Hunter Ed Classes Available Ahead of Spring Turkey Season

A number of hunter education courses are scheduled across the state over the next few weeks for prospective turkey hunters to become certified in time for the spring season.

Iowa hunters born after Jan. 1, 1972 are required to successfully complete a certified hunter education course in order to purchase a hunting license. Hunter education courses are open to students 12 years old and older.  Students who are 11 years old may take the course, but the certificate of completion will become valid on their 12^th birthday.

The DNR has a list of safety education courses online at http://reservations1.usedirect.com/IowaWeb/   Students can search for class type, city, by month or zip code. 

Megan Wisecup, hunter education administrator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, said students who are thinking about taking the course should decide soon.

“Our hunter education courses are a popular afterthought for some of our older students who realize late in the process that they need to get a certificate to buy a license.  The sooner a student decides, the more options they have to get certified,” Wisecup said.

Iowa’s spring turkey hunting begins with a youth only season April 5-13, followed by Season 1, April 14-17; Season 2, April 18-22; Season 3, April 23-29; and Season 4, April 30-May 18.

For more information on the options to complete hunter education in Iowa visit www.iowadnr.gov/huntered

Media Contact: Megan Wisecup, hunter education administrator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 515-238-4968.