Thank you for your dedication, passion and interest in Iowa’s wildlife and natural resources! The goals of the DNR Hunter Education Program are as follows:
Educate Iowans about hunter safety
Promote hunter education and ethics
Train volunteer instructors to teach hunter education
Continue to keep hunting the safe activity it has become
By providing hunter education to the public, the DNR will help ensure the safety of hunters throughout our state by continuing to promote ethics and fair chase, hunter responsibility and landowner relations. The safety, recruitment, and retention of hunters are important in continuing the tradition of hunting in Iowa's GREAT Outdoors!
Class Availability
Classes are typically held from March 1 - November 15 each year. Our courses are taught by volunteer instructors who are hunters so there are very few classes that take place after November 15.
What You'll Learn
Hunter education is a mandatory program that is designed to introduce students to several life-long skills that are important to the many different types of outdoor recreational opportunities. The course teaches its students:
Basic survival and first aid skills
Water safety
Wildlife identification
Basics of wildlife management
Hunting laws
Firearm/archery safety.
Hunter education also stresses the importance of individual responsibility and outdoor ethics.
Age Requirements
A person who is 11 years old or older may enroll in a course, but those who are 11 and successfully complete the course shall be issued a certificate which becomes valid on that person's 12th birthday.
Iowa residents under the age of 12 can be issued a deer or turkey license; however, a licensed adult hunter must accompany each youth hunter.
There are three ways to complete hunter education, and one hybrid learning experience:
Visit the Go Outdoors Iowa website to find a course in your area and to get registered.
If, as a student, you require reasonable accommodations to participate in a classroom type education program, please advise the listed contact person at the time of pre-registration.
The online hunter education course was designed for the busy 11-17 year old student that cannot fit a traditional class into their schedule.
You can get certified and start hunting in three easy steps:
Complete one of the Iowa approved online course options below.
There are two options for taking online hunter education.
Option 1:Hunter-ed.com Online textbook-style hunter safety course featuring hundreds of realistic illustrations and animations. Includes the course, unit quizzes and certificate – everything you need to purchase your license and start hunting.
Option 2:I Learn to Hunt Learn and test your hunting knowledge with the only gamified interactive course in Iowa. A dynamic, video game-type hunter safety course that is built around real-life scenarios. Students complete in-game lessons and challenges that allow for a higher level of understanding and in-field confidence. Perfect for all ages!
Both online courses use the same information that is taught in the Today’s Hunter manual. Both courses provide the online materials necessary to gain entry into an iowa hunter education field day class.
Upon completion of the online coursework, the student is issued a field day admission voucher which is valid for only one year. They are to print the voucher and present that voucher to the instructor on the day of their field day.
Students taking the hunter education online coursework cannot substitute a portion of a traditional hunter education class as the field day in order to complete their hunter education certification.
Students must present a copy of their field day voucher to the instructor at the field day class. The field day class includes a presentation on the laws and ethics of hunting in Iowa, along with firearms handling exercises. Students will then take a final exam where a score of 75% or better is needed to pass and obtain the certificate of completion.
Notice: You must be 18 years of age or older to take this course.
The adult online only courses have the same general content as the traditional classroom course and online/field day course but requires state specific information to be covered along with a final exam in which the student must achieve a score of 75% or better to pass.
These courses are designed for adults that have prior hunting and/or firearms handling experience. If you do not have prior hunting or firearms handling experience it is recommended that you take a traditional classroom course or attend a field day in order to receive one on one firearms handling training with a certified hunter education instructor.
Get certified and start hunting in two easy steps:
Complete an approved Iowa online course.
Receive your Iowa hunter education certificate.
There are two options for taking online hunter education.
Option 1:Hunter-ed.com Online textbook-style hunter safety course featuring hundreds of realistic illustrations and animations. Includes the course, unit quizzes and certificate – everything you need to purchase your license and start hunting.
Option 2:I Learn to Hunt Learn and test your hunting knowledge with the only gamified interactive course in Iowa. A dynamic, video game-type hunter safety course that is built around real-life scenarios. Students complete in-game lessons and challenges that allow for a higher level of understanding and in-field confidence. Perfect for all ages!
Notice: You must be 21 years of age or older and an Iowa resident in order to complete this course.
Iowa's only approved dual hunter education and handgun safety course that meets the training requirements per Iowa law to apply for a nonprofessional permit to carry firearms. This course covers the same general content as the traditional classroom hunter education course, but also includes expanded information on handgun safety and laws.
Concealedcarry-ed.com/iowa is the only combo hunter & concealed carry education course designed specifically for the state of iowa. This safety course is fully mobile-friendly and is designed to work on your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. The course includes easy-to-understand handgun safety instructions and self-defense information, all taught by professional educators.
Iowa law requires that anyone born after January 1, 1972 must be certified in hunter education before they are eligible to purchase an Iowa hunting license. The minimum number of hours to complete the class is 10. Typically there is no charge for the course, unless lunch is furnished or room rental is required. Iowa recognizes hunter education certificates issued by another state and some foreign nations.
Lost Certificates
If the certificate is lost, a replacement certificate may be obtained from any ELSI vendor during regular business hours for $4.50.
Duplicate Certificate Requests
Follow these simple steps to purchase a duplicate hunter education certificate online:
Type in your login information including your date of birth, last name and last four of SSN or customer id or drivers license.
Click the shopping cart at the top that says make a purchase.
Search for duplicate hunter education or scroll to type 860.
Click the blue +Add To Cart button and check out.
If you have any trouble, please contact Iowa DNR customer service at 515-725-8200, available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
You can also visit any one of our license vendors (anywhere that sells hunting or fishing licenses) in Iowa and purchase a duplicate hunter education certificate, if you have provided your certificate for a prior purchase.
Hunting
Find a Hunter Education Class
Safety is the first priority in hunting. Find a hunter education and safety course near you to get started.
No, as long as your child is an Iowa resident under 16 years old and hunting with a licensed adult they do not need hunter education.
You can find classes online at https://events.gooutdoorsiowa.com. On the webpage you can search for a course in a district near you.
Yes, you can find out about other classes by contacting the chief hunter education instructor for the county in which you are wishing to attend a class. The chief should have an idea of all of the classes going on within the county. You my also contact the local conservation officer for the county you are interested in.
Hunter education is taught by volunteers. It takes a lot of time and effort by these volunteers to put together classes that will provide the students with all of the knowledge they will need to be a safe and successful hunter.
Contact your chief instructor and work with him/her to contact other instructors that would be willing to help put on a class. You will also want to make sure there are more interested students in the area. You may also contact your local conservation officer or recreation safety officer.
No, you may attend a class in any county.
Some counties have classes the same time every year, but it does vary from county to county. The best way to find out that information is to check the website or contact the chief instructor.
The cost is free. There may be a cost associated with some of the internet courses.
Yes, if you meet the criteria for needing to take hunter education then you must take it. Hunter education deals with firearms while bow hunter education focuses specifically on bow hunting.
No.
If the certificate is lost, a replacement certificate maybe obtained from any ELSI vendor during regular business hours for $4.50.
Follow these simple steps to purchase a duplicate hunter education certificate online:
Type in your login information including your date of birth, last name and last four of SSN or customer id or drivers license.
Click the shopping cart at the top that says make a purchase.
Search for duplicate hunter education or scroll to type 860.
Click the blue +Add To Cart button and check out.
If you have any trouble, please contact:
Iowa DNR Customer Service 515-725-8200 Mon-Fri, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Don't have internet access?
You can also visit any one of our license vendors (anywhere that sells hunting or fishing licenses) in Iowa and purchase a duplicate hunter education certificate, if you have provided your certificate for a prior purchase.
Iowa recognizes hunter education certificates issued by another state and some foreign nations.
If you have already taken the hunter education course, you can go to a new instructor workshop and become a hunter education instructor. From there you can make contact with your chief instructor, local conservation officer, or recreation safety officer and either help with existing courses or start your own.
Bowhunter Education:The bowhunter program is designed to teach bowhunters safe and ethical hunting techniques and to install responsible attitudes toward people, wildlife and the environment.
Hunter Education Instructors: Interested in becoming a Volunteer Hunter Education Instructor? Learn how to sign up!
Mentored Hunts: Find an upcoming mentored hunt in your backyard.
Logan’s Law, named after Logan Luft, was enacted in 2019 and allows hunting, fishing and trapping license buyers to declare as an organ, eye and tissue donor, when purchasing hunting and fishing licenses, very similar to declaring when purchasing or renewing a driver’s license.
By registering as an organ donor you authorize your organs, eyes, and tissues to be donated at the time of your death. For more information visit the Iowa Donor Registry FAQ online.
