In Mississippi, we know that our hunter education efforts have reduced firearms accidents and saved lives. MDWFP offers hunter education courses free of charge at locations across the state for people who wish to obtain a hunting license. An interactive online course is also available for a small fee.
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 hunter education program is designed to reduce hunting and tree stand accidents, teach hunter ethics and responsibility, promote wildlife conservation, and teach firearm safety.
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks offers hunter education courses 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 a 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.
Beginning July 31, 2020, Mississippi residents aged 12 and over can complete their hunter education 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.
This certification will be retroactive from July 1, 2019, for Mississippi residents ages 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 in to the course to receive full certification using the following steps:
Residents under 12 (ages 10-11) can obtain their Hunter Education requirement through a classroom course. Students must pre-register for the class. (Due to COVID-19, classroom courses are unavailable at this time.) Search all available courses.
Note: Any resident who still needs to take a three-hour course will be able to take it as part of a full-day course when classes resume.
If you have lost your hunter education card, you can purchase a duplicate card and download a temporary card online. 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.
For information on becoming a Boater or Hunter Education Instructor, or for Safety Talks, Community Event Presentations, or Hunter/Boater Education in Schools, please contact the Education Coordinator for your area.
For more information related to Boating and Boating Safety Classes, please call the Education Desk at (601) 432-2180 or (601) 432-2181.