilliant and needed.” —Chris Dorsey, President/CEO, Dorsey Pictures

“I am not a hunter. I learned quite a bit about the ethics of hunting that were new to me. The point of his work, as I see it, is to produce better people who hunt by the development of character traits we can all respect and admire. He establishes quite clearly the need in hunting for the cultivation of the link between competence and moral character. He brings into sharp focus the wisdom of the earliest philosophers I am sure if more hunters followed the principles of ethics he lays out so clearly, the rantings and ravings of those opposed to hunting in any form would be substantially reduced, if not eliminated.” —The Honorable John L. Kane, United States District Court, Colorado

“The Honorable Hunter provides effective and impactful information and tools for hunter education instructors and programs – tools for 1) communicating the virtues of hunting, 2) making effective arguments in support of conservation, 3) engaging students in the art of persuasion, 4) teaching hunting ethics and 5) handling media questions. This supplement to the hunter education curriculum is a must for defending and advancing hunting – our way of life!” —Steve Hall, Hunter Education Coordinator Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

“Michael has a genuine and unique ability to communicate across broad audiences. He has used those talents in this manual to teach others how to communicate our proud and storied hunting heritage. Make no mistake, our way of life, and ultimately wildlife conservation, is under significant attack. Thus, I strongly encourage you to carefully consider Michael’s philosophies and strategies to effectively communicate legal, regulated hunting and a high ethical position.” —Corey Mason, Dallas Safari Club Executive Director and Certified Wildlife Biologist