A Hunter Education course must be completed if a person has never had a hunting license or has no record of a previous license or Hunter Education. The New Jersey Hunter Education program prepares students to recognize, understand, and accept the serious responsibilities of hunting. Having safe and ethical hunters in the field is fundamental to the future of hunting. To accomplish this, there are two courses: Bow and Firearm. Each course has two components: (1.) An online portion (with exam) and (2.) The Live-fire range session. If you haven’t taken a Hunter Education course, prepare by:

1. Completing the HunterCourse.com interactive program (and having the printed completion voucher ready for your field session)

2. After completing the online course, You may then register for the Live-fire field session. REGISTER HERE

Details on How to Complete the NJ Hunter Education Program

• All registered students MUST complete the HunterCourse.com online hunter education program which covers both disciplines (Firearm and Bow) and pass the 100-question test.
• Upon completion of this online program, students must then register for a specific date and time to take their required live-fire test(s) during one of the multiple listed classes on the Hunter Education Registration Site.
• Must bring their completion voucher certificate when taking the live-fire portion.
• Students must register for each discipline (Firearm and/or Bow) separately and for different time slots – PLEASE DO NOT REGISTER FOR TWO SESSIONS FOR THE SAME TIME SLOT.
• The online course allows students to learn the “classroom” material at their own pace and then attend the required live-fire range session after completing the course.
• The live-fire range session consists of students working directly with instructors to demonstrate safe firearm handling and archery proficiency.

***All students must attend the Live-fire range session to complete the Hunter Education course.

• Hunters who wish to use a rifle/muzzleloader who did not previously complete the Rifle Hunter Education Course (discontinued) MUST now complete the Firearms Course to obtain a Rifle Permit. Trapping classes, when scheduled, are posted on the Trapping Information page.
• Students will be required to provide their own face masks, hearing protection and safety glasses and wear them at all times (when applicable). Social distancing must be maintained at all times.
• Walk-in students will NOT be accepted during these classes.
• Apprentice Licenses (Since 2017) the Apprentice License allows for the issuance of a license without proof of Hunter Education or a previous license – Restrictions Apply. Apprentice licenses allow for an alternative for those unable to register and wanting to hunt this season (must be 14 to hunt with bow equipment, 18 to hunt with a firearm).
• Hunter Education FAQs 

Subscribe to the Hunting or Education E-mail Lists to be notified of program updates. All New Jersey Fish and Wildlife programs strictly adhere to current New Jersey Covid-19 safety protocols.  

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Registration for Hunter Education field sessions will open mid-February until October. Be sure to use the student’s CID number when registering for a Field Session.

Live-fire Range Session Locations and Directions

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Attending the Live-fire Range Session

All Students Need to Bring:

• Face mask (and maintain social distance when/if applicable)
• HunterCourse.com certificate voucher – REQUIRED TO PASS COURSE!
• Positive attitude
• Appropriate clothing for being outside.
• Students 16 years of age or younger MUST be accompanied by parent or guardian.

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Bow Students Need to Bring:

• Face mask (and maintain social distance when/if applicable)
• Student’s own bow (IMPORTANT: Crossbow students MUST be able to draw their own crossbow manually or with a cocking device.)
• Five (5) matched arrows
• Ability to shoot 3 out of 5 arrows into a vital zone of a target at 15-20 yards
• Is My Bow Ready for Hunter Education?

Firearms Students Need to Bring

• Face mask (and maintain social distance when applicable)
• CASED and UNLOADED shotgun (New Jersey Fish & Wildlife will provide a shotgun if needed/preferred)
• Eye and ear protection
• Also see Firearms Course FAQs

NOTE: The New Jersey Hunter Education Program WILL supply all ammunition – Do NOT bring ammunition to the session

Related Information

Supplemental Presentations Included In Current HunterCourse.com Program:

• Archery
• Firearms

State Hunter Training Areas

To use any state Hunter Training Area (practice range) at least one person in a group is required to have a valid hunting license. Anyone under 13 must be under direct adult supervision.

These ranges are provided by New Jersey Fish and Wildlife’s Hunter Education Program through federal funding from the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program. The federal funds are derived from manufacturers via an excise tax on guns, ammunition and archery equipment.

After the Course

Upon completion of passing the written exam portion along with the Hunter Education field session (and bow proficiency test if applicable) registered students are issued their Course Completion Card. When the card is presented to a license agent those 10 to 15 years of age are issued a free Youth License. Those age 16 and older are eligible to purchase the license(s) for which they have proof of their course completion.

Youth Hunting Opportunities

New Jersey Fish and Wildlife’s popular Take a Kid Hunting Program is designed to provide a quality hunting experience for properly licensed youth hunters. See the Take a Kid Hunting Program page for details.

Duplicate Hunter Education Cards

If you completed a Hunter Education course and need a duplicate card, The Hunter Education Unit maintains a database of graduates dating back to 1972, however, records for the years prior to computerization in 1986 are incomplete. Duplicate course completion cards can ONLY be issued to those whose records are on file.

Individuals who completed a course prior to 1972, or whose records cannot be located, must complete a Hunter Education course to obtain a course completion card. Questions can be directed to the Hunter Education Office at NJHunterEd@dep.nj.gov or at 856-629-0552.

To obtain a duplicate card, please print and complete the Duplicate Hunter Education Course Completion Card Request Form and mail or email to the address provided on the form.

Duplicate Hunter Education Course Completion Card Request Form 

Becoming a Hunter Education Instructor

New Jersey’s Hunter Education Program relies on the dedication of trained volunteer instructors. If interested, complete the application form  and email to: NJHunterEd@dep.nj.gov or mail to:

NJ Fish & Wildlife Hunter Education Program
220 Blue Anchor Road
Sicklerville, NJ 08081

General Information

Hunter Education courses are offered FREE by New Jersey Fish and Wildlife. The training and range rental fees, books, equipment and ammunition are funded through the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Act, commonly called the Pittman-Robertson Act. This law imposes an excise tax, paid by the manufacturer, on all sporting arms, ammunition, archery equipment and hand-guns. The funds are distributed to the states by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This State and Federal Partnership improves NJ’s Hunting, Fishing & Shooting Opportunities. When you purchase hunting equipment in New Jersey, excise tax dollars come back to New Jersey to support wildlife conservation!

Anyone seeking accommodations for a physical or learning disability, or a foreign language interpreter, should contact the Hunter Education Office at 856-629-0552 or via e-mail at NJHunterEd@dep.nj.gov.

Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from hunter education training programs is available to all individuals without regard to their race, color, national origin, sex, age, or handicap. Complaints of discrimination should be sent to the Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of Interior, Office of the Secretary, Washington, DC 20240.

The New Jersey Hunter Education program is a member of the International Hunter Education Association and is continually recognized as one of the top programs in the country. The future of hunting in New Jersey remains rooted in hunter education.