|
Hunter Education In Alabama
Successfully completing an approved hunter education course is mandatory for all non-supervised hunting license buyers born on or after August 1, 1977, except APOST certified law enforcement officers employed in the state, active duty U.S. Military personnel and Alabama residents who are active members of the U.S. National Guard. Alabama is one of 49 states which has a mandatory hunter education program. Course is a minimum of 10 hours of instruction in addition to an examination. Course contest includes hunter responsibility, wildlife laws, wildlife management and identification, firearms safety, archery, muzzleloading, basic survival and first aid. Goals of the hunter education program include increasing awareness of the importance of hunter-landowner relations, hunter behavior, reducing accident rates and increased knowledge of basic wildlife management concepts and wildlife laws. This course is also available on CD-ROM and the internet at www.outdooralabama.com.
Alabama is one of 49 states that has a mandatory hunter education program. The Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries expects approximately 13,000 students to complete the Hunter Education Course this year alone. The goal of the Hunter Education Program is to make Alabama hunters more responsible and more knowledgeable about wildlife conservation.
The Alabama Hunter Education Course is a minimum of 10 hours of instruction plus a written examination. The course is taught by Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries personnel and volunteer instructors to interested participants 10 years old and older. Students who successfully complete the course receive a patch and a card that is recognized by other states which require proof of completing a hunter education course before hunting licenses may be purchased. The course includes but is not limited to firearm safety and handling, responsible hunting and hunter ethics, wildlife laws, wildlife management and identification, archery, muzzleloading, first aid, survival, and game care.
Alternative delivery methods for the Alabama Hunter Education Course include a CD-ROM or an internet based program. The internet and/or CD course have many activities and questions, including a 50 question test that students must complete. After completing the CD or internet course, students must print a final report generated by the CD or internet course and either mail it to a designated location for a particular field day or take it with them to the field day. Students must complete another test at the field day and demonstrate many skills such as loading and unloading different types of firearms, safely crossing fences, and other activities that all safe, responsible hunters should be able to complete.
The hunter education internet course requires Internet Explorer 6.0. Click here to login to Alabama's hunter education internet course. If you have dial up, the CD-Rom course is recommended. Hunter education CD-ROM's are available at all County Extension Service offices and the following Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries offices:
Montgomery Wildlife Office
64 North Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
334-242-3620
|
District 1 Wildlife Office
21438 Harris Station Road
Tanner, AL. 35671
256-353-2634
Colbert, Cullman, Fayette, Franklin, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Walker, Winston
|
District II Wildlife Office
4101 Alabama Hwy 21 North
Jacksonville, AL 36265
256-435-5422
Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, DeKalb, Etowah, Jackson, Marshall, Randolph, St. Clair, Talladega
|
District III Wildlife Office
8211 Hwy 82 West
Northport, AL 35476
205-339-5716
Bibb, Chilton, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Shelby, Sumter, Tuscaloosa
|
District IV Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Office
1820C Glynwood Drive
Prattville, AL 36066
334-358-0035
Autauga, Bullock, Chambers, Coosa, Elmore, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Montgomery, Russell, Tallapoosa
|
District V Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Office
5093 Battleship Parkway
Spanish Fort, AL
251-626-5474
Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe, Washington, Wilcox
|
District VI Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Office
Alabama Hwy 167 South
Enterprise, AL 36330
334-347-9467
Barbour, Butler, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Pike
|
Andalusia Wildlife and Fisheries Office
1100 South 3-Notch Street
Andalusia, AL 36420
334-222-5415
|
|
To complete the hunter education CD-Rom certification process, each student must:
-
Obtain CD - CD’s are available at each County Extension Service Office and Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries district offices. They can also be picked up at each location as listed in the table above.
-
Install CD on home computer
-
Complete each section of CD - a check mark appears by each section name on the CD main menu after you complete each section.
-
Complete 50 question test by clicking on the test icon on main menu – you can only do this once each section of CD has been completed. Test icon does not appear on main menu until each section of the CD has been completed.
-
Print final report generated by CD
-
MAIL or deliver report to office listed on schedule if required, otherwise take final report to field day. (write name, address, telephone number and field day they would like to attend on final report)
-
Attend field day – demonstrate correct skills and complete written examination
Please call the hunter education office at 1-800-245-2740 or E-Mail Hunter Education Coordinator Ray Metzler if you have additional questions or require further information.
The Wildlife Heritage Act of 2007 passed by the Legislature has provided a mentor provision for hunter education. Now, hunting license buyers have the option to hunt under the “supervision required” status in lieu of passing the hunter education course. Hunters under supervision must be under normal voice control, not to exceed 30 feet away from a properly licensed hunter 21 years of age or older. Under no circumstance shall the supervising person be the holder of a “supervision required’ license.
|
