Willie's Outdoor World blog | The Palm Beach Post
Hunter safety courses offered for free
By Willie Howard
Thu March 3, 6:57PM
The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission will hold a free hunter safety course March 26-27 at the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area in northern Palm Beach County.
Free hunter safety courses are offered around the country, paid for by the federal excise tax on guns and ammunition.
In Florida, anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, must complete a hunter safety course if they want to purchase a Florida hunting license when they turn 16. (Before age 16, no license is required.
Students learn gun safety, hunting laws, how to identify and track animals and a bit about hunter ethics.
They go out to the range and fire guns and meet others who are interested in hunting.
Parents or guardians must accompany hunter education students under 16, and anyone under 18 must have parental permission to fire guns.
Youths who complete the class are eligible to participate in special youth hunts through the Youth Hunting Program of Florida.
To reserve a spot for the upcoming class, call the FWC’s West Palm Beach office at (561) 625-5122.
For a statewide schedule of upcoming hunter education classes, go to www.myfwc.com/huntersafety.
I am a proponent of these. Well worth it, especially if you have no experience. The price is right too!
I don't see how being born before 1975 makes you a safe hunter, it should be mandatory for all hunters and include a shooting proficiency test part. I was born in 57 and have taken the gun course twice in 2 diff states, an archery and muzle loader coarse, ccw class as well as a federal duck identification class, and only had to shoot a gun in one of them. and in the interest of public safety make everyone over age 70 (or so) take an annual vision and driving test (free of charge).
