HARRISBURG – With the junior spring gobbler season set for April 24, and the general spring gobbler season opening on May 1, Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe is reminding all first-time license buyers to make plans to attend a Hunter-Trapper Education (HTE) course now.
To register for a course in your area, visit the Game Commission’s Web site, select “Education” in the menu bar in the banner, then put your cursor on “Hunter Education,” and then click on “Class Schedule” and follow the instructions.
“Right now, Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officers, Deputy WCOs and volunteer instructors are meeting to schedule courses, review curriculum updates and prepare for this year,” Roe said. “From there, course schedules are provided to our Region Offices and the information is posted on the agency’s website for students to choose and enroll in courses.”
Game Commission Hunter-Trapper Education Division Chief Keith A. Snyder noted that, with the agency’s recent transition to a new website format, course schedules continue to be added each day.
“If you don’t see a class being offered in your area, please continue to check the website daily, as more and more classes will be entered into the database,” Snyder said.
With the support of thousands of volunteers, HTE courses are being held throughout the state. There is no fee for the basic HTE course. Pre-registration is required for many classes, so contact information is provided. Online registration also is available for most courses offered by the agency.
Taught by dedicated teams of trained volunteers, most HTE classes last at least 10 hours over two or more days, and participants must attend all instruction before taking the test at the end of the course. Youngsters must be at least 11 years old to receive HTE certification.
Successful completion of a basic Pennsylvania HTE class, or another state’s equivalent course, is required by state law to obtain a first-time hunting or furtaker license, regardless of age.
Registrations also are being accepted for the independent study version of the basic HTE program, which is available for those 11 years of age or older. A fee of $1.59 may apply if applicants order a printed copy of the study manual, which also is available online free of charge.
In addition, registrations are being accepted for other educational programs offered by the Game Commission, including Successful Bowhunting, Successful Furtaking and Cable Restraint Certification.
The Successful Bowhunting course is a one-day voluntary training program for those seeking to expand their skills and knowledge of bowhunting. While voluntary in Pennsylvania, certification for this course may be required by other states. There is an $18 course fee, which covers the cost of the online study course required before attending the class.
Piloted in 2009, the Successful Furtaking Course is a one-day training program that provides extensive hands-on training to new furtakers that was not part of the basic Hunter-Trapper Education program, promotes Best Management Practices and is designed for any person seeking to learn more about furtaking and to improve his or her skills and success. The course also will include the cable restraint certification that is required to participate in the cable restraint season for foxes and coyotes. This course also fulfills the requirement that all first-time furtaker license buyers pass a basic trapper education course. A $15 course fee is charged.
The Cable Restraint Certification course is required for those trappers seeking to participate in the annual trapping season in which cable restraints are used to capture coyotes and foxes. The course fee is $15, and students will get to keep various education materials and one legal cable restraint provided as part of the course.
“We are planning to offer additional courses in the future focusing on specific sporting arms and certain species-specific seasons, such as Successful Muzzleloading, Successful Turkey Hunting and Successful Wingshooting,” Snyder said. “We will be working with interested groups of sportsmen specializing in each of the areas to develop curriculum and solid hands-on training that will emphasize methods and techniques.”
In 1959, the Game Commission began offering a voluntary hunter safety program, and about 25,000 students participated in that program annually. Beginning in 1969, the General Assembly required all first-time hunting license buyers under the age of 16 to successfully complete a four-hour hunter education course. The course requirement was expanded to six hours in 1977. The program became mandatory for all first-time hunting license buyers regardless of age in 1982.
Finally, in 1986, the safety program was increased to 10 hours of class time and trapper training was included. The name of the program also was changed to Hunter-Trapper Education, and was required for all first-time furtaker license buyers, too.
Since 1959, more than 1.8 million students have been certified through this course.