Now is a great time to complete a hunter education course in Oregon, as many classes are available in late winter and early spring (before volunteer instructors get too busy to teach because they are hunting during the fall). The class is required for anyone under age 17 and under to hunt in Oregon, and encouraged for adults, too.

ODFW offers two types of hunter education classes: a conventional classroom experience held over several days with most material covered in the classroom by certified volunteer instructors, or an independent study option, which can be done from home via a workbook or by taking one of the four online courses available. Adults can complete the entire course online but independent study students age 17 and under also need to attend a field day to receive their hunter education certificate.

Conventional classes and field days are listed at ODFW’s license sales page and organized by county, with new classes and field days added frequently as they are scheduled. Click the tab “Hunter Ed Class” or “Hunter Ed Field Day” to see what’s available.

To register, provide the youth’s Hunter/Angler ID# (which is printed on all ODFW documents and stays the same from year to year) or select “New Customer.” You can also sign up at any license sales agent. Registration for an independent study field day or traditional class costs $10 and some of the online courses also charge an additional fee (ranging from $13-29 but a free online course is available).

Hunter education classes cover important issues including firearms safety and handling; hunter ethics and respect for private landowners; wildlife management and identification; hunt preparation and techniques; survival; and introductory bowhunting.

All classes and field days are taught by certified volunteers dedicated to passing on the tradition of hunting to future generations. These volunteer instructors teach and certify about 6,500 students statewide each year in hunter education.