Hunter & Trapper Safety Training
Our hunter and trapper safety programs are designed for every age and ability and are run by some of best and most knowledgeable hunters and trappers in the Central Florida, the Central Ohio and the Northwest Oklahoma territories. They’ll help you understand where and when it’s legal to go for the game you want. They will also get you ready!!!
OHIO COURSE OPTIONS
The Division of Wildlife offers three types of hunter certification courses:
Instructor-Led Course
Instructor-led courses last about 8-12 hours and take place in a classroom environment. Certified volunteers and Division of Wildlife staff teach the courses. They are specially trained and highly qualified to help you learn.
Though it varies by instructor and location, most classes take place over two days. Study materials will be provided in the class, but you will need to bring a pencil or pen and a highlighter. Your instructor will cover a range of topics, from conservation, safety, and ethics to the proper handling of shotguns, handguns, bowhunting gear, and more. You should not bring firearms or archery equipment to class – all necessary equipment will be provided.
Once you’ve completed the course work, you will be given a 100-question test which includes multiple-choice questions. A student must score 75% or higher on the test to pass
Home-Study Course
The Home Study Course is available to Ohio residents. Students must first complete the online course. This online course will take approximately four hours to complete, but you may stop and pick up where you left off in the course as you please. There are quizzes at the end of each unit. Once you complete all units, you will need to pass a final exam to receive a voucher to attend the final, in-person classroom portion. A fee will be charged once you pass the final exam and prior to printing the voucher. This fee is collected by the course vendor, not the ODNR Division of Wildlife.
The final classroom session usually lasts 3-4 hours and will be led by an ODNR Division of Wildlife employee or certified instructor volunteer. It will include firearm safety training and other topics. The completion voucher provided at the end of the online course must be brought to this final classroom session or you will not be able to complete the course. In these classroom sessions, you will take the same 100-question final certification test as the instructor-led course. Be sure to bring a pen or pencil so you can take the test.
Online Hunter Education Course
Online Hunter Education is for Ohio residents 12 years of age or older (those under 12 can purchase and use the apprentice license until in-person courses are available again).
This version of hunter education allows students to complete the entire course online. This online course will take approximately eight hours to complete, but you may stop and pick up where you left off in the course as you please. There are quizzes at the end of each unit. You must pass the unit quiz to proceed to the next unit. Students must pass a final exam to receive certification. There is a fee paid to the online vendor at the time of registration prior to starting the course.
National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) Online Bowhunter Education Course
Ohio does not require bowhunter education, but the NBEF Bowhunter Education course is required to bowhunt in at least 11 states and many countries. This online Bowhunter Education course is only for Ohio residents (9 years of age or older) and meets this bowhunter education requirement. The online course takes approximately eight hours to complete, but you may stop and pick up where you left off in the course at any time. There are quizzes at the end of each unit and you must pass the unit quiz to proceed to the next unit. Students must pass a final exam to receive certification. There is a fee of $30 paid to the online course vendor once you complete the course and pass the final course exam.
FLORIDA COURSE OPTIONS
Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, and 16 years or older, must pass a hunter safety course before purchasing a hunting license, unless using the deferral from the hunter safety certification requirement and hunting under the supervision of a qualified hunter.
If your child is under 18 years of age, they must present a Parental Release Form signed by the child’s parent or guardian to the instructor at all courses. This will allow your child to participate in the live fire exercises. Download the Parental Release Form.
Parents or legal guardians are required to accompany children under the age to lawfully possess a permit to all classes.
This course is designed for students 12 years old and up.
The FWC wants to ensure individuals with special needs have access to hunter safety programs. If a student needs special accommodations, please notify the FWC regional coordinator for your county a minimum of two weeks prior to the first day of class.
Option 1: Online Course and FWC Field Day (Two Steps):
Step 1
NRAHE.org (https://nra.yourlearningportal.com/courses/hunter-education) – From the organization that built the first-ever hunter education program in 1949, the NRA Online Hunter Education course is designed to help new hunters of all ages learn how to be safe and responsible members of the hunting community. This state-of-the-art course is the most comprehensive online hunter education instruction in the United States, and it’s 100% FREE!
Interactive Course – ilearntohunt (https://www.ilearntohunt.com/florida/) – A fully interactive hunter safety course that is built around real-life scenarios. Students make choices for their avatar, and complete in-game challenges that allow them to move to the next level. Realistic illustrations and animations help bring hunting safety education to life. ($49.50 – pay up front)
NRAHE.org (https://nra.yourlearningportal.com/courses/hunter-education) – From the organization that built the first-ever hunter education program in 1949, the NRA Online Hunter Education course is designed to help new hunters of all ages learn how to be safe and responsible members of the hunting community. This state-of-the-art course is the most comprehensive online hunter education instruction in the United States, and it’s 100% FREE!
HunterEdCourse.com (https://www.hunteredcourse.com/florida/) – Interactive animations and photos with narration and closed captioning so you hear, see and read the course, making learning easy and enjoyable. Pay only if you pass. Over 90% of users recommend. ($19.95)
Hunter-Ed.com Florida (http://www.hunter-ed.com/florida/) – Listen, read, or both! Exam questions are read aloud, with pictures to trigger your memory. Learn with hundreds of realistic illustrations, and see exactly how firearms work with detailed animations. ($34.95 – pay up front!)
Step 2
There are two FWC Field Day options:
1. Virtual Field Day – The virtual field day is facilitated through Microsoft Teams software. An invitation to attend the meeting will be sent to your provided email address the day before the scheduled class. Students will need an internet connection and a computer or smartphone. Students using a smartphone can download the Microsoft Teams app or access the meeting through their web browser.
2. In-Person Field Day – Students meet at a physical location for the following hands-on activities: Safe firearms handling; loading and unloading; safe and effective shot placement; and shoot or don’t shoot scenarios. Please bring a pen or pencil and wear closed-toed shoes. All shooting safety gear will be provided. However, students may bring personal shooting glasses and hearing protection (earmuffs).
Option 2: Previous Firearms Training and Online Course:
This option is recommended for adults only who are Florida residents. If you have already completed previous firearms training, meeting one of the acceptable firearm training requirements listed on the application linked below, you can receive a Florida hunter safety card by completing one of the online courses listed above, reading the current years hunting regulations and following the procedures outlined in the Application For Hunter Safety Certification With Previous Firearms Training. Please refer to the application to see which forms of previous firearms training documentation is acceptable. Applications can be emailed, faxed or mailed to the Regional Offices listed on the back of the application.
Option 3: Florida Virtual School Outdoor Education:
Option 4: Traditional Courses
The traditional hunter safety course is a face-to-face, instructor led course covering the knowledge, skills and attitude needed to be a safe hunter and a hands-on Field Day. Register for a course near you.
When registering for your course, be sure to include your e-mail address where indicated. This will ensure that you receive your confirmation notice and your reminder prior to the date of the course. This also gives us another way to reach you in case the course date has been changed or canceled due to an emergency.
https://myfwc.com/hunting/safety-education/courses/#:~:text=The%20traditional%20hunter,to%20an%20emergency
Please note: The bowhunter education course does not meet the requirement for an approved hunter safety course needed to purchase a Florida hunting license. See information and registration for Florida’s hunter safety course.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) offers several opportunities for adults to take youths (under age 16) hunting. Many Wildlife Management Areas allow youths, under adult supervision, to hunt during archery, muzzleloading gun, general gun, small-game and spring turkey seasons without having quota permits. Youth also may hunt areas that require a quota permit if accompanied by a quota permit holder, who is 18 or older, provided the quota permit holder and youth share a single bag limit.
OKLAHOMA COURSE OPTIONS
Is there an age limit? Who can take the online course?
Students under the age of 10 may attend a hunter education class, but will not be allowed to take the test or get a card. The online course is only available to Oklahoma residents, 10 years of age or older.
What is Hunter Education?
Hunter education covers a variety of topics including firearms safety, wildlife identification, wildlife conservation and management, survival, archery, muzzleloading and hunter responsibility. It is available online, 4-hour home study, or an 8-hour traditional course.
Why Hunter Education?
Over the past 40 years, hunting related accidents and fatalities have declined by more than 70 percent in Oklahoma. Mandatory hunter education courses have not only reduced accidents within Oklahoma, but also in every state and Canadian province with similar programs
Click here to take the Hunter Ed course. You will be directed to the NRA learning portal, where you will select the Oklahoma Hunter Safety Course. You will be prompted to set up an account. After you are registered go to the NRA Hunter Education course.
Click here to take the Hunter Ed course. You will be directed to the NRA learning portal, where you will select the Oklahoma Hunter Safety Course. You will be prompted to set up an account. After you are registered go to the NRA Hunter Education course.
