Traditional classroom courses available, as well as online home study option
Hunters born on or after Sept. 1, 1969 are reminded that they must successfully complete an approved hunter education course, according to a press release from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Young hunters may hunt without hunter education certification on two conditions: if they are under the direct supervision of a person 18 or older who has proof of hunter education certification, or if they are directly supervised by a person born before Sept. 1, 1969 who has a valid hunting license.
According to the release, direct supervision means when a hunter is within hearing distance of a normal voice and in direct line of sight of the supervising adult.
Hunter education students can attend a traditional 10-hour classroom course taught over a few days, or take a home study version available online or by CD-Rom. Hunters who choose the home study version also must attend a mandatory 6-hour field day event, the release states.
There is no charge for the classroom course or CD-Rom version of the home study course, but it costs $15 to take the online version at home, the release states. Home study CD-Roms are available from LDWF Education Program offices.
There is no minimum age for attending a hunter education course, but persons under 10 are not eligible for hunter education certification. Louisiana’s hunter education certification is recognized and accepted in all 50 states, the release states.
The Louisiana hunter education program certifies about 18,000 hunters annually. The course covers firearms and outdoor safety, wildlife and management and ethics. All courses include a live-fire exercise, and participants must demonstrate safe firearm handling skills
Hunting accidents have dropped significantly since hunter education became mandatory in 1984, the release states.
To register for a class or get more information, click here.
Hunters are reminded there are multiple Web sites offering hunter education information and class schedules, but some of these may contain outdated information. So refer only to the LDWF’s Web site or links accessed from the department’s Web site for current hunter education information.
