Hunter Education
What
You Should Know | Purpose
| Importance | Funding
| Requirements | Safe
and Getting Safer | Final QuizHunter Education Requirements at a glance
You must meet the requirements for the jurisdiction in which you are hunting. Before you hunt, be sure to read the most current hunting regulations of that particular state or province.Generally Speaking:
States
and provinces require the completion of a Hunter Education course.
States
and provinces have records of Hunter Education graduates.
Official
Hunter Education certifications are accepted in all other states and provinces.
Below are the hunter education requirements for the United States and Canada. To learn more, contact your Hunter Education office.
Alabama – Born on or after August 1, 1977
Alaska – Voluntary, Bowhunter required
Arizona – 10-14 years, hunting big game
Arkansas – Born on or after December 31, 1968
California – First-time license
Colorado – Born on or after January 1, 1949
Connecticut – First-time license, Bowhunter required
Delaware – Born after January 1, 1967
Florida – Born after June 1, 1975, hunting on public lands
Georgia – Born on or after January 1, 1961
Hawaii – First license or born after December 31, 1971
Idaho – Born after January 1, 1975, Bowhunter required
Illinois – Born after January 1, 1980
Indiana – Born after December 31, 1986
Iowa – Born after January 1, 1967
Kansas – Born after July 1, 1957, Bowhunter required
Kentucky – Born after January 1, 1975, Bowhunter required
Louisiana – Born on or after September 1, 1969, Bowhunter required
Maine – Born after January 1, 1976, Bowhunter required
Maryland – All except those hunting prior to July 1, 1977
Massachusetts – 15-17 years of age, Bowhunter required
Michigan – Born after January 1, 1960
Minnesota – Born after December 31, 1979
Mississippi – Born on or after January 1, 1972
Missouri – Born on or after January 1, 1967
Montana – 12-17 years of age, Bowhunter required
Nebraska – everyone age 12 through age 29 must carry proof while hunting, separate Bowhunter Education required
Nevada – Born on or after January 1, 1960
New Hampshire – 14 years and older
New Jersey – 10 years of age and older, Bowhunter required
New Mexico – Under 18 years
New York – First-time license, Bowhunter required
North Carolina – First-time license
North Dakota – Born after December 31, 1961
Ohio – First-time license
Oklahoma – Born on or after January 1, 1972
Oregon – 17 years and under
Pennsylvania – Hunter Education or prior license
Rhode Island – First-time license, Bowhunter required
South Carolina – Born on or after June 30, 1979
South Dakota – Under 16 years, Bowhunter required
Tennessee – Born on or after January 1, 1969
Texas – Born on or after September 2, 1971
Utah – Born after December 31, 1965
Vermont – First-time license born after January 1, 1975
Virginia – First-time licenses and 12-15 years
Washington – Born after January 1, 1972, Bowhunter required
West Virginia – Born after January 1, 1975
Wisconsin – Born on or after January 1, 1973
Wyoming – Born on or after January 1, 1966
Alberta – First-time license and 12-13 years
British Columbia – 10 years of age and older
Manitoba – First-time license over 12 years of age
New Brunswick – All license buyers
Newfoundland – All big-game hunters
N.W. Territories – Voluntary
Nova Scotia – All new hunters, Bowhunter required
Ontario – First-time resident license
Prince Edward Island – First-time hunters
Quebec – All hunters, 12-17 yrs. with license holder 18 or over, Bowhunter required
Saskatchewan – First-time license
Yukon Territory – Voluntary
