COVID-19 Hunter Education Update, 7/14/2020
We know you are very excited to begin your journey to become an avid hunter in Iowa and we are excited to help you achieve your dream!
Safety is our top priority--for you and for our instructors. We want everyone to be safe and healthy. Many of our classes and field days are taught by volunteer instructors. Because they so graciously dedicate several hours of their time volunteering to teach these courses, we are allowing them to decide whether they feel comfortable with the current conditions to hold classes and field days. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause, but we thank you for your patience and understanding of this decision as we all work together during these uncertain times with COVID-19.
We have started to repost classes and field days for later this summer and fall as we are able to identify instructors and facilities comfortable with offering these in-person opportunities with COVID-19 precautionary measures in place. To sign up for an in-person Hunter’s Education course you can visit: http://register-ed.com/programs/iowa. If you are 18 and older, you can always take the online version of the Hunter’s Education course by visiting: http://www.hunter-ed.com/iowa/.
Due to the potential cancellations of in-person hunter education courses, and if you are not able to find another course that fits your schedule, we don’t want you to miss out on the upcoming hunting seasons this fall, so here are some recommendations:
- Anyone ages 15 years and younger are able to participate in hunting activities if accompanied by an adult 18 and older who holds a valid hunting permit.
- Anyone ages 16 – 17 can purchase an apprentice hunting license to hunt alongside an adult 18 and older who holds a valid hunting permit.
- Anyone ages 18 and older can complete the required hunter’s safety course online.
Additional Hunter Education Self-Study Resources to check out while you wait for classes or field days to resume:
If you have any questions, please contact: Megan Wisecup, DNR Hunter Education Administrator at Megan.Wisecup@dnr.iowa.gov.
Thank you for your dedication, passion and interest in Iowa’s wildlife and natural resources!
The goals of the DNR Hunter Education Program are as follows:
- Educate Iowans about hunter safety
- Promote hunter education 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 by continuing to promote ethics and fair chase, hunter responsibility and landowner relations. The safety, recruitment, and retention of hunters are important in continuing the 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.
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