SALEM, Ore.—A number of hunter education classes and field days are available in March and early April, so young hunters have the chance to get certified before spring turkey season opens in mid-April.

Hunter education is mandatory for all hunters under the age of 18 and recommended for any new hunter. The course covers topics like firearms safety, hunter ethics, wildlife identification, hunt preparation and techniques and outdoor survival.

Students now have three options to complete hunter education: an online course, an independent study workbook course, or in-person attendance at a traditional class taught through ODFW’s statewide network of 600 volunteer instructors. A list of traditional classes can be found here. A $10 fee is due at the beginning of the course.

Hunter Education Courses

Independent study and online course students are still required to attend and complete a field day course, which typically last six to eight hours. Students receive hands-on instruction on safe firearms handling techniques, including crossing obstacles and hunting with others, situational ethics, and live fire exercises. Finally, students take a final certification exam to receive their official hunter safety card. Field day class listings can be found here. A $10 fee is due at the field day.

Independent Study

The online course is offered through Kalkomey Enterprises and costs an additional $15, paid to Kalkomey. The course takes approximately 10 hours to complete and includes a Field Day Qualifier Exam. Use of the online course and all practice tests is free until a student signs up to take the exam. Students who pass the online exam with an 80 percent grade or better receive a certificate which qualifies them to attend the required field day.

Register for the online course

To register for the independent study option, contact Myrna Britton (Myrna.B.Britton@state.or.us; tel. 503-947-6028) for a Hunter Education workbook, which must be fully completed when brought to the first field day class. A $10 fee is required for registration and class materials.

ODFW certifies about 6,000 new hunters each year through the hunter education program. Completion of the class is mandatory for any person under the age of 18 to hunt in Oregon, unless they are hunting on land owned by their parents or legal guardian or participating in the Mentored Youth Hunter Program.

More information about Hunter Education

Spring turkey season is open statewide April 15-May 31. Hunters under the age of 17 may also hunt April 10-11. See the 2009-2010 Oregon Game Bird Regulations for more information.

###