Hunter Ed course offered

The Missouri Department of Conservation will conduct a Hunter Education course on Oct. 21 in the Humansville Community Hall. Hunters who were born on or after Jan. 1, 1967, and are 16 or older must successfully complete an approved hunter-education course to qualify to buy firearms hunting permits. Class size is limited to 45 and certification is limited to those students 11 years of age or older. Lunch will be provided along with gifts and prizes to those in attendance.

The hunter education course now consists of two parts. Step one is acquiring the necessary knowledge about hunting equipment, safety and ethics. This can be done one of three ways:

1. Completing a convenient online course that provides information in written form augmented with illustrations, graphs, audio, videos and interactive animation, or

2. Obtaining a student manual online at mdc.mo.gov/node/23045 or by calling or visiting one of the Conservation Department offices and completing the course at your own pace, or

3. Registering for and attending a four-hour instructor-led classroom session.

After completing Step one, hunters can obtain their certification by attending a four-hour skills session that fits their schedule. This session will consist of instructor-led, hands-on exercises designed to help students put their knowledge into practice. After the session, students take a 35-question exam.

This course will offer from 8 a.m. to noon, an instructor-led classroom session then from 1-5 p.m. will offer a skills session and exam. You must pre-register at mdc.mo.gov. If you are attending the classroom session you will need to register for both the classroom session and the skills session to receive certification. If you are completing the online method or the student manual home study method you will only need to register or the afternoon skills session. Those completing the online method or home study need to bring certification of the completed course or book with completed review question.

Please call any Department of Conservation office like the one in El Dorado Springs at 417/876-5226 or me, Derek Farwell, at 417/830-6162 with any additional questions.