Hunter Education

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 maybe obtained from any ELSI vendor during regular business hours for $ 3.50.

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

• Search our Statewide Online Database for a course in your area!
  
  - 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

• HunterExam.com is the only online hunter education course offering a fully narrated study guide (let our professional narrator walk you through the course material), 35 interactive flash exercises (powered by HE Tools), more than 300 detailed illustrations, and visuals in every exam question (extremely helpful for visual learners!). We keep track of your progress in your personalized exam center as you complete the course at your own pace. The entire course is approved by the Iowa DNR and will prepare you for your Field Day to get your hunter education certificate. Print your Field Day Voucher immediately once you’ve completed the course! Best of all, it’s free to register and you pay only when you pass!
  
  - Students must present a copy of their HunterExam 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.
  
  
  
  
• Hunter-Ed.com/Iowa offers interactive instruction for all learning styles. The nine chapters are split into super-short segments that are designed for easy comprehension and quick learning. Log out and the course "remembers" where you left off, so you can jump right back in after a few hours or days. This course has the identical text that students study in Iowa DNR classroom courses, colorfully illustrated with more than 350 realistic drawings, streaming videos on treestand safety, and interactive animations.