Hunter Education
Hunter Education is not required for anyone 14 years of age or older in order to hunt in Arizona.
No one under the age of 14 may hunt big game without completing a Hunter Education course. No one under age 10 may hunt big game in Arizona. 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.
Youth big game hunters need a Hunter Education card to hunt. They do not need a Hunter Education card to apply for the draw, only a hunting license. Youth hunters can purchase a hunting license without having attended Hunter Education. Classes fill up very quickly!
Hunter Education Health and Safety: COVID-19
Spring 2023 Youth Hunters
To ensure youth ages 10 through 13 who have big game tags for upcoming hunts are able to participate in that hunt, AZGFD will allow them to defer completion of the required, in-person portion of Hunter Education for up to one year from the online certification date. To be eligible for the deferment, they must meet the following criteria:
1. The youth hunter is 10 through 13 years of age and has completed the AZGFD online Hunter Education course.
2. The youth hunter has an upcoming big game hunt tag through Spring 2023.
3. The youth hunter will be accompanied by a licensed adult on the hunt.
4. The youth hunter must carry a copy of their online certification (AZ Field Day Qualification Exam Certificate) during the hunt.
You may complete Hunter Education in Arizona one of two ways, which class is right for you?
Complete the Arizona Hunter Education Online Course and attend a field day. You may attend either a standard field day, or if you are over the age of 18 with a minimum of 3 years hunting experience you may opt to attend a Bonus Point Field Test instead of a standard field day.
OR
Attend a classroom course in its entirety.
Classroom Course
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
Online Course Field Day
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
Bonus Point Field Test
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has an innovative online course – “Ethically Hunting Arizona”, providing hunters 18 and older with an opportunity to earn the education lifetime bonus point without completing Arizona’s Hunter Education.
Online Course Ethically Hunting Arizona
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.
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 obtain 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
All Hunter Education Classes
Classroom courses, online course field day and bonus point field test
Requirements: Preregistration is required for all Hunter Education class formats.
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. Get a Customer ID number
Purpose: The purpose of Arizona’s Hunter Education Program is to promote safe, knowledgeable and responsible hunter conduct, to emphasize the importance of wildlife management, laws and regulations, and to encourage the safe handling of firearms and hunting equipment.
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
Contact Information
More information on the Arizona Hunter Education Program email azhuntereducation@azgfd.gov
Become a Volunteer Hunter Educator
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.
Hunter Educators
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