All first-time hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1960 are required to take and pass a hunter safety course. You will not be able to purchase a base license (other than an apprentice license) unless you can prove successful completion of a hunter safety course.
Hunter education courses teach new hunters responsibility, ethics, firearm safety, wildlife conservation and wildlife identification, game care, survival and first aid.
Online hunter education safety course (plus in-person field day)
Hunter education is currently available as an online course. After successfully completing an online course, a student is required to attend the in-person field day to receive their hunter education safety certificate.
Due to COVID-19, eligible hunter education students will be allowed to purchase a Michigan hunting license through June 1, 2021 – prior to completing the required field day.
To be eligible for a temporary hunter education safety certificate, online students must meet one of the following criteria:
- Started the program on or after Sept. 10, 2019 and complete it by June 1, 2021.
- Already completed the online program but have yet to complete a field day.
Eligible students will be able to print their temporary certificates from their online Kalkomey student portal (Kalkomey Enterprises, LLC is the DNR’s online recreation education provider).
Students need to present their temporary certificates when purchasing licenses.
Anyone who receives a temporary hunter education safety certificate will be required to complete a field day by June 1, 2021, or within 12 months of completing the online course – whichever date comes later – to receive their permanent hunter education safety certificate.
Field days are currently being offered – students are encouraged to complete a field day as soon as possible.
Traditional classroom hunter education safety course
Due to COVID-19, the DNR has temporarily postponed the traditional classroom hunter education class. If you would like to complete hunter education now, please refer to the online or take-home study course which includes a in-person field day.
Traditional classroom hunter education classes are typically held at outdoor clubs, schools, police stations, and camps. The typical hunter education course consists of two to five sessions with a total class time of 10-12 hours.
Take-home study hunter education safety course (plus in-person field day)
Hunter education is currently available as a take-home study course. To register for a home-study course:
- Search for a take-home study course at https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/recnsearch/
- Register for the take-home course you would like to complete.
- Once you have registered for the take-home study course, you will receive instructions from an instructor on how to obtain your materials.
- After completing the take-home study materials, you will be required to attend the in-person field day.
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Other Hunting-Related Safety Classes
- Trapper Education Certificate
Trapper education is not required in Michigan; however, new trappers are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the educational opportunities of the trapper education courses.
- Bowhunter Education Certificate
While bowhunting education is not required in Michigan, it is required to purchase archery permits in many other states.
