MDC offers a number of hunter education opportunities in southwest Missouri in coming weeks

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News from the region
Southwest
Published Date
09/04/2020
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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Many people are starting to prepare for this fall’s hunting seasons. If taking hunter education is one of the things you need to do to enjoy firearms hunting opportunities this year, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has several options available.

Individuals born on or after Jan. 1, 1967 hunting in Missouri during a fireams season or acting as an adult mentor to another hunter must have hunter education certification unless exempt (see exemptions listed below). MDC offers two hunter education options; an all-online format and a blended format.

The all-online format may be completed by Missouri residents age 16 and older. It consists of an online course and requires a fee paid to the online course provider (not MDC). The all-online option requires the passing of a final exam, but has no skills portion.

The blended format has two parts. The knowledge portion provides information to participants on all aspects of hunter education and can be taken online, through a free self-study guide, or in a classroom setting. Participants must also complete a four-hour skills session that includes a multiple-choice final exam. The skills portion is a hands-on demonstration of skills learned by participants. Participants must complete and pass both portions to earn certification.

For individuals participating in the blended format, here is a list of skills sessions coming up in southwest Missouri:

  • Sept. 12 – 1-4 p.m., MDC Andy Dalton Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center, 4897 N. Greene County Farm Road 61 (Greene County)
  • Sept. 26 – 8 a.m.-noon, Main Street Baptist Church, 513 Crestview Drive, Greenfield (Dade County)
  • Sept. 26 – 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Main Street Baptist Church, Greenfield (Dade County)
  • Oct. 3 – 8 a.m.-noon, Andy Dalton Range (Greene County)
  • Oct. 3 – 1-4 p.m., Andy Dalton Range (Greene County)

To register for these skills sessions, visit mdc.mo.gov/huntereducation.

To help keep participants, instructors, and others safe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, MDC will limit in-person class sizes to small numbers so social distancing can be practiced. Class availability will also be limited due to smaller class sizes and limited availability of venues. MDC will abide by applicable local health requirements and strongly encourages participants to bring and wear masks. Hand sanitizer will be available to participants, but masks will not be provided by at the above-listed classes.

“To help staff, volunteers, program participants, and others stay safe, MDC has changed the format and structure of some of our programs, including hunter education,” said MDC Hunter Education and Shooting Range Coordinator Justin McGuire. “Opportunities to attend an in-person hunter education class or skills session are available, but limited, at this time. MDC still offers ample opportunities for people to legally hunt in Missouri through youth exemptions, our apprentice hunter education authorization, and online hunter education.”

Exemptions to Missouri’s hunter education requirements are:

  • Hunters born before Jan. 1, 1967
  • Hunters age 15 or younger who will be hunting with an adult mentor age 18 years or    older who is certified in hunter education.
  • Hunters with a disability exemption from MDC
  • Hunters age 16 or older who have purchased an apprentice hunter authorization and will be hunting with a properly permitted adult mentor age 18 or older
  • Hunters who are landowners hunting on land they own.
  • Hunters who can prove completion of an approved hunter education course in another state

More information about hunter education opportunities in southwest Missouri can be obtained by calling MDC’s Southwest Regional Office at 417-895-6880 or going to mdc.mo.gov.