Preparing for the fall hunting seasons? Now’s a good time to enroll in a Hunter Education course.
Hunter Education plays a vital role in keeping Wisconsin a safe place to hunt. Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1973, must complete a Hunter Education course and have a Hunter Education certificate to purchase a hunting license in Wisconsin.
The DNR offers multiple course options and locations, so hunters can choose the best format for how and where they’d like to learn. Note: Anyone under the age of 18 must take a course with an in-person, hands-on component.
- Traditional Hunter Education Course
- This course has the widest availability statewide. It involves a traditional classroom setting with lectures, homework and hands-on lesson plans. This course has class periods from a few times in one week up to, but no longer than, three weeks (maximum of 19 hours total). It’s best for students with little to no firearms-handling experience.
- Hunter Internet + Field Day Course
- This course has two components. Students complete textbook work and then attend a one-day field day with hands-on lesson plans and final exams. This course is best suited for students with some firearms-handling experience. This course is gaining popularity but may not be available statewide.
- Online-Only Course (Ages 18+)
- This course has the same general content as the other course options but is entirely online. It is ideal for students with firearms-handling experience, but it is not a requirement and is only available to individuals older than 18.
Bowhunting In Wisconsin
Completing a Hunter Education course and having a Hunter Education certificate allows you to purchase archery-specific licenses in Wisconsin. However, if you plan to bow hunt out of state or wish to have an Archery Education certificate, you can enroll in one of two course types:
- Traditional Bowhunter Education course
- Online-Only Bowhunter Education course
Steps To Enroll
- Visit Go Wild.
- Have a DNR customer ID. Each person must have their own ID.
- Find courses by drop-down lists for both course type and county. Ensure the default “statewide” setting is activated to see courses that are convenient for you.
Learn more about Hunter Education course options and enroll now.
