Mississippi's Hunter Education
Hunter Education works. Since 1950, when formal hunter safety programs were introduced, the number of hunting and firearms-related accidents has declined dramatically nationwide. In Mississippi, we know that our hunter education efforts have reduced firearms accidents and saved lives. All persons born after January 1, 1972 are required to complete a hunter education course before purchasing a Mississippi hunting license. Also Effective July 1, 2000, anyone twelve (12) years of age and under sixteen (16) years of age must have a certificate of satisfactory completion of a hunter education course approved by the Department before hunting alone in this state. A child at least twelve (12) years of age and under (16) years of age may hunt without having the certificate of hunter education if the child is in the presence and under the direct supervision of a licensed or exempt hunter at least twenty-one (21) years of age when hunting. The commission may offer a resident apprentice hunting license for a resident over the age of 15 who does not have the required certificate of hunter education and may set the fee for the apprentice hunting license. An apprentice license may be purchased only one (1) time by a resident and the apprentice hunting licensee must be accompanied by a licensed or exempt resident hunter at least twenty-one (21) years of age when hunting. The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks offers the course free of charge at locations across the state. The hunter education course includes 10 hours of instruction, including range firing. Students must be at least 10 years of age to participate and must pass a written exam and complete a firing exercise to be certified as having completed the course.
There is another way to obtain Hunter Safety certification. It is known as the official Mississippi Hunter Education Internet Course (see Online Hunters Ed Course). The course is not intended to replace the traditional classroom course but is designed to work within the established course curriculum and allow the Hunter Education certification to be obtained through out the year. The internet course allows the student to complete part of the course from any computer with internet access, and upon completing a pre-certification exam the student then comes to a pre-determined classroom setting to complete the final three hours. This allows the student time for interaction with the instructor, final testing, and the range firing exercise.
The Hunter Education program is designed to:
- reduce hunting accidents
- teach hunter ethics and responsibility
- promote wildlife conservation
- teach firearm safety
Specifically, the course contents include:
- hunter ethics and responsibility
- history of firearms
- rifles
- shotguns
- ammunition
- gun handling
- marksmanship
- blackpowder and muzzleloading
- bowhunting
- wildlife identification
- principles of wildlife management
- survival
- water safety
- hypothermia
- first aid
- tree stand safety
For more information about a hunter education
class contact:
MDWFP, Hunter Education
P. O. Box 451
Jackson, MS 39205-0451
1-800-354-5033 or your Regional Office
North Region
272 CR 995
Tupelo, MS 38804
662-840-5172
662-840-5170 Fax
Central Region
506 Hwy 43 South
Canton, MS 39046
601-859-3421
601-859-1818 Fax
South Region
1201 N. Clark Ave
Magnolia, MS 39652
601-783-2911
601-783-2926 Fax
