West Virginia Hunter Education Program

All persons born on or after January 1, 1975 must first successfully complete a certified hunter education course before purchasing a base hunting license. (Chapter §20-2-30a(a) WV Code) When purchasing a hunting license, the person must present a certificate of completion to the agent issuing the license. The first hunter education class taught in West Virginia was in 1968. It consisted of a short talk and a movie. In 1971, West Virginia won the NRA award for outstanding contributions to the field of hunter education. Today the course takes an average of 12 hours to complete. Over 360,000 students have passed the course since it began. This could not have been accomplished without the help of over 500 trained volunteer instructors who donate hundreds of hours and thousands of miles each year.

The course is offered free. Topics include: gun safety, wildlife management, ethics, survival/first aid, game identification, and how to safely hunt. You will enjoy listening to volunteer instructors and Natural Resources Police Officers pass on their expertise and hunting experiences, talking with your fellow hunters during class breaks, and geting familiar with the total hunting experience. Extra help is available for those who may need it. Students who have not reached their 10th birthday by the written test date of the class will not receive a permanent Hunter Education Certification.

Hunter Education Staff

To find and register for Hunter Ed classes go to https://www.register-ed.com/.

Anyone 10 years old and above may opt to take the online portion of the course. During the on-line course you will periodically take quizzes, print a Practical Exam Voucher once all quizzes are complete,  and bring it with you to the practical exams. After completing the online portion, students must contact their closest Law Enforcement District Office to schedule the practical (hands-on) portion and written test. The Hunter Education Card will be issued after successfully completing all 3 sections of the course.

For those unable to attend traditional courses, on-line courses are available for a fee at the links provided below.

Hunter-Ed.com West Virginia offers interactive instruction for all learning styles. The nine chapters are split into super-short segments that are designed for easy comprehension and quick learning. Log out and the course "remembers" where you left off, so you can jump right back in after a few hours or days. This course has the identical text that students study in West Virginia DNR classroom courses, colorfully illustrated with more than 350 realistic drawings, streaming videos on treestand safety, and interactive animations. When you pass, immediately print out your Field Day Voucher.

HUNTERcourse.com offers a fully narrated online study guide with over 50 interactive videos and exercises and more than 300 detailed illustrations throughout the entire course! We keep track of your progress in your personalized exam center as you complete the course at your own pace. The entire course is approved by the West Virginia DNR and will prepare you for your Practical Exam to get your hunter education certificate. Print your Practical Exam Voucher immediately once you’ve completed the course! Best of all, we offer a Family and Friends discount when you register more that one person online! Good luck!

HunterEdCourse.com  is a fast paced and highly interactive online hunter education course that was created by the nation’s foremost experts in hunter education – and is offered to students at around half the price of the other online course options!  Upon completion of the online training, a student merely prints his or her final exam certificate and contacts the closest West Virginia Law Enforcement District Office to schedule the practical (hands-on) portion and written test to receive a Hunter Education Card.

HunterEdCourse.com  is a fully narrated course using actual photographs as teaching materials rather than watercolor illustrations. The HunterEdCourse.com  West Virginia DNR approved course is a great and cost effective alternative to the traditional face-to-face course allowing a student to complete the classroom portion of his or her hunter education training when it is most convenient for the student – anytime, any day, any place the internet can be accessed.   As an added benefit, a student can return to the course for a full year after registering to get refresher training.

The beasafehunter.org course covers everything you need to satisfy West Virginia's Hunter Education requirements.  This course is offered at a    low cost.  The instructional videos are HD-quality and are designed to be used on mobile devices.  The course if fully narrated and is IHEA  approved.  Study for free, and pay only when you pass.

WWW.NRAHE.org - From the organization that built the first-ever hunter education program in 1949, the NRA Online Hunter Education course is designed to help new hunters of all ages learn how to be safe and responsible members of the hunting community. This state-of-the-art course is the most comprehensive online hunter education instruction in the United States, and it’s 100% FREE!

The Ten Commandments of Gun Safety

1. Treat every gun as if it were loaded.
2. Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
3. Be sure of your target and what's beyond it.
4. Be sure the barrel and action are clear of obstructions.
5. Unload firearms when not in use.
6. Never point a firearm at anything you don't want to shoot.
7. Never climb a fence or tree or jump a ditch with a loaded firearm.
8. Never shoot a bullet at a flat, hard surface or water.
9. Store firearms and ammunition separately.
10. Avoid alcoholic beverages and other mind altering drugs before and during shooting.

Lost or Misplaced your Hunter Education Card?

If you have lost or misplaced your Hunter Education card, contact your local license agent; pick up an application for a duplicate card; complete it; and mail it, along with a $10 check or money order, to one of the addresses listed on the application. Click this link to obtain an Application for Lost Hunter Education Card in a printable PDF file format. (You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.) If there is no record of your completion of the hunter education class, the $10 will be returned to you.

Effectiveness of Blaze Orange:

This short hunter safety video provides tips about how wearing the right amount and kind of blaze orange can keep you safe in the field.