Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Hunter Education is available to New Jersey residents 10 years and older who have not yet completed Hunter Education or are unable to recover documentation showing the course was completed. Two disciplines are offered: Firearm and Bow. The online coursework covers both and must be completed in full regardless of which you are choosing. The online course is followed by a live fire range session which will need to be pre-registered for the discipline you wish to pursue. Steps to obtain a Hunter Education card are:
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NJ Resident
Non-NJ Resident
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What to know about our online Hunter Education program
- This is the only coursework that will be accepted. No workbooks will be accepted.
- Once the exam has been passed, you will gain access to a link to “Print your Home Study Voucher”. This document is required to be shown at your live fire range session either as a hardcopy or a screenshot on your mobile device.
- This document does not expire.
What to know about our live fire range session
- Sessions are held March through November of each year across the state.
- If you wish to complete both bow and firearm in the same day, you can do so but you must register for each in separate time slots.
- You can expect to spend 1-2 hours of your time per discipline at our rain or shine sessions.
- You must show your Home Study Voucher and ID to our instructors.
- You will be working directly with our Hunter Education Instructors to demonstrate safe firearm handling and bow proficiency.
- Walk-in students will not be accepted.
Live Fire Range Session Checklist
Firearm
- Home Study Voucher and ID.
- Positive attitude.
- Appropriate outdoor clothing.
- Students 16 years of age or younger MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Eye and ear protection. Please bring your own, if you do not own any the state can provide them to you for the session.
- CASED and UNLOADED shotgun (New Jersey Fish & Wildlife will provide a shotgun if needed or preferred).
NOTE: DO NOT bring ammunition to the session, this will be supplied to you.
Bow
- Home Study Voucher and ID.
- Positive attitude.
- Appropriate clothing for being outside.
- Students 16 years of age or younger MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Student’s own bow (IMPORTANT: Crossbow students MUST be able to cock 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 20 yards.
After the Course
Upon completion of passing the written exam portion along with the live fire range session registered students are issued their Hunter Education card. Students 10-15 can obtain a free Youth License. Those 16 and older are eligible to purchase the license(s) for which they have a Hunter Education card for. Licenses can be purchased either online 2 business days after their live fire range session, or immediately if the card is presented to any of our licensing agents.
Didn’t find what you were looking for here? Send us an email at njhuntered@njdepwptest.net
Related Information
Duplicate Hunter Education Cards
If you completed a Hunter Education course after 1975 and need a duplicate card you can complete our request form and email it to njhuntered@njdepwptest.net. Our staff would be happy to look in our records, 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.
Rifle/Muzzleloader Only
Hunters who have previously completed shotgun education and wish to obtain permissions to purchase a rifle or muzzleloader permit, who did not previously complete the Rifle Hunter Education Course (discontinued) MUST now complete the online course in full and complete the 100 question exam to obtain the “Home Study Voucher” that must then be emailed to njhuntered@njdepwptest.net.
Trapper Education
Trapper Education is a separate course, information can be found on our Trapper Education and Trapping Season Information page.
Apprentice License
Apprentice Licenses are available for those 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). Details can be found on our Apprentice Licenses page.
Youth Hunt 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.
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@njdepwptest.net.
General Information
Hunter Education courses are offered FREE by New Jersey Fish and Wildlife. The training and range rental fees, 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@njdepwptest.net.
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. Subscribe to the Hunting or Education E-mail Lists to be notified of program updates.
