Hunter Education Program

Welcome to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Hunter Education Program! The goals of the DNR Hunter Education Program are as follows:

• Educate Iowans about hunter safety
• Promote hunter safety and ethics
• Train volunteer instructors to teach hunter education
• Continue to keep hunting the safe activity it has become

By providing hunter education to the public, the DNR will help ensure the safety of hunters throughout our state. Continue to promote the ethic's and fair chase, hunter responsibility and landowner relations. Safety, recruitment, and retention of hunters is key to the long tradition of hunting in Iowa's GREAT Outdoors!

Hunter education is a mandatory program that is designed to introduce students to several life-long skills that are important to the many different types of outdoor recreational opportunities. The course teaches students basic survival and first aid skills, water safety, wildlife identification, and the basics of wildlife management, hunting laws, and firearm/archery safety. Hunter education also stresses the importance of individual responsibility and outdoor ethics.

Iowa law requires that anyone born after January 1, 1972 must be certified in hunter education before they are eligible to purchase an Iowa hunting license. The minimum number of hours to complete the class is 10. Typically there is no charge for the course, unless lunch is furnished or room rental is required. Iowa recognizes hunter education certificates issued by another state and some foreign nations.

A person who is 11 years old or older may enroll in a course, but those who are 11 and successfully complete the course shall be issued a certificate which becomes valid on that person's 12th birthday. Iowa residents under the age of 12 can be issued a deer or turkey license; however, a licensed adult hunter must accompany each youth hunter. If the certificate is lost, a replacement certificate may be obtained from any ELSI vendor during regular business hours for $4.50.

Classes are typically held from March 1 - November 15 each year. Our courses are taught by volunteer instructors who are hunters so there are very few classes that take place after November 15.

The following are your options for obtaining a hunter education certificate from the State of Iowa: 

Option 1: Iowa Hunter Education - Classroom Instruction + Field Day

• Visit the Online Training Registration and Tracking System at www.iowadnr.gov/training to search for a course in your area and to get registered.

- If, as a student, you require reasonable accommodations to participate in a classroom type education program, please advise the listed contact person at the time of pre-registration.

Option 2: Iowa Hunter Education - Online Course + Field Day

Notice: The Online Hunter Education Course was designed for the busy student or working adult that cannot fit a traditional class into their schedule. The Department recommends that students of the online coursework be age 16 or older.

The two companies mentioned below are authorized to provide the online hunter education coursework for Iowa and the student still needs to complete an Iowa Hunter Education Online Field Day. Field day Classes are limited and students will want to locate and register for a hunter education online field day class in their area prior to completing the online course work. Upon completion of the online coursework the student is issued a Field Day admission voucher which is valid for only one year. They are to print the voucher and present that voucher to the instructor the day of the online field day for which they registered. To locate an Iowa Hunter Education Online Field Day Class in your area go to www.iowadnr.gov/training and get registered.

Students taking the hunter education online coursework cannot substitute a portion of a traditional hunter education class as the field day in order to complete their hunter education certification. Classes are typically held from March - November 15 each year. Our courses are taught by volunteer instructors who are hunters so there are very few classes that take place after November 15.

With Hunter-Ed.com, you'll master the exact content taught in Iowa DNR classroom courses. It's easy to prepare for your Field Day because the course is split into super-short segments designed for "bite-size" comprehension and quick learning. Study for free at your own pace. If you log out, the course "remembers" where you left off, so you can jump right back in after a few hours or days. Hunter-Ed.com has something for all learning styles: streaming videos on treestand safety, more than 350 realistic drawings, and plenty of interactive animations. No payment is required until you pass the course exam. Once you pass, immediately print out your Field Day "admission" voucher and be ready for your Field Day.

Through HUNTERcourse.com Iowa's hands-on course, you will learn and experience all the topics you need to pass your Field Day with flying colors! HUNTERcourse is the only online hunter ed course that offers a fully narrated study guide (sit back and let us walk you through the study guide), over 60 interactive exercises (check out our online shooting ranges… a HUNTERcourse exclusive) and upwards of 400 detailed illustrations (more than ANY other online course). HUNTERcourse.com is also the only online course where you will see visual aids in every exam question (a must for visual learners!). Log your study time and complete the course at your own pace, and print your "Field Day Voucher" immediately once you're done. Best of all, it's free to register and you pay only when you pass! Visit HUNTERcourse.com Iowa today and find out why students love our course! Free Courses below from HUNTERCourse.com: Treestand Safety   Hunter Education Practice Quiz

Note: Students must present a copy of their HUNTERcourse or Hunter-Ed Field Day Voucher to the Instructor at the Field Day. The Field Day includes some classroom instruction and a possibility of live fire exercises. Students will then take a final exam where a score of 75% or better is needed to pass and obtain the Certificate of Completion.
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Effectiveness of Blaze Orange Video
One of the main causes of all upland game and deer hunting incidents in Iowa is the victim not being seen by other hunters.  Check out this useful video discussing the very important safety tip of wearing plenty of blaze orange while hunting.