With the fall hunting seasons approaching, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) managers are reminding prospective hunters to “beat the rush” and complete their mandatory hunter education courses.

“The summer is a great time for new hunters to take a required hunter education course so they’re ready to go hunting this fall,” said Dave Whipple, WDFW hunter education section manager. “Our volunteer instructors offer lots of classes during the summer. There can be limited availability for fall hunter education classes, so getting your required coursework done early helps set you up for success when the fall seasons get here.”

WDFW offers fully in-person hunter education courses as well as hybrid courses that combine online and in-person learning. The in-person course, consisting of roughly 15 hours of instruction, is taught over multiple days and includes a field portion. This course is recommended for students seeking a valuable classroom experience. 

The hybrid course combines successful completion of an online portion followed by a four- to six-hour field skills evaluation where students receive hands-on training and evaluation by certified instructors.

Per Washington state law, all hunters born after Jan. 1, 1972 must complete a hunter education course in order to buy a hunting license. A once-in-a-lifetime hunter education deferral is available for prospective hunters 10 years of age and older who want to try hunting with an eligible licensed hunter before completing a hunter education course themselves. WDFW managers encourage potential applicants to check the deferral program requirements before applying.

To learn about hunter education and find an upcoming course near you, go to the WDFW hunter education website.