Now's the Time for a Hunter Education Course

Now is the time for prospective hunters to register and complete a Hunter Education course. Registration is easy and convenient, and this time of year, students have their choice of courses. Completing a course now will also allow first-time hunters to apply for big game controlled hunts. "We have a number of Hunter Education courses available right now," Fish and Game hunter education representative Jaime Creson noted. "These include both traditional classroom courses and on-line course field days." For those interested in a Hunter Education class, the first place to stop is the Idaho Fish and Game website (fishandgame.idaho.gov). "You'll find all the available courses listed there and can pick one to fit your schedule," Creson said. The cost for this course is $8 plus a convenience fee of $1.75. A number of upcoming classes have plenty of empty seats available and Creson advises folks not to procrastinate. "Waiting to take a course until later this summer or early fall is a bad strategy," she said. "Class demand is always high at that time and you might not find a seat available." Instead, Creson recommends students register and take a course now while a number of courses are available. "There's a course for even the busiest schedule," Creson said. "Take a look on our website and find the one that's best for you." If any of the available courses just will not fit your schedule, check back regularly. New courses - each one taught by a volunteer instructor - are added frequently. If you are one of those persons who simply can't make a traditional course fit a schedule or want the convenience of completing a course at home, Fish and Game offers an online version of both the Hunter Education and the Bowhunter Education curriculum. "This option allows persons with internet access to complete the course at their own pace," Creson noted. Students must be at least 10 years old to register, and must successfully complete an on-line examination, print out their completion certificate and then register for a field day to complete the course. The online portion of this course costs about $25, with another $9.75 charged to complete the field day. By state law, persons born after January 1, 1975 must attend and successfully complete a hunter education course before purchasing an Idaho hunting license. Participants must be at least nine years of age to attend. Although not required, parents are encouraged to attend classes with their children and participate in the entire program.