Mississippi Hunter Education
(In class with instructor)
(For ages 12 and older)
Hunter Education works. Since 1950, when formal hunter safety programs were introduced, the number of hunting and firearms-related accidents has declined dramatically nationwide. In Mississippi, we know that our hunter education efforts have reduced firearms accidents and saved lives. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks offers hunter education classes free of charge at locations across the state. The hunter education course includes 10 hours of instruction. To obtain hunter education certification, students must be at least 10 years of age and must attend all classroom hours and pass written exam.
All persons born after January 1, 1972 are required to complete a hunter education course before purchasing a Mississippi hunting license. Also Effective July 1, 2000, anyone twelve (12) years of age and under sixteen (16) years of age must have a certificate of satisfactory completion of a hunter education course approved by the Department before hunting alone in this state. A child at least twelve (12) years of age and under (16) years of age may hunt without having the certificate of hunter education if the child is in the presence and under the direct supervision of a licensed or exempt hunter at least twenty-one (21) years of age when hunting.
Search for a Hunter Education Class
Online Hunter Education Course
Beginning July 31, 2020, Mississippi residents age 12 and over can complete their hunter education requirement online. The internet course, Today’s Hunter in Mississippi, is video-narrated and interactive. The card from the online course can be presented as a digital or paper copy to license vendors to purchase a hunting license (Online Hunter Ed Course).
This certification will be retroactive from July 1, 2019 for Mississippi residents age twelve (12) and above. Students who are currently “in progress” on the course will receive their full certification upon completion. Students who have finished the course since July 1, 2019 will need to log back into the course to receive full certification.
- Log back into the course
- Update and complete the personal information page
- Download your certificate
Residents under 12 (ages 10-11) can obtain their Hunter Education requirement through a classroom course. Students must pre-register for the class, click the following link education.mdwfp.com/Web/Event/CountySelection
Duplicate Hunter Education Card
If you have lost your hunter education card, please follow this link to purchase a new duplicate card and download a temporary card. The fee for a duplicate card is $3.00.
To obtain a duplicate hunter education card without using a credit card please print the application form, complete it, and mail it in with $3.00.
The Hunter Education program is designed to:
- reduce hunting and tree stand accidents
- teach hunter ethics and responsibility
- promote wildlife conservation
- teach firearm safety
Specifically, the course contents include:
- hunter ethics and responsibility
- history of firearms
- rifles
- shotguns
- ammunition
- gun handling
- marksmanship
- blackpowder and muzzleloading
- bowhunting
- wildlife identification
- principles of wildlife management
- survival
- water safety
- hypothermia
- first aid
- tree stand safety
Contact your local Hunter/Boater Education Coordinator
For information on becoming a Boater or Hunter Education Instructor, for Safety Talks, Community Event Presentations, or Hunter/Boater Ed. in Schools, please click here to find the Coordinator for your area.
For more information related to Boating and Boating Safety Classes, call the Education Desk at 601-432-2180 or 601-432-2181.
