Hunter Education In Alabama

Successfully completing an approved hunter education course is mandatory for all non-supervised hunting license buyers born on or after August 1, 1977, except APOST certified law enforcement officers employed in the state, active duty U.S. Military personnel and Alabama residents who are active members of the U.S. National Guard. Alabama is one of 49 states which has a mandatory hunter education program. Course is a minimum of 10 hours of instruction in addition to an examination. Course content includes hunter responsibility, wildlife laws, wildlife management and identification, firearms safety, archery, muzzleloading, basic survival and first aid. Goals of the hunter education program include increasing awareness of the importance of hunter-landowner relations, hunter behavior, reducing accident rates and increased knowledge of basic wildlife management concepts and wildlife laws. This course is also available as a two-part course with half completed on CD-ROM or the internet followed by a half day field day.

Alabama is one of 49 states that has a mandatory hunter education program. If you would like to see the hunter education requirements of other states in the U.S. click here. The Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries expects approximately 13,000 students to complete the Hunter Education Course this year alone. The goal of the Hunter Education Program is to make Alabama hunters more responsible and more knowledgeable about wildlife conservation.

Click here to obtain a complete list of traditional and hunter education cd/internet course field days.

The Alabama Hunter Education Course is a minimum of 10 hours of instruction plus a written examination. The course is taught by Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries personnel and volunteer instructors to interested participants 10 years old and older and is offered free of charge. Students who successfully complete the course receive a card that is recognized by other states which require proof of completing a hunter education course before hunting licenses may be purchased.  The course includes but is not limited to firearm safety and handling, responsible hunting and hunter ethics, wildlife laws, wildlife management and identification, archery, muzzleloading, first aid, survival, and game care.

An alternative delivery method for the Alabama Hunter Education Course includes a two part program with half of the course being completed on-line, or by CD-ROM if internet access is not available, followed by a half day field day reequired in order to receive the hunter education card.  The internet and/or CD course have many activities and questions, including a 50 question test that students must complete.  After completing the CD or internet course, students must print a final report generated by the CD or internet course and take it with them to the field day.  Students must complete another test at the field day and demonstrate many skills such as loading and unloading different types of firearms, safely crossing fences, and other activities that all safe, responsible hunters should be able to complete.

The hunter education internet course requires Internet Explorer 6.0.  Click here to login to Alabama's hunter education internet course. If you have dial up, the CD-Rom course is recommended.  Hunter education CD-ROM's are available at all County Extension Service offices and the following Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries offices:

To complete the hunter education CD-Rom certification process, each student must:

• Obtain CD - CD’s are available at each County Extension Service Office and Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries district offices. They can also be picked up at each location as listed in the table above.

• Install CD on home computer

• Complete each section of CD - a check mark appears by each section name on the CD main menu after you complete each section.

• Complete 50 question test by clicking on the test icon on main menu – you can only do this once each section of CD has been completed. Test icon does not appear on main menu until each section of the CD has been completed.

• Print final report generated by CD

• Take final report to field day. (write name, address, telephone number on final report)

• Attend field day – demonstrate correct skills and complete written examination

Please call the hunter education office at 1-800-245-2740 or E-Mail Hunter Education Coordinator Ray Metzler if you have additional questions or require further information.

The Wildlife Heritage Act of 2007 passed by the Legislature has provided a mentor provision for hunter education. Now, hunting license buyers have the option to hunt under the “supervision required” status in lieu of passing the hunter education course. Hunters under supervision must be under normal voice control, not to exceed 30 feet away from a properly licensed hunter 21 years of age or older. Under no circumstance shall the supervising person be the holder of a “supervision required’ license.