The Louisiana Hunter’s Education Program, which became a requirement in 1984 for hunters with a birthday on September 1, 1969 or later, has reduced hunting accidents in Louisiana along with improving the image of hunting and hunters by teaching hunters to become more ethical and responsible. This program is offered to beginning hunters free of charge due to the funding of this program by the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act. The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act is responsible for the federal excise tax that consumers, usually hunters, pay on archery, ammunition and firearms and equipment. With successful completion of the program being required for beginning hunters as well as the lack of fees to be paid and the positive statistics that prove the program works, there is not really any reason for anyone not to complete the course and receive their certificate.
Beginning hunters of any age may attend the Louisiana Hunter’s Education Program, but hunters 10 years old or older can receive their certificate, as long as they attend the required courses, take part in a field exercise and take a written exam and pass it, making at least a 75. Subjects covered during this program are hunting ethics, hunter responsibility, safety, firearms, ammunition and wildlife. These programs are taught by Hunter Education personal and volunteers who are recruited from sportsman’s groups, schools, conservation-minded organizations and law enforcement agencies and are held all year long through out Louisiana.
Hunters have the option of choosing to either attend classroom courses or home study courses. The traditional classroom courses are held in a classroom setting and usually last over a 3 day period, lasting 3 hours in the afternoon. Hunters interested in attending the traditional classroom option should visit the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries website for further information and for pre-registering for the class closest to them. Home study courses are available online or with a CD-ROM. Hunters choosing this option should also visit the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries website where they can get information on ordering the CD-ROM or for information on the internet option. Both options require attending a field day where the hunter will have the opportunity of actually handling firearms and learning more about them and the ammunition they use. Hunters attending the field day will need to bring a pen or pencil and their online or CD printed report if they chose to use the home study option. A written test is administered after the hunter has finished the field activities. The hunter must pass this test in order to receive their certificate of completion for the course.
Louisiana is know as “The Sportsman’s Paradise” and with this comes the responsibility of maintaining a positive reputation, especially in the sport of hunting. With it’s large number of hunters, this state definitely sees the importance of a hunter’s education program and the relationship between the decline in hunting accidents and the implementation of this program, making it well worth the effort that it may take to complete the program.
