Welcome to NH Hunter Education!
Today's hunters are going into the field knowing how to hunt safely, responsibly and ethically. Coupled with the voluntary use of hunter orange clothing, Hunter Education has dramatically helped to reduce the number of hunting-related firearms incidents in the field. |
By state law, anyone planning to buy a hunting, archery or trapping license must complete the respective hunter, bowhunter, or trapper education course, or show a previously issued license of the same type. Courses run from January through October, with many offered in the spring and summer. Don't wait until fall and possibly miss your chance to hunt! If you can't find a course that meets your needs, check back periodically. New courses are posted as they become available.
Owl Brook Hunter Education Center
N.H. Fish and Game's Owl Brook Hunter Education Center is dedicated to educating people in the knowledge, skills and behaviors needed to become safe and responsible hunters, trappers and stewards of the state's natural resources. CLICK HERE for more information on the center.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hunter, Bowhunter and Trapper Education
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- Traditional Hunter Education Course CLICK HERE (will launch new window) to register for a Tradition Hunter Education Course. Pre-registration is REQUIRED. The course material is taught in a classroom setting, with the field portions, live fire and practical exam occurring at a fish and game shooting or outing club. To successfully complete the course, you must attend all classes, score at least 80% on the written exam, and pass the practical skills test (pass/fail). Please note: A New Hampshire Traditional Hunter Education Course will NOT qualify students for a Massachusetts FID.
- Online Hunter Education Course and Field Day Schedule. You must be at least 15 years or older to get your certification online. Field Days can fill quickly and completion of this online course does not guarantee you a spot at a Field Day. Since Field Day options are limited, please ensure that a Field Day is offered in your area before taking the online exam. To take the online Hunter Ed course, CLICK HERE (will launch new window).
- To register for a Field Day (if you have already successfully completed the online Hunter Education Course), CLICK HERE.
- You must successfully complete a Field Day to achieve certification and complete the online Hunter Education Course. To log in, you will need the username and password created when you took the Online Hunter Education Course, which was emailed to you. If you DO NOT have your login information, call Kalkomey Customer Support at (800) 830-2268 (9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. EST) or email webmaster@register-ed.com. They will verify that you have successfully passed the online exam and paid the $15 fee, and issue your login information.
- If your Field Day Qualifier Exam Certificate was lost, or you failed to print it out, you can get it replaced by calling Kalkomey at 1-800-830-2268. You MUST present your Field Day Qualifier Exam Certificate to gain entry to a Field Day; no exceptions. Please note: If you fail to attend your scheduled Field Day, you will have to re-take the entire online Hunter Education Course (including the $15 charge for the online exam) and re-register for another Field Day.
- Traditional Bowhunter Education Course CLICK HERE (will launch new window) to register for a Traditional Bowhunter Education Course. Pre-registration is REQUIRED. Important differences between hunting with a firearm and hunting with archery equipment make education vital to the future of bowhunting. This classroom-based course emphasizes safety, ethics and responsibility. Students discuss safety and ethical situations unique to bowhunting, and learn how archery techniques can differ from those used with firearms. Other topics in the 8 to 12-hour course include archery equipment, game anatomy, shot placement, tree stand safety, game recovery and more. Several of these topics are taught outdoors as well. Students must pass the written exam with a score of 80% or higher. There is no field test or shooting component to a bowhunter education course.
- Need to cancel out of a course or check your course information? CLICK HERE -- You will need your user name and password to log in.
- If you cannot remember your username or password, please call Kalkomey Customer Support at (800) 830-2268 (9am - 6:30pm EST)
- Traditional Trapper Education Course CLICK HERE to see the current Trapper Ed course schedule. Trapper education teaches participants how to responsibly trap furbearing animals. This course is also required to become a licensed Wildlife Control Officer. Topics in the 8 to 12-hour course include proper trapping equipment and use, responsible trap-setting, the importance of good wildlife management practices, and habits and traits of furbearers. Taught in a classroom as well as outside; see schedule for info. Students must pass the written exam with a score of 80% or higher.
- Firearms identification, safety and handling
- Hunter ethics and responsibility
- Outdoor safety and survival skills
- Introduction to specialty hunting (archery, crossbow and muzzleloader)
- Wildlife identification and management
- Game recovery and care
- NH hunting laws
Students in the "traditional" Hunter Ed course are provided with a course manual, wildlife ID guide, outdoor survival information and additional handouts. Courses involve lecture, demonstrations, small group activities, a live fire experience, written exam and practical field test. The average course length is 16 hours.
The online course involves a self-paced program of study, accessible from any computer with web access; an online exam; and a Field Day - see sample description below.
Firearm ID and nomenclature, actions and ammo (5 groups rotate thru each station, 10 min. ea.)
- 5 sample action-type stations w/dummy ammo
- Firearm ID, nomenclature, loading/unloading practice
- Cartridge/Shotshell components, matching, & safety
Firearm handling, carries and obstacle crossing (2 groups, outside)
- Zones of Fire
- Safe handling/passing a firearm to another person
- Safe carries (two-hand, trail, sling, elbow, cradle, shoulder)
- Safe obstacle crossings with 1 and 2 hunters
Laws presentation with Conservation Officer. Specialty topics (tree stand safety, muzzleloader safety, turkey hunting safety).
Basic Map and Compass: Learn about compass components and functions, taking a bearing on a landmark; setting compass to given bearing.
Written Exam
Field Exam: Live Fire and Practical Field Test ( Students are tested on shoot/don’t shoot scenarios, matching ammunition and firearms, safe firearms handling and crossing obstacles). Provisions will be made for people with reading difficulties and/or physical disabilities.
- Full name (and middle initial if applicable)
- Present mailing address
- Date of birth
- Daytime phone number
Click here for a printable request form to send to the Hunter Education Office. There is a $2 fee for this service.
conduct hunter education programs. Volunteer hunter education instructor time (hours) is used as "match" funding, enabling Fish and Game to receive federal funds to cover the costs of coordinating the Hunter Education Program. So the next time you buy a gun, ammunition or archery equipment, remember you're helping to fund wildlife management and hunter education. Educating safe, ethical and responsible hunters wouldn't be nearly as successful as it is without the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act. 
