Safety course completion is mandatory before hunting in California. The state requires all new resident hunters to complete training courses and/or successfully complete an exhaustive test of knowledge related to hunting. Before anyone, regardless of age, can be issued a license he or she must show proof of meeting this requirement.
The hunter education program was developed to minimize accidents, and has been in effect since 1957. The Davis-Abshire Hunter Safety Training Law was written to require junior hunters to show their readiness, but now all hunters must take the course or pass the equivalency test prior to being issued their first hunting license.
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Firearms are dangerous, and must be respected. More than 30,000 people attend classes sponsored by the
California Department of Fish and Wildlife each year. The 10-hour minimum courses are held throughout the state, and the value of these educational sessions is to heighten safety awareness and prevent accidents. A special video on eye protection is included.
Parts of the hunter education program are available online, so that students can pace themselves and make completing the courses convenient to their personal schedules. However, these students must still attend a classroom session with a certified instructor. Class schedules are available
online.
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The course requires ten hours of instruction, completion of assignments and field education. Topics covered include firearm safety and handling, sportsmanship, wildlife management, and other important subjects. The instructor evaluates each student and determines if each individual in the class is deserving of a Certificate of Completion.
Students will learn the “Ten Commandments of Firearms Safety,” as noted on the
website:
- Treat every gun as if it were loaded.
- Watch that Muzzle! Be able to control the direction of the muzzle at all times.
- Be sure the barrel and action are clear of obstructions.
- Be sure of your target before you pull the trigger.
- Unload guns when not in use.
- Never point a gun at anything you do not intend to shoot.
- Never climb a fence or tree or jump a ditch with a loaded gun.
- Never shoot a bullet at a flat, hard surface or water.
- Store guns and ammunition separately, beyond the reach of children and careless adults.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages and mind altering drugs before or during shooting.x
This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.
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