Avoid the Rush - Take Hunter Education Now in Northern Idaho

Hunter education is required for anyone born on or after January 1, 1975 who wants to purchase an Idaho hunting license. The overall goal of the program is the prevention of hunting and firearm related accidents, but emphasis is also placed on improving knowledge about wildlife management, the heritage of hunting, and developing a sense of ethics and responsibility. Every fall there are parents with youngsters who come to regional offices the week before the deer season opens, saying they need to take a hunter education course. Waiting until the last minute creates challenges for the student, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG), and the volunteer instructors who teach the instructor-led classes. IDFG is often able to accommodate the student's needs by providing independent study or online classes followed by a required field day, or finding space in one of the last instructor-led classes. However, last minute options often require that the prospective hunter make a choice between completing hunter education and attending football or soccer practice, music lessons, back-to-school preparation, or an end of the summer family vacation. It does not need to be that hard or stressful. If your sights are set on hunting this fall and you still need to complete Idaho's hunter education requirement, now is the perfect time to sign up for a course. Summer is a great time to get into a course as many courses are offered in the summer. Early fall classes are also offered. By the time big game seasons start to open, volunteer instructors are heading out to enjoy their own hunting opportunities and the number of available classes decreases. Three course options are provided. An instructor-led course is considered the best option for youth ages 9 to 14, and for individuals having minimal hunting experience. They are easy to sign up for by going to the IDFG website. Other options include an online course, and an independent study workbook course. Both of these courses are designed for older students with excellent reading comprehension. While convenient and allowing much of the course to be taken at home, the online and independent study options require students to register for and attend a field day where a field exercise and written exam are given. For more information or to register for a course or field day, visit the Fish and Game website at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov and click on Education. You will find that there are several classes offered now in the Panhandle with spaces available in them. You can even complete a combo class that provides certification in both hunter education and archery education. Taking the combination course enables you to complete two requirements at once if you expect to archery hunt at some point in the future. If none of the above options works for you, there is also a Hunting Passport option for one year. This special authorization that allows any first-time hunter (resident or nonresident) age 8 and older, to try hunting for one year with a licensed adult mentor without first having to complete an Idaho hunter education course. This allows the beginning hunter to experience hunting before committing to the coursework and effort required to complete hunter education. A person can only use this option once, and is not eligible for a Hunting Passport in subsequent years.