New Turkey Hunters in Missouri Can Take Hunter Education Online

By Jim Low, Missouri Dept. of Conservation

First posted on 02-20-2009

They also can buy an Apprentice Hunter Authorization so they can buy permits and hunt under the supervision of a certified hunter.

The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds first-time turkey hunters of two new ways to qualify to buy the necessary permits – online and with an Apprentice Hunter Authorization.

Hunters who hope to obtain their hunter education certification in time for Missouri’s spring turkey season April 20 through May 10 might have difficulty finding an opening in a traditional hunter-education class. Lucky for them, the Conservation Department offers accredited hunter-education training online at http://www.mdc.mo.gov/8821.

The online course allows students to work at their own pace whenever it suits their schedules. After completing the instructional part of the course, they take an online test with randomly selected questions to ensure a fair assessment of their learning. Before obtaining certification, online students must sign up for and attend a field day where they demonstrate their mastery of hunting-safety concepts and skills.

Those who think they might enjoy hunting but want to try it before investing time in hunter education can do so with the help of an Apprentice Hunter Authorization. The $10 authorization is not a hunting permit. It merely enables holders to buy hunting permits for two consecutive years without hunter education certification. This privilege comes with the requirement to hunt under the supervision of a hunter-education certified hunter who is at least 18 years old or was born before Jan. 1, 1967.

“The purpose of hunter education is to make hunting safer and more ethical,” said Hunter Education Coordinator Tony Legg, “not harder to get into. Both online hunter education and the Apprentice Hunter Authorization were developed to eliminate any perceived barriers to new hunters.”

For more information about the Apprentice Hunter Authorization and hunting permits, visit mdc.mo.gov/regs/permits.htm.

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