Hunter Education

Hunter Ed Activities

In-Person Courses

In-person hunter, bowhunter, and trapper education courses are now available on a limited basis. All instructors are volunteers and may not be ready to teach courses yet, which means there may not be a course in your desired discipline near you. Courses will fill up quickly once posted so check back frequently to see if another course has been added. Please do not register for more than one course. This creates a no-show at one and takes that seat from someone else..

Specific COVID guidelines MUST be followed by students at all times during classes including:

Students must bring their own mask and wear it during the class;
Students must maintain physical distancing during the class, unless students have been quarantining together;
All students must register for the class (if a parent/guardian wants to attend with their child, the parent MUST register);
Classes are open to Vermont residents only;
Students must bring their own water/food;
In-person classes will have limited occupancy.

View and Register for In-Person/HomeStudy Firearm, Bowhunter, or Trapper Education courses

Hunter Education Online Certification

Online only certification for hunter education is now available and free for Vermont residents. There is a minimum age requirement of 12 years for online-only hunter education course, bowhunter education course and trapper education correspondence course. In-person courses are open to Vermonters of all ages, but are administered at a 6th grade reading level.

Students will be e-mailed their certification card immediately upon completion of the online course. After that they will be eligible to purchase a hunting license in Vermont or any of the 50 US states, Canada, and Mexico. If students would like their orange card in addition, or if a replacement card is needed, students may contact the Vermont Hunter Education Program at HunterEducation@vermont.gov.

Official Vermont Hunter Safety Course Online

Trapper Education

An online only option for Trapper Education is now available. If you are interested in obtaining your trapper education certification, please e-mail HunterEducation@vermont.gov with the subject “Trapper Education Correspondence Course.” The material will be e-mailed to you. If you prefer a paper option, that is also available.

There is a minimum age requirement of 12 years for online-only hunter education course, bowhunter education course and trapper education correspondence course. In-person courses are open to Vermonters of all ages, but are administered at a 6th grade reading level.

Bowhunter Education

An online-only bowhunter education course to obtain a bowhunter certification is now available. Hunter Education Certification and Bow Hunter Education Certification are both required to purchase a valid Vermont Bow Hunting License.

There is a minimum age requirement of 12 years for online-only hunter education course, bowhunter education course and trapper education correspondence course. In-person courses are open to Vermonters of all ages, but are administered at a 6th grade reading level.

Students will be e-mailed their certification card immediately upon completion of the online course. After that they will be eligible to purchase a hunting license in Vermont. If students would like their physical yellow card in addition, or if a replacement card is needed, students may contact the Vermont Hunter Education Program at HunterEducation@vermont.gov.

Official Vermont Bowhunter Education Course Online

Exemptions

Requests for exemptions to the age requirement for online classes should be made directly to the Hunter Education Program by calling (802) 828-1193 or emailing HunterEducation@vermont.gov. Exemptions will be considered for those youth age 12 and under that are immuno-compromised or are otherwise unable to attend in-person classes.

Use the links below to find a seminar, replace your hunter ed card, learn how to become an instructor, and more.