By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Reporter
With the fall hunting seasons nearing, now is a good time for Texans to take Hunter Education.
“Hunter Education is a firearm safety and hunting safety course that is offered to the general public,” Steve Hall, Hunter Education coordinator for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), said.
Hunter Education is mandatory for hunters in Texas born on or after Sept. 2, 1971.
It teaches hunters everything they’ll need to know when they go hunting or to the range.
“We teach things like firearm safety, responsibility, handling and all of the nomenclature such as action-types and those kind of things,” Hall said in an interview with the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. “We get them familiar with the tools that are used in hunting or shooting sports. Mostly that’s rifles, shotguns and handguns, but it also includes a little bit about muzzle-loading and archery equipment, as well.”
The course also covers hunter responsibilities like taking the right shot and taking care of the game.
“(We also address) things like public image, ethics and responsibilities that each hunter, or outdoorsman in this case, would want to portray to their fellow recreationist in the field or even just to the public,” Hall said. “We obviously want to keep hunting respectful.”
There are two options for hunters under the age of 17 to complete Hunter Education.
“The in-person classes have two categories. One is called a classroom, that’s where you just show up for the six hour course, or you can take an internet plus field course,” Hall said. “The internet is kind of a pre-study to a more hands on field course, typically at a range.”
The field course lasts at least four hours and includes an ethics discussion, simulated or live-fire activities, a hunter skills trail and a final exam.
For hunters who are 17 or older, an online-only course is available.
A one-year, one-time deferral is available for hunters over 17-years-old who have not taken Hunter Education but would like to hunt this season. Proof of an approved deferral is required while hunting.
Although some hunters are required by law to take Hunter Education, Hall says Texans who aren’t required to take the course can benefit from it, as well.
“We have a lot of folks that aren’t required to take Hunter Education take the course mainly for the firearm safety portion of the course,” Hall said. “It’s one that’s readily available, and a lot of people who might be purchasing a firearm for self-defense or other reasons might take the course to learn a little bit about the hunter’s role in conservation, survival, first-aid or some of the other topics we might offer in Hunter Education.”
The course has been offered in Texas since 1972.
It’s been required for those born on or after Sept. 2, 1971 since 1988.
“It has definitely (lead to) a significant drop in hunting incidents and improved compliance with hunting regulations over that time period,” Hall said. “We have empirical data that shows a clear relationship between those that take Hunter Education and the reduction of accidents and the compliance to game laws. That’s really the hallmark of success of Hunter Education not only in Texas, but in the nation.”
Hall said those who take Hunter Education are more mindful of what the hunting laws are, ethics and their responsibilities while hunting.
“In the fall of 2021, and essentially during that year, we had a record safety year for Texas,” Hall said. “We only had 17 incidents, and that was a good year for us in the sense that it was the lowest year on record by five incidents.”
Links to sign up for Hunter Education are available on the TPWD website under the hunting tab.