Many education providers provide hunting education. However, the State assigned Education Course usually takes 12 to 14 hours to complete, which is too fast and effective. Generally, students have to attend all sessions of the class to pass in the course. However, the primary learning areas of the course, include:

  • Hunter’s responsibility
  • Guidelines for using firearms and ammunition
  • Safety measures in firearm handling
  • Marksmanship and shooting fundamentals
  • Bowhunting
  • Principles of wildlife management
  • Muzzleloader hunting
  • Tree stand safety, and
  • Safety & first aid, water safety, and Maryland legal requirements.

A learner must go through all of the areas to pass in the course.

Learning system and registering process

Learners must pass a 50-question multiple-choice test with a grade of 80 percent, demonstrate to the instructor that he/ she can professionally handle a firearm in a field situation, and participate in the live firing. Learners also have to explain to the instructor that they are well-trained and mature to handle hunting. However, the courses are offered to the people typically in the late summer and early fall before the beginning of hunting seasons, with a few classes scheduled in the spring before spring turkey season.

For taking the course, you need to go through the designated website of the Department of National Resources in your state. You need to first sign up with your details on the site. When registering by phone for a class, you need to make sure; you are going to contact a volunteer instructor at his or her home, and also, you should call at a specific time of a day. You need to choose a particular hour to call and make sure not to call any unspecified hour that is not mentioned on the course schedule. However, Maryland started a voluntary hunter education program in 1966. From 1977, the Maryland legislature made it mandatory for all first-time hunters to complete a hunter education course.

Hunter Education Requirements

State laws require some specific certificates from a hunter who would like to purchase a hunting license or to hunt in Maryland. These are-

  • Presentation a Certificate of Competency in Firearms and Hunter Safety
  • The certificate that you held a hunting license, which was issued before July 1, 1997, or
  • The certificate that you hold hunted on private property before July 1, 1977, and were legally exempted from buying a completely new hunting license or
  • Any form of certification that you are purchasing a nonresident license and will only hunt waterfowl.

You also need to follow the below conditions-

  • The education requirement is not necessary for those who buy the apprentice license.
  • For the individuals who are under the age of 18, and hunting on the family property when a license is not necessary, but he/ she must hold a Certificate of Competency in Firearms and Hunter Safety. 

Conclusion

Maryland Hunter Education Course is useful for a beginner. This learning process gives a quality knowledge about the hunting process and how to keep maintaining the appropriate guidelines in addition to hunting effectively. This course also enables a beginner to understand how to keep himself/ herself safe while he/ she is hunting.