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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
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Take hunter education classes before season opens
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Now is the time to enroll in one of more than 200 hunter education courses offered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources each year.
Hunter education is a mandatory program designed to introduce students to firearm safety and several other life-long skills that are important to many different types of outdoor recreational activities.
Courses are taught by volunteer instructors who are also hunters, so very few classes take place after mid-November. Many new hunters, and parents of new hunters, tend to delay finding a hunter education course until classes become unavailable.
To find a course and begin the registration process visit license.gooutdoorsiowa.com/Event/EventsHome.aspx.
The DNR suggests completing hunter education classes before the hunting seasons begin. Check the DNR website weekly for available classes. Don’t wait until the last minute if you plan to hunt this fall and winter.
Students may certify through traditional in-person classroom courses or through a hybrid online/field day course. Students 18 and older may certify completely online with no field day requirement.
For more information on course options, visit iowadnr.gov/things-do/hunting-trapping/hunter-education-safety.
Hunter education is required for anyone born after Jan. 1, 1972 before they purchase a hunting license, which is required at age 16. Iowa recognizes hunter education certificates issued by another state and some foreign nations.
Residents and non-residents younger than 16 who hunt under the direction supervision of a properly licensed parent, guardian or other competent adult with the consent of the parent or guardian do not need hunting licenses and don’t have to pay the habitat fee.
One properly licensed adult must accompany each unlicensed hunter under 16. Residents 12 to 15 years old may hunt without adult supervision but must have hunting licenses and must have passed a hunter education course.
A person who is 11 years old or older may enroll in a course, but those who are 11 and successfully complete the course will be issued a certificate which becomes valid on their 12th birthdays.
