The Missouri Department of Conservation is offering free upcoming hunter education skills sessions in northwest Missouri. Participants will earn the safety certificate needed to obtain hunting permits. These sessions will teach and test participants for safe firearms handling and basic hunting skills.
The sessions offered and links to register include:
- Linn from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 10, VFW Women’s Auxiliary, 1119 Adams St., Register at this link.
- Brookfield from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, Grand River Welding Institute, 103 N. Livingston St., Register at this link.
- Gallatin from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29, Dockery Park Building, 601 Park St., Register at this link.
- Bethany from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, 1501 Central Street, Register at this link.
- Trenton from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6, North Central Missouri College Barton Campus, 96 SE Eighth Ave., Register at this link.
- Maryville from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8, Northwest Technical School, 1515 S. Munn, Register at this link.
- Joseph from 6 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 12, Remington Nature Center, 1502 McArthur Drive, Register at this link.
- Plattsburg from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13, Hartell Conservation Area classroom, 542 N.E. 280, Register at this link.
The skills sessions classes are for students ages 11 and older. The certification course can be completed online by hunters ages 16 and older for a paid fee to an online provider. But for hunters ages 11 to 15, or those of any age seeking in-person instruction, they must take the free skills class in person. They will need to complete the knowledge portion of the class prior to the skills session. That can be done by filling out the chapter review questions in the student manual, or youths ages 11 to 15 can complete the knowledge portion online for a fee paid to the provider. Printed student manuals are available at MDC’s Chillicothe office, or they can be ordered online for free at this link.
Besides teaching safety skills, the hunter education course also teaches basic hunting skills to help newcomers to the sport get started and be successful. COVID-19 safety precautions will be observed in these classes.
