July 19, 2012
Class required of all hunters born on or after July 1, 1957; youngsters may hunt under adult supervision without course until age 16
PRATT — Late summer is the time when hunters' thoughts turn to fall seasons, which begin with dove season Sept. 1. For first-time hunters, preparation usually means taking a hunter education course.

In most cases, anyone born on or after July 1, 1957, must successfully complete an approved course in hunter education before hunting in Kansas. Those hunting on their own land are exempt. Anyone 16 or older may purchase a one-time deferral of hunter education, called an "apprentice hunting license.” This license is valid only through the calendar year in which it is purchased, and the holder must hunt under direct supervision of a licensed adult 18 or older. Hunter education must be completed before the individual can purchase a hunting license in subsequent years. Anyone younger than 16 may hunt without hunter education certification if they are under direct supervision of an adult 18 or older. Hunters 12 years of age and older may hunt without adult supervision provided they possess a valid hunter education certificate and the appropriate licenses and/or permits. No one younger than age 11 can be certified.

Kansas hunter education volunteer instructors have scheduled a number of hunter education courses in all regions of the state, and more will be scheduled in the future. Most courses require pre-registration. Usually, multiple-day courses are traditional classroom courses, and single-day courses are internet-assisted courses. The internet-assisted class requires students to complete several hours of internet course work before attending a field day. Students must preregister for a field day before completing the internet course.

A calendar of scheduled courses, including contact information for pre-registration, is regularly updated on the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism website, ksoutdoors.com. For updated course listings, click "Hunting/Hunter Education/Class Schedule." The following is a list of currently-scheduled courses. Check the website regularly to find a class that fits your schedule and to confirm dates, which are subject to change.

Region 1, northwest Kansas

Internet-Assisted Course Field Days

• July 25 — Phillipsburg
• Aug. 11 —Stockton
• Aug. 17-18 — Colby
• Aug. 18 — Osborne
• Aug. 25 — Hill City

Traditional Courses

• July 23-28 — Salina
• Aug. 13-18 — Salina
• Oct. 8-13 — Salina
• Nov. 12-17 — Salina

Region 2, northeast Kansas

Internet-Assisted Course Field Days

• Aug. 6 — Fort Riley
• Aug. 11 — Shawnee
• Sept. 8 — Shawnee
• Oct. 27 — Clay Center
• Oct. 13 — Randolph

Traditional Courses

• July 27-28 — Junction City
• Aug. 2-4 — Olathe
• Aug. 11-12 — Abilene
• Aug. 13-16 — Hiawatha
• Aug. 15-19 — Topeka
• Aug. 16-18 — Basehor
• Aug. 21-25 — Gardner
• Aug. 21-28 — Manhattan
• Aug. 24-25 — Atchison
• Sept. 4-8 — Gardner
• Sept. 6-8 — Olathe
• Sept. 20-22 — Basehor
• Sept. 25-Oct. 2 — Manhattan
• Oct. 13-14 — Abilene
• Oct. 18-20 — Basehor
• Oct. 23-30 — Manhattan
• Nov. 23-24 — Atchison

Region 3, southwest Kansas

Internet-Assisted Course Field Days

• Aug. 18 — Syracuse
• Aug. 25 — Great Bend

Traditional Courses

• Aug. 3-4 — Holcomb
• Oct. 19-20 — Holcomb

Region 4, southcentral Kansas

Internet-Assisted Course Field Days

• July 24-25 — Wichita
• Aug. 14-15 — Wichita
• Aug. 18 — Arlington
• Aug. 28-29 — Wichita
• Sept. 8 — Inman
• Oct. 13 — Arlington
• Oct. 13 — El Dorado

Traditional Courses

• Aug. 3-4 —Hutchinson
• Aug. 10-11 — El Dorado
• Aug. 17-19 — Eureka
• Sept. 14-15 — El Dorado

Region 5, southeast Kansas

Traditional Courses

• Aug. 7-11 — Fort Scott
• Aug. 13-25 — Parsons
• Aug. 24-25 — Iola
• Sept. 11-15 — Fort Scott
• Oct. 9-13 — Fort Scott
• Oct. 14-21 —Garnett
• Oct. 15-27 — Parsons

The majority of classes are held from August through October, the period of peak demand. A number of classes are also offered in early spring prior to the turkey season. Few classes are offered from November through February.
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