Delaware’s Hunter Education Certification Requires Live Gun Fire Component
DOVER, Delaware –-(Ammoland.com)- Before applying for a Delaware hunting license, all hunters born after Jan. 1, 1967 are required to take a minimum 10-hour basic hunter education course. Since Jan. 1, 2010, Delaware law also requires that a live-firing experience be part of every basic hunter education class, for both online and traditional classroom versions.
There are now locations in all three counties where Delaware hunter education students can fulfill their live-firing requirement: Owens Station Sporting Clay Range near Greenwood in Sussex County, the C&R Center in Petersburg in Kent County, and Ommelanden Range near New Castle and Taylor Bridge Community Center near Townsend, both in New Castle County.
Insurance rules covering the shooting require that all students participating in any hunter education live firing provide a signed release of liability and waiver of right to sue in order to participate. Waivers for minor students under the age of 18 must now include the notarized signatures of parents or legal guardians. (NOTE: Because the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Office of Hunter Education asks that the signed waiver be mailed in to at least seven days prior to the course date to validate a student’s registration, students may not be able to just “walk in” on the day of the class and be seated.)
The Hunter Education Program will provide all firearms, ammunition and targets but students will be responsible for their own hearing and eye protection. All basic hunter education courses taught by State of Delaware volunteer instructors are offered free of charge. This includes participation in the instructor-led field days required of all on-line course students. The online hunter education courses are provided by private vendors and are available for a nominal fee.
Additional information, waivers and websites for online courses are available at the Division of Fish & Wildlife website at www.fw.delaware.gov – scroll down to Hunter/Trapper Education Access. Copies of the waiver can be obtained at the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife in Dover or by calling the Office of Hunter Education at 302-735-3600