MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced Tuesday, March 1 that the temporary fully online hunter education course option will end at midnight Sunday, March 20 for under-18s.
Hunter education students aged 18 and over will continue to take the online course as a hunter education option.
The DNR has temporarily offered the fully online hunter education option to everyone to help protect the public and staff from the spread of COVID-19. Following updated guidelines from state and federal health agencies, DNR is returning to in-person class for the under-18 age group.
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Students under the age of 18 enrolled in the fully online course will have until March 20 to complete the course. People over the age of 18 can continue to use the online course.
Students of all ages will have the following two course options available:
- Internet Field Day: This training allows students to complete part of their training online and then attend a training day with a certified instructor. This class is great for someone who has handled firearms or is going to hunt with someone who has more experience to help develop their hunting skills. During this course, there are 4-6 hours of firearms training opportunities. All age groups are welcome.
- Traditional class: This training offers a more practical approach to working with a certified instructor over a few days. Most students and families appreciate this option because they can do it in their community. This option provides students with the opportunity to handle hunting equipment, learn safe hunting practices, shooting, and many other topics. In-person feedback from instructors also enhances student learning. All age groups are welcome.
- Hunter Education All Online Program (18+): This training allows anyone aged 18 and over to complete all hunter training online. The student spends several hours online studying, completing modules and taking a final exam to become certified. This option is ideal for adults who have a shooting sports connection/mentorship to help establish and reinforce their skills and lessons learned virtually.
The DNR receives the most recent information and will continue to adjust price trades if conditions change, according to a press release.
The DNR encourages the following safety protocols for all in-person classes:
- Social distancing of 6 feet between participants
- Class sizes may be limited to accommodate social distancing.
- Face coverings are encouraged to be used indoors and/or follow local guidelines that may be in place.
- Availability and use of hand sanitizer to include disinfection class equipment.
- Lessons outdoors if possible.
MNR encourages those who are interested to enroll in a hunter safety course now, as courses will begin to fill up with the spring hunting seasons fast approaching.
More than 20,000 people attend hunter education courses in Wisconsin each year. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1973 is required to have a hunter training certificate to purchase a hunting license, unless they are hunting under the Supervised Hunting Act.
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Before enrolling in a course, interested students must first obtain a Wisconsin Client Identification Number through Go Wild, DNR’s online licensing portal.
All course options, links to enroll, and cost information are outlined on the MNR Safety Education webpage.
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