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Firearms Hunter Safety 
Taking a hunter safety course is the first step to joining a wonderful community of conservationists! Hunters have a longstanding role as conservationists, helping keep wildlife populations at healthy levels and giving biologists valuable harvest data. Hunters also provide funding for wildlife management through the purchase of their license and a manufacturer-paid tax on firearms and ammunition. Without hunters, it would not be possible for the department to closely monitor and protect game and non-game species in our state.
Hunting is the ultimate way to connect with our state’s fantastic resources, bond with friends and family, and bring home excellent table fare. Maine offers some of the best hunting opportunities in the country. With over 17 million acres of extraordinary land and waterways, there’s so many options to explore. Here is what you need to know to get started by completing your firearms hunter safety course.
Firearm hunter safety courses are available in two different formats: online and traditional.
Online
Students 16 and older can complete the firearms safety course online at hunter-ed.com/maine. The cost to register for the online course is $24.95. Upon successful completion of the online course, students can use their course completion voucher (hunter education card) to purchase a Maine firearm hunting license online or from a licensing agent (such as a town office or sporting goods store). Students are welcome to attend an in-person skills and exam session after completing the online course to obtain further skills and information if desired.
Please note: students ages 10-15 may complete the online course, but to become fully certified are required to then attend an in-person skills and exam session. Please see the junior hunting section of the Maine Hunting Laws for more information about junior hunter requirements.
Traditional
Traditional in-person courses are available to all students and are taught by trained, certified volunteer instructors who meet state and international standards. Volunteer instructors provide valuable information to new hunters including insight into the sport of hunting, resources and support. In-person courses provide students the opportunity to ask questions of instructors and gain further guidance. There is typically no fee to complete a traditional in-person course, although some course hosts require a nominal fee to help cover facility rental or cleaning costs.
In-person courses require students to attend a 3-hour session of classroom instruction, then complete a workbook at home and then attend a skills and exam session.
Skills and Exam Sessions
8 hours of classroom instruction on the follow topics:
- Survival/first aid
- Landowner relations
- Hunter ethics
- Maine hunting laws
- Hands-on practice of safe firearms handling
- Hands-on instruction of map and compass and outdoor survival
At the skills and exam session, students must demonstrate to the instructor that they can safely handle a firearm, and must participate in workshop and session activities, bring a survival kit and pass a 50-question exam with a score of at least 70%.
Online course completion or paper manual/workbook must be completed to attend the Skills & Exam day. Paper manual/workbook will be mailed upon registration if preferred (will be asked to choose online or manual/workbook when registering for the class). *In some instances, registration is handled by the sponsoring organization and the mailed workbook option may not apply.
Find a Skills and Exam Session
Junior Hunters: The Department encourages all junior hunters ages 10-15 to complete a hunter safety course to further their knowledge of safe hunting, proper firearm handling, outdoor survival, and more. Students must be at least ten years old to attend the course, students under 16 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Learn more about junior hunter license requirements.
Take the next step!
Completing a hunter safety course is just the first step toward a lifelong journey of learning and being a safe and successful hunter. Enhance your skills and boost your confidence with one of our many next step opportunities. Whether you want to learn more about hunting a certain species, need more practice with your method of harvest, or just want an opportunity to ask questions and connect with other hunters, our next step workshops are the perfect place to start.