Hunter Education

With the longer days and busy sounds of springtime upon us, the Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) has a whole new lineup of fun, educational programs for Rhode Islanders.

Registration is required for all programs through the DEM’s website at www.dem. ri.gov, or call (401) 222-4700.

Most programs this season are offered free of charge and open to families. Pick from the choices below or go to the DEM’s website for more information on these and other programs.

Division of Fish and Wildlife staff also ask adults and teenagers who love the outdoors to consider making a difference by volunteering. Volunteers play a vital role in helping DEM’s Division of Fish and Wildlife meet its conservation goals.

HUNTER EDUCATION PROGRAMS: Junior Hunter Education

Date: Saturday, March 18, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Location: DFW Outreach Education Office, Exeter Age group: Ages 17 and under Cost: Free. Registration required.

This course is for ages 17 and under with lots of hands-on activities, visual aids, and easy-to-understand lessons. This is the certification class that you need if you plan to hunt with firearms in Rhode Island. Open to youth hunters from all states, this course will provide a foundation for firearm safety, basic hunting techniques, basic survival and firstaid skills, ethics, conservation, and more. A state exam will be administered at the end of class. This national curriculum has reciprocity with all 50 states. Please note, course content and state exam are written to a sixth-grade reading level and you must be at least 12 years old to obtain a RI hunting license.

Learn to Hunt

Date: Saturday, March 25, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Location: DFW Outreach Education Office, Exeter Cost: Free. Registration required.

New to hunting? Need some guidance? The DFW Hunter Education staff are here to help you. Students will learn about wilderness first-aid scenarios, how to safely carry training firearms through the woods and around obstacles while maintaining safe muzzle control, tree stand setup and use, and how to follow a blood trail to a downed 3-D animal where they will learn what to do after the shot as well as field dressing techniques.

Dates: Tuesday, April 4, Wednesday, April 5, and Thursday, April 6 (must attend all dates), 6-9 p.m. Location: DFW Outreach Education Office, Exeter Age group: Adults Cost: Free. Registration required.

This is the certification course required to hunt with firearms in Rhode Island. Please note, there is an exam at the end of night written to a sixth-grade reading level. All materials are provided. Hunter safety cards will be mailed out within seven to 10 business days after successfully passing the written exam. Safety cards have reciprocity with all 50 states. If you have already taken the online hunter education course and successfully completed it, you do not need to take this one; it is the same course content.