FWC ADVISES TO TAKE YOUR HUNTER SAFETY COURSE EARLY THIS YEAR
January 20, 2005
Contact: Willie Puz, (772)215-9459
Lynne Hawk, (561)625-5126
Hunters needing to get their Hunter Safety certification from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) during 2005 are strongly encouraged to take a course early in the year as courses scheduled just before and during hunting season usually fill up fast.
The FWC is the only organization that presents the course, which is free of charge, and enlists a volunteer network of trained instructors who donate their time to ensure that the legacy of hunting remains a safe one. This course is equally important for those that hunt out-of-state or in Canada and need to purchase a non-resident hunting license. This state sponsored course meets the requirements for hunter safety training throughout North America.
The FWC Hunter Safety Course is available as a traditional classroom program or as a home-study course. Traditional classroom courses are offered in all of Florida’s counties. Families with children are encouraged to attend a traditional course as interaction with the instructors help children and their parents to better understand the course materials and instructors can answer questions and clarify concepts, which cannot be accomplished with the on-line or CD version.
The dates and locations for the next round of traditional courses are:
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Feb. 5-6, 2005 – Okeechobee County 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., both days Okeechobee Sheriff’s range 5025 S.W. 26th Avenue Okeechobee Attendance on both days is mandatory. |
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Feb. 19-20, 2005 – Broward County 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., both days Markham Park 16001 West State Road 84 Sunrise Attendance on both days is mandatory. |
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Feb. 25, 26 and 27, 2005 – Miami-Dade County 6 p.m. - 10 p.m., Feb. 25 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., Feb. 26 8 a.m. - noon, Feb. 27 Dade County Extension Office – Ag. Center 18710 SW 288 Street Homestead Attendance on all 3 days (16 hours) is mandatory. |
Hunters who can’t attend a traditional classroom course can take the majority of course instruction without leaving home. The new at-home method allows students to obtain partial credit toward completing the Hunter Safety Course through the Internet or CD- ROM interactive program. Once the interactive portion of the course has been completed, students must then attend the required field day that includes live-firing instruction on a shooting range, and classroom work.
The dates and locations for the field-day portion of the home-study course are:
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Feb. 5, 2005 – Okeechobee County 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Okeechobee Sheriff’s Range 5025 SW 26th Avenue Okeechobee |
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Feb. 12, 2005 – Palm Beach County 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. J. W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area Everglades Youth Conservation Camp 12100 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road West Palm Beach |
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February 12, 2005 – Collier County 8 a.m. - noon Collier County Museum 3301 East Tamiami Trail Naples, FL 34112 AND Feb. 13, 2005 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. Collier County Sheriff’s Office Shooting Range |
Space is limited for both the traditional course and field-day portion of the home-study course. Reservations are required by going online at MyFWC.com/huntered or by calling (561) 625-5126.
Everyone born on or after June 1, 1975, is required to pass this course prior to purchasing a hunting license. An adult is required to accompany children under 16 years of age to all classes. Children under 18 years of age must present a Parental Release Form signed by the child's parent or legal guardian to participate in the live-fire exercises. The interactive course was developed in cooperation with seven other southeastern states to increase accessibility to hunter safety programs.
A statewide schedule of hunter safety classes is available on the web at MyFWC.com/huntered, and while you are there, be sure to check out other programs offered through the Hunter Safety Program, such as the Bowhunting Course and the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshops.
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