Department of Natural Resources Certified Hunter Education Instructors and Conservation Warden Chris Kratcha invite all individuals interested in hunter and firearm safety to enroll in upcoming Wisconsin hunter education courses being offered in Sturgeon Bay. Those taking the hunter education course will also have the option of taking an add-on bow hunter education course. Classes begin in March. The cost of course is $10 per student.
In-person enrollment for the classes is being held on Saturday, February 2, 2019 from 10:00am-2:00pm at Howie’s Tackle, located at 1309 Green Bay Rd (Hwy 42/57), in Sturgeon Bay. If you are unable to attend the sign-up day in-person, on-line registration will be made available to enroll in the unfilled roster openings (after the in-person sign-up is complete). To enroll on-line for the unfilled roster openings, visit the WI DNR website at http://dnr.wi.gov/ and type “Hunter Safety” in the keyword search box.
Anyone born on or after January 1, 1973 must have completed a hunter education course and show the certificate to purchase any hunting license in Wisconsin unless they will be hunting under the hunting mentorship program. A young person who completes the hunter education course and receives a certificate is eligible to hunt and use legal rifles and shotguns without supervision beginning at age 14 and eligible to participate in these same activities with supervision at age 12.
Anyone of any age can take the class. However, students are encouraged to wait until they turn 12 within 6 months of completion of the course before taking it. Students with special needs must contact the instructor at least two weeks in advance of the course to request special accommodations.
Hunter education graduates receive a certificate that is accepted in every state, Canadian Province, and Mexico. For Wisconsin residents, a first time graduate may use the Wisconsin Hunter Education certificate in lieu of a small game hunting license from the date of issuance until March 31 of the following year.
The hunter education course instills in students the knowledge and skill to be a responsible and safe hunter. Students learn how hunting accidents are caused and how they can be prevented. Hunter responsibility and safety are stressed throughout the classes, which consist of lectures, demonstrations, group discussions, practical exercises, and individual study and activity assignments.
