Although we may be into the "dog days" of summer, it will not be too long before school is back in session and our fall hunting seasons will be upon us. So, now is the time to prepare for the fun this fall.
For many, this will mean becoming hunter education certified.
For students, this will mean either completing their knowledge portion online or working through a hunter education manual. Either way, this will take four to six hours of study. Then, they will complete the certification process by attending a skills session in a classroom setting and take a closed-book, 35-question final exam requiring at least an 80-percent grade.
For those Missouri residents 16 years of age or older, there is a new, more convenient option. This is an all online option that includes videos and animations to teach hunter safety, ethics, regulations and wildlife management. Students choosing this option will receive a temporary hunter education certificate once they complete and pass the 60-question final exam with an 80 percent or higher score.
The all-online class will take four to six hours to complete and watch the videos. There is a minimum time requirement per page of information. There is a review and quiz for each unit or chapter. It is comprehensive and very good information.
Missouri hunter education certification is required for any firearm hunter born on or after Jan. 1, 1967.
Hunters who plan to hunt during a Missouri firearms season, or are acting as an adult mentor, must first complete an approved hunter-education certification program and provide proof of completion, unless they are 15 years of age or younger and will hunting with a properly-permitted adult mentor 18 or older; born before Jan. 1, 1967; have a disability exemption from MDC's Protection Division; 16 years of age or older and have purchased an apprentice hunter authorization and will be hunting with a properly permitted adult mentor 18 or older; or are a landowner or lessee hunting on self-owned land or land of residence.
The apprentice hunter authorization is an option for either residents or nonresidents for only two permit years.
There will be two different hunter education skills courses held this fall in Butler County at the Brown-Mabry American Legion Hall. Both will be held on Monday evenings from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The dates are Sept. 18 and Oct. 9.
Students registering for any skills course portions must go online to register for them at mdc.mo.gov. And, all skills courses are limited to 45 students, so it is never too early to register.
You do not have to complete the knowledge portion prior to registering for a skills portion, but you do have to complete it and provide proof of completion before attending a skills course.