Hunting in Wisconsin: Are Safety Courses Required to Hunt in Wisconsin? How Do I Pass Classes?

Wisconsin has a lot to offer in the way of wild game and hunting land. But everyone who goes hunting in Wisconsin must have a license on them when hunting, which requires a hunter safety class. This class involves classroom hours and time in the field. After proving completion of the safety requirements a license can be obtained.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), it is mandatory to take a hunter safety education course if you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1973. The exception to this rule is if a person is hunting under the hunting mentorship program or they have successfully completed basic training in the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves or National Guard.

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Before taking a hunter safety class, contact the DNR to obtain a Wisconsin DNR customer ID number, which allows you to sign up for a safety course. The DNR describes the hunting safety classes as 10 lessons during a minimum of 10 hours, teaching how hunting accidents are caused and can be prevented. The class consists of lectures, demonstrations, group discussions, practical exercises and individual study and activity assignments.

The DNR offers at least one class per county per year. The DNR website lists safety education courses.

Another alternative is to sign up for online hunting safety courses. This requires those taking the class to complete the online course and then attend a hunter field day. The online course consists of studying the Wisconsin hunter education course online manual and taking quizzes after each chapter. According to HunterCourse.com, you must pass the quizzes with at least an 80 percent. After passing all of the quizzes, attendees will spend a day in the field reinforcing what was learned online. This includes hands-on activities, live fire, and a written final exam.

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Bring photo identification and your hunter safety class certificate to the field day as proof of course completion. To sign up for the Internet-specific field day, visit the Wisconsin DNR website.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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