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Internet Introduction to Hunter Education

The Internet Introduction to Hunter Education is a series of online lessons about hunting and outdoor skills. It is not a complete official hunter education course, but it can give you valuable information about hunting and enjoying the outdoors. Be sure to bookmark this page of the NYSDEC web site so you can return here to get instructions and find a hands-on course if you want to get a hunter education certificate. (At this time, online homework is available only for the basic hunter Ed course -- not bowhunter ed or trapper ed.)

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IHEA web course header

The lessons can be used three ways:

  • Just Browsing: Interested people can learn more about hunting and the outdoors. The lessons include basic information about wildlife and enjoying the outdoors that anyone who spends time in the wild should know. Check out the table of contents under links leaving DEC's website in the right column.
  • A Head Start: People about to take a hunter education course can get a head start before their official hunter education class. Knowing more about hunting before the course will help students do well in the actual course. Important: If you intend to take an official hunter education course in New York, sign up for one early. See the Statewide List of Classes to find a course.
  • Homework Credit: A few special classes later this year will be designed to give students partial credit for doing assigned homework, or home study, before going to the hands-on hunter education course. The homework allows the hands-on course to be as short as one day. The home study materials may be books provided by the instructors, or the Internet lessons. Don't pass up other courses to wait for a home study course! The Internet Introduction to Hunter Education is brand new, so you may not be able to get credit where you live this year.

Important: Using the Internet Introduction to Hunter Education is not easier than a standard course! The homework takes more time than a standard hunter ed course. Some people find the extra work is worth the effort because they can do it according to their own schedule, and the in-person field work and test usually takes only one day, rather than multiple trips required for standard courses. To find a standard course (two or more class sessions, but less homework) see the Statewide List of Classes. Home study courses are on the same list, and are marked as "Home Study." For the detailed homework assignment and more information about getting credit for Internet Home Study, see Web Course Instructions for Students (PDF) (112 KB). You can also have this mailed to you by calling 1-888-HUNT-ED2.

Note: Students under 16 years old will need the Permission Form to attend a course. It is in the flyer "Responsibilities of Parents of Junior Hunters (PDF)." (54 KB) . You can also have this mailed to you by calling 1-888-HUNT-ED2.