By Shala Watson
Communications Specialist
Most hunters know a hunting license is usually required in order to legally hunt in Texas, but all hunters born after Sept. 1, 1971 are also required to take hunter safety course.
Hunter safety courses have reduced hunting accidents and improved compliance and behavior, according to Steve Hall, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) Hunter Education Coordinator.
“Hunter safety produces safe, responsible and knowledgeable hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts,” Hall said. “Behavior in hunters is cited as the number one reason people would be against hunting if they saw bad behaviors by hunters.”
There are three course platforms available for hunters to choose from, according to Hall.
Courses are offered across the state year-round and are taught by certified volunteer instructors. The fee for the certification is $15.
There is a mixture of classroom, online and field courses, as well as online-only courses.
“The field course does include more hands-on skills and live fire opportunities,” Hall said.
He said the online-only option is for those 17 and older.
The classroom course is designed for novice or young hunters, ages nine and above. The course covers the core competencies of firearm and hunting safety, hunting ethics and wildlife conservation.
All materials are provided. The Hunter Education Classroom Course lasts a maximum of six hours of classroom instruction.
Hunters age nine through 16 must complete a classroom course or online and field course.
The Hunter Education Internet and Field Course is ideal for adult hunters who have been shooting and/or hunting for a number of years or an older youth who has an adult hunting/shooting mentor.
The online course work may be challenging for youth without adult assistance. The certification process consists of two parts:
• Online course work: Complete the TPWD online course or one of the approved online hunter education courses.
Online courses offered by Hunter-ed.com, HunterEdCourse.com or HUNTERCourse.com are approved for completion of Part 1 coursework. These vendors charge a fee for their course, which is not associated with the $15 course fee paid to the instructor.
• Attend a Field Course with a TPWD certified instructor.
If a hunter has taken a hunter education course in another state, it is also acceptable in Texas.
TPWD is also rolling out a new online registration system that will provide more convenient ways to process information, according to Hall.
“We are also launching a new hunting 101 course that are species and ethics specific type courses,” Hall said.
For more information, visit https://tpwd.texas.gov/education.