“A basic Hunter-Trapper Education course is mandatory for all first-time license buyers, regardless of age,” Wills said. “Now is a good time to register and take a course in preparation for the upcoming hunting season.”

To register for a course in your area, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.pa.gov); go to “Quick Clicks” and click on “Hunter-Trapper Education.” Click on “Register for a class using the Hunter Education Class Calendars”; then click on either “Hunter-Trapper Education” or “Online: Hunter-ed.com Pennsylvania.”

With the support of volunteer instructors and organizations that host classes, HTE courses are being held throughout the region. There is no fee for the basic HTE course. Pre-registration is required and online registration is available for all courses offered by the agency.

In order to prepare for class, read Chapters 1, 4, 5 and 9 located in “Today’s Hunter & Trapper in Pa.” You will be directed to an online link from the agency website.

Taught by dedicated teams of trained volunteers, most HTE classes last at least six hours over one or two days, and participants must attend all instruction before taking the test at the end of the course. Youngsters must be at least 11 years old to receive HTE certification.

Successful completion of a basic Pennsylvania HTE class or another state’s equivalent course is required by state law to obtain a first-time hunting or furtaker license, regardless of age.

Registrations also are being accepted for the online version of the basic HTE program, which is available for those 16 years of age or older. The online course is available to students on their own time schedule. A fee of $19.50 is required after successfully completing the course requirements to receive certification.

In 1959, the Game Commission began offering a voluntary hunter safety program, and about 25,000 students participated in that program annually. Beginning in 1969, the General Assembly required all first-time hunting license buyers under the age of 16 to successfully complete a four-hour hunter education course. The course requirement was expanded to six hours in 1977. The program became mandatory for all first-time hunting license buyers regardless of age in 1982.

In 1986, the safety program was increased to ten hours of class time and trapper training was included. The name of the program also was changed to Hunter-Trapper Education, and was required for all first-time furtaker license buyers, too. A combination home study-classroom version of the course reduced classroom time to six hours of instruction starting in 2013.

Since 1959, more than 2 million students have been certified through this course.

Following is a list of scheduled Hunter-Trapper Education courses for the Northwest Region:

Basic Hunter-Trapper Education Classes

Ellwood-Wampum Rod & Gun Club, Wampum, Pa.

• Wednesday, July 6, 2016 – 6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
• Thursday, July 7, 2016 – 6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Presque Isle Field Archers, Waterford, Pa.

• Thursday, July 7, 2016 – 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
• Friday, July 8, 2016 – 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Peaceful Valley Campground, West Sunbury, Pa.

• Saturday, July 9, 2016 – 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Brokenstraw Fish and Game Club, Youngsville, Pa.

• Saturday, July 9, 2016 – 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Strattanville Sportsmen’s Club, Strattanville, Pa.

• Saturday, July 16, 2016 – 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Mercer County Coonhunters Club, Greenville, Pa.

• Saturday, July 16, 2016 – 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Skills Class

Cranberry Twp. Municipal Center, Cranberry Twp., Pa.

• Saturday, July 16, 2016 – 8 a.m. – 5:45 p.m.

Castlewood Rod & Gun Club, Ellwood City, Pa.

• Friday, July 22, 2016 – 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
• Saturday, July 23, 2016 – 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Kalbfus Rod & Gun Club, Clarendon, Pa.

• Sunday, July 24, 2016 – 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.