Hunter Education and Safety

  • 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. Courses are offered year-round throughout the state, though the majority occur in the spring in April and May, and in the fall during August, September, and October. The typical hunter education course consists of two to five sessions with a total class time of 10-12 hours. 

  • Get your hunter safety certificate in a classroom-based course (plus field day class):

    Traditional classroom hunter education classes are typically held in outdoor clubs, schools, police stations, and camps. A workbook home study alternative may be available in your area, but you must also register for a field day class BEFORE taking the home study course. Search for a class in your area and arrange your field day with the instructor. The instructor will let you know if the workbook home study is available.The cost of the course could be up to $10.00 to cover field supplies. The instructor will tell you the cost when you register for the course.

    Visit the DNR’s Recreational Safety Education Class Database and select the class type (Hunter) and county in the drop-down lists.

  • Get your hunter safety certificate online (plus field day class):

    You may also choose to take the class online. After taking an online course, you are required to attend the skills/field day portion of a regular class and take the student examination in order to receive your hunter safety certificate. You will need to pre-register for the skills/field portion of a regular class BEFORE taking the online course. Upon passing the online course, you will be eligible to complete the skills/field portion and take the written examination without attending a classroom course. There are fees associated with the online course and field day portion of the training. The following are approved online courses:

    Search for a class in your area to arrange your field day with the instructor

Other Hunting-Related Safety Classes