Years back myself and a buddy wanted to hunt elk in Co. You had to be born before Jan 1, to be exempt from taking the bow hunter safety course. I was born in Feb so so had to take the course to get the certification card. It was a good refresher course and I enjoyed taking it.

I’ll say it again. Any course (hunter ed) that has an international designation is honored by other states/countries. If you need a firearm designation that too if done during an international course carries through states/countries.

Pennsylvania has had hunter education in progress since 1959. If you were born before 1949 you were grandfathered out of it. I've sit in with folks giving the course at a local club back in the 80's. Most of it, of course is safety based, as it should be, but is very informative even to old guys....many of which should take it.

I took the National Bowhunter Education Course on 5-11-85. I know the date as I still carry the card in my wallet. As I recall, it was not required in Texas except for one hunting area in far South Texas. I do remember that it did not allow one to hunt in Colorado, even if just bowhunting. You had to have a state issued Hunter Safety Card. Even though I was not a "youngster" when I took the courses, they were beneficial. I clearly remember the bowhunter class was taught by a friend of mine, Joe Krout. Joe was somewhat of a bowhunting legend in Texas. He is gone now, but was a great guy.

I've been hunting with a bow for over 30 years. Moved to Alaska last year and it's required to take a bow hunting course here. No if's, and's or but's. For an experienced hunter it was a total waste of time. There will be no waivers in Alaska if you come here to hunt. You'll need to take a bow hunting certification course.

Michigan hunter there is an if and but if you took an international bow course already. They can’t deny you. Not trying to say they may not be trying to make you but they actually couldn’t. The other thing is in your state perhaps there was no international bow course taught

Michigan hunter pm me I’ll send your state reciprocally law on the international course. Someone is steering you wrong

Do you need Alaska Bowhunter education? Alaska Beginning July 1, 2016, if you were born on or after January 1, 1986 you must complete and pass an approved bowhunter course to hunt big game with archery equipment. The certification card must be carried when hunting.

All hunters participating in archery-only hunts must obtain bowhunter education certification.

There is no minimum age requirement to take this online course.

You do not have to be a resident of Alaska to take this online course.

Elsewhere Hunter education is currently required in all 50 states, 10 Canadian provinces, three Northwest Territories, and Mexico. A separate bowhunter education course is required in many of the states, provinces, and other countries to comply with the bowhunting laws and regulations in those jurisdictions.

The states and provinces requiring an IBEP course are:

Alaska Connecticut Idaho Maine Montana Nebraska New Brunswick New Hampshire New Jersey New York Nova Scotia Quebec Rhode Island South Dakota Vermont Why Bowhunter Safety Education Is Important Bowhunting is a challenging sport! This type of hunting is done at a much closer range and requires a high degree of stealth, perseverance, patience, and effort. Bowhunters must become adept at scouting, tracking, and recovering game. Bowhunters must master new archery techniques and learn the anatomy and behavior of the game. Before attempting to use archery equipment as a hunting tool, each bowhunter should become a proficient archer. This requires dedication, practice, and good distance-judging ability.

Reciprocity All U.S. states, provinces, and countries that have mandatory bowhunter education requirements will accept the Alaska Alaska Bowhunter Education Certificate. Likewise, Alaska will accept Bowhunter Education certifications that are issued by other jurisdictions that meet official IHEA-USA requirements. (This is known as “reciprocity.”)

Alaska Department of Fish and Game logo International Hunter Education Assocaition USA logo National Bowhunter Education Foundation logo Alaska Department of Fish and Game Hunter Information & Training (HIT) Program 333 Raspberry Road Anchorage, AK 99518 907-267-2187

I know the rules Bowguy. Most states I've lived in took my hunter education that I took 30+ years ago. I've been hunting with a bow equally as long. I'm just saying the course was a total waste of time. I don't need some guy educating me on the parts of an arrow and a bow. There was nothing in the course as far as tree stand safety or shot placement. I could have written a better and more practical course. We shot 6 arrows at 3 targets and bam......you're now a certified bowhunter. Total waste of a Saturday.

Sorry I misunderstood ya. There should be shot placement and tree stand safety you are right. It’s supposed to be in there.

Delaware has a turkey hunt cert. my buddy is like me and it might be one thing he lives for. I bet he learned nothing either. He moved from NY. In the scheme of things maybe the guy next to him that went got something and won’t shoot him next year. A fellow I mentor w had 7 pellets pierce his brain in Pa. He almost died. Bet the guy that shot him could’ve used Education. Remember hunting is a privledge not a right. One Sat wouldn’t really kill ya even if it’s not exactly geared for you

Bow-hunter education was part of the overall hunter education curses in MN. I taught the bow hunter portion for ten years there.

If the IBEP portion isn’t covered that’s where the prob is. IHEA and IBEP are two different formats. Some states don’t teach the IBEP part. If you’re saying it’s part of a reg class it may not be covered

I found the course a waste of time, heck the guys who taught it, hardly hunted, that was for sure..... but I needed it to hunt out of state, and I took it.................

good course for kids though,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

It was a big deal in the 80s and I was involved for our club but I don't know where it went over the years.

So is it age related or not? Does everone regardless of age have to take it?

NY started its bowhunter safety course in 1962. If you had bowhunted prior to 1962, you were grandfathered in. If you were just starting out you had to take the course. They started a new course in 1976 and by 1980, everyone that hadn't taken the new course had to take it, no exceptions. Several people swore out afidavits that they had taken the new course. They were caught up with and fined $100.00, each. Fred Bear and Dick Lattimer were behind the nation wide course, while they were still in Michigan. The funny thing is, Michigan didn't go along with a separate bowhunting course. bvd

NY started its bowhunter safety course in 1962. If you had bowhunted prior to 1962, you were grandfathered in. If you were just starting out you had to take the course. They started a new course in 1976 and by 1980, everyone that hadn't taken the new course had to take it, no exceptions. Several people swore out afidavits that they had taken the new course. They were caught up with and fined $100.00, each. Fred Bear and Dick Lattimer were behind the nation wide course, while they were still in Michigan. The funny thing is, Michigan didn't go along with a separate bowhunting course. bvd

Babysaph it depends on the states requirements

I think in the late 90's, the Federal NWR 's removed the requirement. The demand for the class dropped then like a brick wall. If you do not make them take it, they ain't takin it.

The rubber band jig to show you how dull your broadheads were, was the best memory these peeps today could have used.

When I retire, I will be talking about this with the old geasers at the café at 6:30 am. heeeheeeheee

One line from the Alaska info that BowGuy posted did crack me up:

“Bowhunters must master new archery techniques....”

I just don’t have any idea where they’re going with that....

""“Bowhunters must master new archery techniques....”""

Yeah, that's really interesting right there.

I hunt Dutchess city in NY and live in WI. I need to take a Cours also to get the non res there.

phone butchered that one! should say county not city... needed to take a course

I took my course back in the 80's. It is not required in Tennessee. A few years back, a local instructor announced he would be teaching it, and not a single person showed up.

Murray

Is the course the same everywhere like let's say a C PR course or is it just different according to what the instructors in each state want. And I think learning new archery techniques means perhaps how to cock a crossbow.

I completed the IBEP certification in Alaska 1987. I enjoyed the course so much that I became an instructor. What's not to like about spending a Saturday with a bunch of bowhunters? It's rewarding to pay forward knowledge and experience to other hunters, and I must say I've never finished a class without learning something new myself. We include an evaluation form at the end of the class. Almost all are positive. They also like the hands on stuff and least like the book/lecture.

"And I think learning new archery techniques means perhaps how to cock a crossbow. "

Truer words have not been spoken.

Most who hunt Michigan's archery season no longer use bows, and therefore are not bowhunters.

You can take the course on line and after you pass the test you can print off a certificate for it. You then have to go to where a field day is being held and the instructor has to sign it to make it official. bvd

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here