Hunter Education Classes

Who: Anyone aged 9 and up.

Length: All classroom Hunter Education courses are taught by certified Arizona Game and Fish Department Volunteer Instructors.  The instructors determine the location and length of the class. Classroom courses average 24 hours.  There are instructor teams offering 16 hours up to 40 hour courses.

How: Classroom Course Schedule

Who: Anyone aged 9 and up who has successfully completed the Arizona Hunter Education Online Course.

Length: The online course is a self-paced program that is completed on the internet.  Once a passing score of 80% is obtain on the course examination, a completion certificate may be printed and a field day scheduled.

Field day courses are taught by certified Arizona Game and Fish Department Volunteer Instructors.  The instructors determine the location and length of the field day. Field days average 3-5 hours.

How: Take the Online Course, Online Field Day Schedule

Who: Adults Only.  Ages 18 and older, that have successfully completed the Arizona Hunter Education Online Course, and have a minimum of three years hunting experience.

Length: The online course is a self-paced program that is completed on the internet. Once a passing score of 80% is obtained on the course examination a completion certificate may be printed and a field test scheduled.

Field Tests are administered by certified Arizona Game and Fish Department Volunteer Instructors.  Students rotate through practical application stations at their pace. The stations are: Live-fire, Matching, Practical Hunt and a written examination. Average completion time is one hour.

How: Take the Online Course, Bonus Point Field Test Schedule

The Arizona Game and Fish Department has an innovative online course – “Ethically Hunting Arizona” – that provides hunters 18 and older with an opportunity to earn the education lifetime bonus point without completing Arizona’s Hunter Education.”

Who: Anyone aged 18 and up.

Length: The online course is a self-paced program that is completed entirely on the internet.

How: Take the Online Course
*Note: This course does not provide you with Hunter Education certification.

Classroom courses, online course field day and bonus point field test

Requirements: Preregistration is required for all Hunter Education class formats. While you must be 10 years of age to hunt big game you may complete Hunter Education at the age of 9 however, the Hunter Education completion card and certificate does not become valid until the child’s 10th birthday.

Customer ID – Students will need to provide a Customer ID number.  Students should provide this number ONLY on their Hunter Education class registration.  This number is required to complete any registration.

Purpose: The purpose of the hunter education program is about more than safety. It is also to develop responsible, knowledgeable and involved hunters who understand the importance of complying with hunting laws and behaving ethically.

Course Content: At a minimum your hunter education course will include the following topics:

• Responsibility, safety, skills
• Funding sources
• Conservation, fair chase, fair share, hunters’ ethics and hunters’ image
• Planning and preparation, maps and compasses, survival skills, coping with extreme weather and basic first aid
• Firearm safety, nomenclature, function, handling and shot-selection
• Wildlife conservation, management and identification
• Marksmanship, rifle and shotgun shooting, hunting strategies, vital shots and care of game
• Arizona hunting laws and regulations and licensing

If you can’t find a Hunter Education class: Our courses are conducted by volunteers. As volunteers are able to conduct courses in your area our website will be updated each Tuesday with new offerings.

Visit ilostmycard.com – You will need to provide your name and date of birth.  If your records cannot be found, call the HE helpline or email our dedicated address at azhuntereducation@azgfd.gov

My point isn’t reflected on my portal account: If it has been more than two weeks since completing Ethically Hunting Arizona or a month since graduating from Hunter Education, reach out to the Hunter Education staff with your name, date of birth and completion date at either azhuntereducation@azgfd.gov or 623-236-7235.

Will Arizona accept Hunter Education certification from another state? Yes, but it is not accepted for a bonus point.

I’m going hunting in another state that requires Hunter Education: Only Arizona Hunter Education courses will get you the necessary certification. Arizona Hunter Education requires an in person component.  All states accept all other states Hunter Education certifications. If you have Hunter Education from any state it will be accepted.

I am under the age of 14 and I was successfully drawn for a big game hunt: You must graduate from Hunter Education to participate in your hunt.  For Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 hunts, AZGFD will allow students to defer completion of the required, in-person field portion of Hunter Education.  To be compliant the youth must carry a copy of his or her online certificate (AZ Field Day Qualification Exam Certification) and be accompanied by a licensed adult on the hunt.

Arizona’s Hunter Education program strives to create a collaborative environment for volunteers, staff and partners to develop the best program for our customers.  We believe in our program mission that: Through a quality educational experience we can develop/teach present and future hunters to be safe, ethical and responsible that will carry on the hunting heritage for future generations.

As a Volunteer in the Hunter Education program, no matter your position title, you have volunteered for a very important role in our program and will be a highly visible representative of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Not only will you represent the Department, but the public will look to you to demonstrate what it means to be a responsible and ethical hunter. The public you encounter will form an opinion of you, the Department, and other hunters in general based on your conduct. You are responsible for imparting the knowledge needed to help other hunters increase their hunting knowledge, improve skills and safety, and become informed custodians of Arizona wildlife resources. This is not a duty to be taken lightly.

As a Volunteer Hunter Educator  you will:

• Help plan and deliver Hunter Education courses and field days
  • Able, but not required, to register and lead Hunter Education courses and field days
• Help promote Hunter Education by providing support at outreach events and programs approved by AZGFD

The Volunteer Hunter Educator Responsibilities

• Assist with at least two (2) HE courses per year
• Submit all course paperwork on time
• Complete ten (10) approved continuing education credits per year
• Verify contact information and desire to continue serving as a Hunter Educator at the end of each calendar year
• Notify Hunter Education Staff promptly of changes in name, phone, address or email
• Follow all HE policies & procedures and code of conduct
• Be honest and open with staff regarding intent, goals, needs, and skills so that we can ensure that you are placed in the best possible volunteer capacity
• Dress in an appropriate & professional manner
• Give accurate information to the public in a positive and polite manner
• Respect AZGFD & the HE Program, remembering that you represent them

The Volunteer Hunter Educator Qualifications

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Have access to email
• Acquire and maintain a DPS Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card. Certification will be denied or revoked if an individual is unable to obtain a DPS Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card (Per A.R.S. 41-1758)
• Teaching experience is highly desirable, but not required.
• Hunting experience, safety training, outdoor survival skills, organizational skills, public speaking experience, knowledge of bowhunting, muzzleloading, or other specialty hunting techniques are also valuable.

To begin the process of becoming a certified Volunteer Hunter Educator, contact azhuntereducation@azgfd.gov with your name, address, and contact information.

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