Participants taking part in a hunter safety course in Cumberland, Maryland. Photo by Jayson Knott TO TAKE A COURSE
Don't wait until hunting season to take a course. It will be too late! Most courses are offered in the late summer and early fall prior to the start of hunting seasons Our dedicated volunteer instructors are also dedicated hunters and prefer to be in the woods than in the classroom during hunting season. Some courses are also offered in the spring prior to spring turkey season. Volunteer instructors schedule each course. Some are completed in a weekend, while others may take several week nights and a day during the weekend to complete. Some courses may have a fee of up to $6 to offset expenses incurred by instructors and cover use of facilities.

The links on this page will take you to the general information on each program and the present course listing. We recommend that you review the Hunter Education Requirements and Course Information links before you go to the Course Listing and sign up for a course. When registering by phone for a class, remember, you are contacting a volunteer instructor at his or her home and you should be considerate concerning the time of day you call. Specific hours to call and not to call may be indicated on the course schedule.

Hunter Education
   Requirements
Maryland Hunter
   Education Course
Independent Study
   Hunter Education Program
Hunter Education
   Course Listings
Replacement Card Request
Bowhunter Education
Muzzleloading Education
Trapper Education
Hunter Education Exam
   Retake Schedules
Tree Stand Safety Tips
Firearm Safety Tips
Guide to Hunting
   & Trapping in Maryland
Become An Instructor
The goals of Maryland's Hunter Education Programs include the reduction of hunting accidents and violations; promotion of safe, responsible and knowledgeable hunting activities and to continue the traditions of the hunting experience. In 1966 Maryland started with a voluntary program of hunter education. In 1977, the Maryland legislature made it mandatory for all first time hunters to complete a hunter education course . We now have more than 600 volunteer instructors teaching over 235 hunter education courses each year. Over 7,200 people take the Maryland Hunter Education Course every year.

It's no accident that hunting is a safe activity. That's because today's hunters are better educated than ever before. They're going into the field knowing how to hunt safely and responsibly...a knowledge provided by hunter education courses.

NRP Home
DNR Home