News Release Archives - December 2009

Return to December 2009 Archive

December 7, 2009

Most Hunter Education Classes Offered Early

Individuals interested in taking a hunter education class in 2010 should know that most courses are offered over the next few months.

Jon Hanson, hunter education coordinator for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, said a majority are taught in March, April and May. “These classes fill up quickly because they are held before the deer application deadline,” he said. “This is especially important for this year’s apprentice hunters, because to hunt deer in 2010 they need to be certified in hunter education.”

An apprentice hunting license provides individuals age 16 and older with a one-year hunter education exemption for small game and deer. However, to continue beyond the trial year, a hunter education course is required. In 2009, more than 2,300 apprentice hunting licenses were issued, with nearly 700 designated for deer.

To register for a hunter education course, students need to sign up online at the Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov. “Many classes will be added over the next several weeks, and the rest will be added throughout the year as they are finalized,” Hanson said.

To register, click on the online services tab, and “online course enrollment” under the hunter education heading. Classes are listed by city, and can also be sorted by start date. To register for a class, click on “enroll” next to the specific class, and follow the simple instructions. Personal information is required.

Those who do not have access to the Internet and want to sign up for a class can call the hunter education program in Bismarck at (701) 328-6615.

State law requires anyone born after December 31, 1961 to pass a certified hunter education course to hunt in the state. Hunter education is mandatory for youth who are turning 12 years old, and children can take the class at age 11.

Top

Back