Welcome to NH Hunter Education!
It's no accident that hunting is a safe activity. Today's hunters are better educated than ever before. They're going into the field knowing how to hunt safely, responsibly and ethically ... a knowledge provided by the New Hampshire Hunter Education Program. Coupled with the voluntary use of hunter orange clothing, Hunter Ed has dramatically helped to reduce the number of hunting-related firearms incidents in the field.
By state law, anyone planning to buy a basic hunting license, archery or trapping license must complete the respective hunter, bowhunter, or trapper education course, or show a previously issued license of the same type. Most courses run from February through October, but fill up quickly in the early Spring and Fall months. Don't wait until hunting season to take a course; it'll be too late!
FIND A CLASS
- To Register for a Field Day (You must have first successfully completed the online Hunter Education Course)
- If you have successfully completed the online Hunter Education Course, but have not registered for a Field Day, CLICK HERE to log in and register.
You must successfully complete a Field Day to achieve certification and complete the online Hunter Education Course. To log into Event Manager, you will need your username and password created when you took the Online Hunter Education Course, which was emailed to you.
- If you DO NOT have your login information, you must call Kalkomey Customer Support at (800) 830-2268 (9am - 6:30pm EST) or email webmaster@register-ed.com. they will verify you have successfully passed the online exam, paid the $15.00 fee, and issue your login information.
- If your Field Day Qualifier Exam Certificate was lost, or you failed to print it out, you can get it replaced by calling Kalkomey at 1-800-830-2268. You MUST present your Field Day Qualifier Exam Certificate to gain entry to a Field Day, no exceptions. Please Note: If you fail to attend your scheduled Field Day, you will have to re-take the entire online Hunter Education Course (including the $15.00 charge for the online exam) and re-register for another Field Day.
- Tradition Trapper Education Course: CLICK HERE to view the current list of classes. Call or email the contact listed for the class of your choice to register.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of courses are available?
-
Traditional Hunter Education Course CLICK HERE (will launch new window) to register for a Tradition Hunter Education Course. Pre-registration is REQUIRED. the course material is taught in a classroom setting, with the field portions, live fire and practical exam occurring at a fish and game shooting or outing club. to successfully complete the course, you must attend all classes, score at least 80% on the written exam, and pass the practical skills test (pass/fail). Please note: A New Hampshire Traditional Hunter Education Course will NOT qualify students for a Massachusetts FID.
- Online Hunter Education Course and Field Day Schedule to take the online Hunter Ed course CLICK HERE (will launch new window). You must be at least 15 years or older to get your certification online. Online Hunter Education has two parts; please note that you must successfully complete both the online exam ($15.00 charge) AND the Field Day to achieve certification. Don't forget to print out your Field Day Qualifier Exam Certificate and bring it to your scheduled Field Day.
- Traditional Bowhunter Education Course CLICK HERE (will launch new window) to register for a Traditional Bowhunter Education Course. Pre-registration is REQUIRED.
Important differences between hunting with a firearm and hunting with archery equipment make education vital to the future of bowhunting. This classroom-based course emphasizes safety, ethics and responsibility. Students discuss safety and ethical situations unique to bowhunting, and learn how archery techniques can differ from those used with firearms. Other topics in the 8 to 12-hour course include archery equipment, game anatomy, shot placement, tree stand safety, game recovery and more. Several of these topics are taught outdoors as well. Students must pass the written exam with a score of 80% or higher. There is no field test or shooting component to a bowhunter education course.
- Traditional Trapper Education Course CLICK HERE to see the current Trapper Ed course schedule.
The trapper education course teaches participants how to responsibly trap furbearing animals. This course is also required for those who intend to become licensed Wildlife Control Officers. Topics in the 8 to 12-hour include proper trapping equipment and use, responsible trap-setting, the importance of good wildlife management practices, and habits and traits of furbearers. Taught in a classroom as well as outside, see schedule for info. Students must pass the written exam with a score of 80% or higher.
What does it cost?
- Traditional courses: Instructors may charge $5 per student to cover the use of facilities and minor expenses.
- Online course: Each student must pay a $15 fee to take the New Hampshire Field Day Qualifier Exam.
What are the age requirements for Hunter Education?
To receive a certificate of completion in a traditional hunter, bowhunter, or trapper education course, you must be at least 12 years old by the completion of the course. To take the online hunter education course, students must be at least 15 years of age, or older. Youth hunters should try to complete a
hunter education course sometime between the age of 12 and their 16th birthday.
What will I learn in Hunter Education?
Fish and Game's Hunter Education Course is more than a "gun safety" class. The mandatory course consists of classroom instruction, field experiences and firing on a shooting range. Each course is taught by trained, certified volunteer instructors and the local conservation officer. The course covers the following topics:
- Firearms identification, safety and handling
- Hunter ethics and responsibility
- Outdoor safety and survival skills
- Introduction to specialty hunting (archery, crossbow and muzzleloader)
- Wildlife identification and management
- Game recovery and care
- NH hunting laws
Students in the "traditional" Hunter Ed course are provided with a course manual, wildlife ID guide, outdoor survival information and additional handouts. Courses involve lecture, demonstrations, small group activities, a live fire experience, written exam and practical field test. The average course length is 16 hours. The online course involves a self-paced program of study, accessible from any computer with web access; an online exam; and a Field Day - see description below.
Provisions will be made for people with reading difficulties and/or physical disabilities.
What if my Certification Card is lost or destroyed?
If you have previously passed a New Hampshire Hunter, Bowhunter or Trapper Education course, every effort will be made to issue a replacement card. In cases where we have no record of you taking the course, we cannot issue a replacement and the course will have to be taken again. If you have taken the course in another state, you need to contact that state for a duplicate. We do not fax copies of cards. Please provide the following information:
- Full name (and middle initial if applicable)
- Present mailing address
- Date of birth
- Daytime phone number
Click here for a printable request form to send to the Hunter Education Office. There is a $2.00 fee for this service.
How do I contact the Hunter Education office?
The Hunter Education office is housed at 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, New Hampshire, in Building #2. As you enter the parking lot, at the STOP sign, turn right into the small parking lot. The office door is the first on the right, below the Hunter Education and Aquatic Education sign. The phone number is (603) 271-3214.
How can I become a Hunter Education instructor?
The Hunter Education Program is always looking for those outdoor enthusiasts and educational professionals who would like to volunteer their time as a certified instructor. While previous hunting knowledge and experience is certainly helpful, all it takes is enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. The instructor certification course encourages effective teaching techniques in a team-teaching environment, subject matter basics, and best-way-methods.
Have you ever thought about becoming a Hunter Education instructor? People volunteer as instructors in the Hunter Education Programs (Hunter Education, BowHunter Education, Trapper Education) for many reasons. Chief among them is the desire to be a valuable part of the outdoor tradition and help ensure its future. Potential instructors should be hunters (or trappers) with at least a few years of practical experience. The ideal situation is for two or more people to organize a teaching team or you may join an existing team. All volunteers are trained, certified and provided with required course materials. Candidates for the position of volunteer instructor must satisfy the following requirements:
- Have completed the basic course as a student (hunter, bowhunter or trapper education)
- Be at least 18 years old
- Enjoy working with young people
- Believe in and practice safe, responsible hunting
- Have no misdemeanor or felony convictions, or Fish and Game violations, within 7 years
- Complete an application process that includes providing personal references and a criminal history background check. (hunter, bowhunter or trapper education)
- Successfully complete an instructor training course, with final exam
Once an application is submitted, the applicant will be notified of upcoming training sessions. Once certified, instructors then must:
- teach at least one course during their two-year certification period, and
- attend a workshop annually.
Becoming a volunteer Hunter Education Instructor takes effort and commitment and it can bring with it many rewards. If you would like to help maintain a tradition of safe and responsible hunting and trapping, then this program may be for you! Instructors enjoy professional discounts at many sporting goods stores and gun shops, and are recognized and rewarded for their efforts at an annual recognition banquet.
If you are interested in becoming an instructor download the appropriate application form, fill it out and mail it back to us, we'll do the rest. If you need more information please contact the Hunter Education Program at (603) 271-3214.
Click to download Hunter Education Instructor Application* (PDF, 44 KB)
Click to download Bowhunter Education Instructor Application* (PDF, 44 KB)
Click to download Trapper Education Instructor Application* (PDF, 44 KB)
Click here for the 2010 New Instructor Training Schedule Registration form, this form must be submitted along with the Instructor Application.
The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act makes hunter education in New Hampshire possible. Excise taxes
are collected from the sales of firearms, ammunition and archery equipment. These funds are distributed to state agencies to conduct research, manage wildlife populations, protect habitat and conduct hunter education programs. Volunteer hunter education instructor time (hours) is used as "match" funding, enabling Fish and Game to receive federal funds to cover the costs of coordinating the Hunter Education Program. So the next time you buy a gun, ammunition or archery equipment, remember you're helping to fund wildlife management and hunter education. Educating safe, ethical and responsible hunters wouldn't be nearly as successful as it is without the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act.
The NH Fish and Game Department receives Federal Assistance from the US Fish & Wildlife Service,
and thus prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age and sex,
pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Title IX of the Education Amendments of
1972, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975. If you believe you have been discriminated against
in any program, activity or service, please contact or write the US Fish & Wildlife Service, Division
of Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration, 4001 N. Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop: WSFR – 4020, Arlington,
Virginia 22203, Attention: Civil Rights Coordinator for Public Programs.
