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 hunting 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," for the same price as a regular 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. 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 scheduled a number of hunter education courses in all regions of the state. Others 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. A calendar of scheduled courses, including contact information for pre-registration, is regularly updated on the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us. For updated course listings, click "Hunting/Hunter Education/Class Schedule." The following is a list of currently-scheduled courses.
Region 1, northwest Kansas
- July 26-31 — Salina;
- Aug. 2-3 — Stockton;
- Aug. 13-14 — WaKeeney;
- Aug. 21-22 — Osborne;
- Aug. 28 — Oakley;
- Aug. 28 — Hill City;
- Aug. 28-29 — Lincoln;
- Sept. 1-4 — Sharon Springs;
- Sept. 7-11 — Salina;
- Oct. 4-9 — Salina; and
- Nov. 1-6 — Salina.
Region 2, northeast Kansas
- July 30-Aug. 1 — Ogden;
- Aug. 9-16 — Shawnee;
- Aug. 12-14 — Bellevue or St. Marys;
- Aug. 10-12 — Bonner Springs;
- Aug. 16-19 — Hiawatha;
- Aug. 14-15 — Abilene;
- Aug. 24-31 — Manhattan;
- Aug. 28 — Shawnee;
- Sept. 2-4 — Morrill;
- Sept. 18 — Shawnee;
- Sept. 25 — Abilene;
- Oct. 5-12 — Manhattan;
- Oct. 9-10 — Abilene;
- Oct. 16 — Shawnee;
- Oct. 19-26 — Manhattan;
- Nov. 6 — Shawnee; and
- Dec. 18 — Abilene.
Region 3, southwest Kansas
- Aug. 14 — Pratt;
- Aug. 21 — Elkhart;
- Aug. 22 — Hugoton;
- Oct. 23 — Ulysses; and
- Oct. 24 — Johnson.
Region 4, southcentral Kansas
- July 1-Sept. 30 — Wichita, Gander Mountain (multiple courses);
- July 31-Aug. 1 — Arkansas City;
- Aug. 6-7 — Wichita;
- Aug. 13-14 — El Dorado;
- Aug. 13-14 — Hutchinson;
- Aug. 14-15 — McPherson;
- Aug. 14-15 — Mulvane;
- Aug. 14-15 — Rose Hill;
- Aug. 14 — Arlington;
- Aug. 20-21 — Haysville;
- Sept. 11 — Haysville/Belle Plaine;
- Sept. 15-23 — Wichita;
- Sept. 18 — El Dorado;
- Oct. 1-3 — Augusta; and
- Oct. 8-9 — El Dorado.
Region 5, southeast Kansas
- Aug. 2-7 — Parsons;
- Aug. 7 — Columbus;
- Aug. 10-14 — Fort Scott;
- Aug. 28-29 — Iola;
- Sept. 7-11 — Fort Scott;
- Oct. 4-16 — Parsons; and
- Oct. 12-16 — Fort Scott.
The majority of classes are held from August to October, the period of peak demand. There are also a good number of classes offered in early spring prior to the turkey season. There are very few classes offered between November and February. Check the website regularly to find a class that fits your schedule.
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