Ensuring safe hunting practices is key to equipping people with the knowledge they need to recreate responsibly. 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 hunting-related accidents and saved lives.
| All persons born after January 1, 1972 | Must complete a hunter education course before purchasing a Mississippi hunting license. |
| Anyone twelve (12) years of age and under sixteen (16) years of age | Must have a certificate of satisfactory completion of hunter education course approved by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks before hunting alone in the state. |
| Anyone twelve (12) years of age and under sixteen (16) years of age | May hunt without having a completion certificate if the child is in the presence and under supervision of a licensed or exempt hunter at least twenty-one (21) years of age while hunting. |
The hunter education program is designed to reduce hunting and tree stand accidents, teach hunter ethics and responsibility, promote wildlife conservation, and teach firearm safety.
Course topics include:
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks offers hunter education courses free of charge at locations across the state. Pre-registration is required, so be sure to sign up for the course you are interested in. 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 a written exam.
Mississippi residents ages 12 and over can complete their full hunter education course requirement online. The online 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. The cost of the online course is $24.99.
Please note: if hunter education course is completed online, participants will need to contact Today in Mississippi to be able to receive assistance with their course ID for things like purchasing a duplicate hunter education card.
If you have misplaced or lost your hunter education card, you can purchase a duplicate card and download your temporary card online. The fee for a duplicate card is $3.00.
You can purchase a duplicate card:
For more information regarding becoming a Hunter or Boater Education Instructor or to find someone to present information on Hunter and Boater Education, please contact the Education Coordinator for your area.
For more information related to the Hunter and Boater Education program, please call the MDWFP Education Desk at (601)-432-2180 or (601)-432-2181.