Bowhunter Education Goes Online

Idaho Fish and Game has made a bowhunter version of its hunter education program available online. The addition makes Idaho the first state in the country to offer online versions of both traditional hunter education as well as bowhunter education. California, Michigan, Indiana, South Carolina and Washington all offer hunter education online. Nebraska, Arkansas and Ohio offer bowhunter education online. Only Idaho offers both. "It's another option for people with a busy schedule," said Ron Fritz, state Hunter Education Coordinator at Fish and Game headquarters in Boise. For people in school or working, or for people in remote or sparsely populated areas, it can be hard to get to a traditional class. The online course is available anywhere to anyone with a computer, a printer and access to the internet. Anybody can take the course at no cost, including practice tests. Students must be at least 10 years old to be tested and certified, but the online course is not recommended for anyone under 14. To get credit for completing the online course, the hunter must complete a final test which costs $15 for hunters and $20 for bowhunters. If they pass, they can print out a certificate of completion that becomes their ticket to the field day, the final requirement for certification to get an Idaho hunting license. The field day is required to demonstrate the skills learned in the course. "If they can't do it, they don't pass," Fritz said. The field day serves as a cross check for the online students. Subjects common to firearms and bows are covered together, such as conservation, hunter ethics and survival. Bowhunters then split off to cover subjects specific to bow hunting such as how to follow a blood trail, shot placement, game recovery, tree-stand safety and range estimation. The field day averages about six hours and ends with a final exam. Those ages 10 to 17 who pass earn their hunter education certification and a hunter education graduate license. Field days are scheduled every other month in all but Region 7. Schedules are posted on the hunter education website. Field day materials cost $8. Hunter education certification is required for anyone born on January 1, 1975 or after unless they can show they have previously held a valid hunting license in Idaho or another state. Bowhunter education certification is required to obtain an Archery Permit for archery-only hunts unless they have previously held a valid archery permit in Idaho or another state. Here are the links to Idaho Fish and Game's online hunter education page: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/education/hunter_ed/ and to the new bowhunter course: http://www.bowhunter-ed.com/id/index.htm.