The Kansas Hunter’s Education Program, which went into effect on January 1, 2005, was implemented to protect the rich heritage of hunting by
teaching hunting safety, hunting knowledge and hunting responsibility to beginning hunters. Successfully completing this program is a requirement for those hunters who were born July 1,1957 or later before they can be issued a Kansas hunting license. There are two exceptions to this Kansas law. One exception pertains to those young hunters who are 15 or younger, the law states that they can legally hunt without a certification as long as they are supervised by a licensed adult who is 18 or over. The other exception to this law states that hunters who are 16 or older can buy an Apprentice hunting license which entitles them to hunt without completing a hunter’s education program as long as they are supervised by a licensed adult who is over 18. This exception is only valid once, after that the hunter must complete a hunter’s education program before buying a Kansas hunting license. Even though there are two exceptions to this law, the importance of the completion of the program is important and eventually these hunters will successfully complete a hunting education program and receive their certificate.
The Kansas Hunter’s Education Program, which has volunteer instructors, is offered in courses throughout Kansas. Kansas law stipulates that this program must last at least 10 hours, but usually runs over 12 hours. Beginning hunters who attend one of these courses will be exposed to subjects which include hunting and firearm safety, wildlife management and conservation, wildlife identification, hunting responsibility and ethics, Kansas hunting laws, first aid and survival. These hunters may have the opportunity to participate in hands-on training under close supervision where they will actually handle firearms. Hunters attending one of these courses must be at least 11 years old to receive a certificate of completion, but hunters younger than 11 may attend these courses if there is available space. Hunters who attend the course before they are 11 will have to take it again to become certified.
Kansas state law also has other regulations concerning hunters, especially young ones. It states that hunters under the age of 12 cannot hunt alone, they must be accompanied by an adult. Hunters who are 12 or older can legally hunt alone as long as they have on them, their certificate stating that they have successfully completed a hunter’s education course. This certificate does not have to be issued by the State of Kansas, a certificate from another state or from Canada will be honored. Hunters who are 16 must possess a certificate of completion in order to buy their hunting license and all hunters who range from 12 to 16 who are hunting alone, as well as hunters who are 16 to 27, are required to have possession of their certificate while they are hunting.
Hunters who need to complete the Kansas Hunter’s Education Program, should pay a visit to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks website to locate a class near them. Registering early for the class that the hunter is interested in attending is often a good idea as these class usually reach capacity quickly.
