State offers hunter ed courses

If you or someone you know would like to go hunting this fall but have never taken a hunter education course, this is the time to act. Vermont’s volunteer hunter education instructors are now holding a limited number of courses throughout the state.

A person must pass the basic hunter education course before they can purchase their first hunting license.

“Most of these courses are held in August and September,” said Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s Hunter Education Coordinator Nicole Meier. “All of our instructors are volunteers. They teach because they are passionate about hunting and want to ensure that Vermont’s safe hunting legacy continues. We credit Vermont’s strong safety record with our volunteer instructors. In fact, in 2021 Vermont boasted zero hunting-related incidents.”

“Volunteer instructors are the backbone of the Vermont Hunter Education Program. They are vital to Vermont’s strong record of safe hunting. Hands-on and in-person learning from an experienced instructor are the best ways to become familiar with the skills associated with safe hunting,” said Meier.

“Courses are available in basic hunter education, bowhunter education, trapper education, and combination hunter-bowhunter education. We expect more classes to be posted throughout August and September, so check our website frequently.”

The courses will be listed as they become available on Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website.

A Vermont hunter education card entitles you to hunt in all 50 states, as well as some international locations.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities are available on request at no cost to the student. Please include a description of the accommodation you will need and include your contact information. Requests should be made as early as possible. Send an email to: Nicole.Meier@vermont.gov 802-828-1193 (voice), 1-800-253-0191 (TTY).