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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Planning on hunting this spring? Avoid the rush and sign-up to take your hunter education skills session now. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is holding two separate hunter education skills sessions in Jefferson City on the following dates:
The hands-on skills session is a mandatory, second requirement to become hunter education certified in Missouri. Students can take the first part as an online course, or with a printed manual, or by signing up for a four-hour classroom session.
“MDC revised the Hunter-Ed course in 2013 for student convenience and to emphasize hands-on training,” said MDC Outdoors Skills Specialist and Hunter-Ed instructor Brian Flowers. “New hunters who need to be Hunter-Ed certified should take the course early to avoid the spring rush.”
The skills session course covers hunter responsibility and ethics, how firearms work, firearm safety, firearm handling skills, hunting techniques, wildlife conservation and management, and unique Missouri rules and information. Plus, wildlife identification, game care, survival and first-aid skills are discussed.
Conservation makes Missouri a great place to hunt and the MDC promotes safe, knowledgeable, ethical and responsible hunting through its Hunter Education program and training. Hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1967, and who are 16 or older, must successfully complete an approved Hunter Education course to qualify to buy firearms hunting permits.
Hunter education students completing the course receive a temporary certificate so they can immediately start hunting while their Hunter Education Certification card is being processed.
MDC began providing Hunter Education in 1957 and has trained more than 1.1 million students. Since hunter education became mandatory in 1987, there has been a reduction of hunting incidents by more than 70 percent. Missouri is among the top five states in annual hunter education graduate numbers. The Hunter Education Certification card is a lifetime certification and is valid in all 50 states, Mexico and Canada.
The Cedar City Room is located at 1101 Third Street in Jefferson City.
Runge Nature Center is located on Hwy 179 in Jefferson City approximately one-third mile north of Hwy 50.
To register for one of these skills session, visit register-ed.com/programs/3. For more information on Hunter Education visit mdc.mo.gov/node/3095 or contact your local MDC office.
