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Frequently Asked Questions
Learn to Hunt Program

Who may participate in the Learn to Hunt Program?
Novice hunters with 2 years or less hunting experience can participate in the Learn to Hunt Program. Novice hunters may be adults or youths.

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My local hunting club is interested in hosting a Learn to Hunt program for novice hunters in our community. What do we need to do to qualify?
A member of your club must fill out the Application and Authorization to Conduct a Learn to Hunt Program (Form 2300-260) (PDF, 86KB). The completed form must then be submitted to your local wildlife biologist who either approves or rejects the application. At least one of the Learn to Hunt instructors shall be a certified Hunter Education Instructor. That person must include his or her Hunter Education Instructor number on the application.
One of the instructors shall carry the Department approved application form with a complete list of participants during the entire event. The landowner or tenant of the private property upon which the hunt is to take place must sign the application. Applicants must also include the address and a highlighted platbook map of the lands on which the hunt will be conducted. If Department lands are used, the applicant shall obtain the written approval of the property manager. Applications must be turned into your local wildlife biologist at least 30 days prior to your event.

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How many hours of classroom or field experience prior to the hunt are required?
The Learn to Hunt program is an educational experience for novice hunters. A minimum of 4 hours of classroom and field instruction must be conducted prior to the hunting activity.
These 4 hours are in addition to any formal Hunter Education being taught. The 4 hours are only the required minimum. Club members hosting a Learn to Hunt program should consider the needs of their novice hunters and provide additional training as necessary. Classroom and field training should be held as close to the actual hunting experience as possible.

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What should we teach during those 4 hours?
Instructors should emphasize firearm safety. They should review the types of firearms used when hunting the featured game animal. Instructors may also review safe handling, chokes, and shot size. It is also important that instructors include target practice using live rounds prior to the actual hunt.
Instruction should also include information regarding the featured game animal. For example, in a Learn to Turkey Hunt program instruction could include topics such as scouting, how to select and set up a blind, how to safely and properly place decoys, how to call in a turkey, turkey biology, ecology, and management, rules and regulations.
An outline of the topics to be covered in the 4 hour pre-hunt course shall be submitted along with your application.

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Who are mentors and what are their qualifications and responsibilities?
The Learn to Hunt program involves mentors teaching novice hunters how to hunt. Mentors may be the course instructors themseleves or they may be a parent or other adult guardian of the participant. All mentors shall have at least 5 years of hunting experience. As seasoned hunters, mentors help their assigned novice hunter with any hunting-related questions or situations that may arise in the field during the actual hunt.
Mentors cannot hunt or handle/carry the firearm used by the participant, unless the firearm jams and the participant requires help getting it in working condition.

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What is the required ratio of novice hunters to mentors?
During the actual hunt a mentor shall be assigned to no more than one participant at a time. This ratio- one mentor to one participant- provides the highest level of instruction and greatest safety.

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What game animals can be hunted in a Learn to Hunt program?
Pheasant, wild turkey, upland game, waterfowl, or deer. Applicants should select only one game animal. This reduces the amount of information a student must learn before they participate in an actual hunt.
Learn to Hunt programs can occur outside of the normal hunting season for most game animals, except waterfowl. Waterfowl hunting seasons are controlled by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and so any Learn to Hunt proram involving waterfowl must be held within the federal framework.

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Do game animals harvested during the Learn to Hunt event have to be tagged or registered?
Deer must be tagged and registered. Turkeys must be tagged, but registration is optional though a count of the harvested birds must be reported to your local wildlife biologist. The DNR biologist will provide you with necessary tags and regstration forms you may need as well as provide you with a location where participants can register their harvested game.

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What fees, licenses, permits, or stamps are required?
The Department has the legal authority to waive the licenses, stamps and application fees for all game animals under state control. Learn to Hunt programs focusing on migratory birds must be offered within federal framework, using federally mandated bag limits. A federal duck stamp and HIP certification is required for all hunters over 16 years of age.
The applicant or members of the group hosting the Learn to Hunt event may not charge participants a course instruction fee that exceeds the cost of course materials, equipment rental, meals and overnight accomodations. Most clubs have not charged their participants any fees.

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Are there any special sign posting requirements?
The area involved in conducting field activities and the montored hunt shall be posted with a sign advising of activity. This is particularly important if the hunt takes place on a DNR public wildlife area. Posting signs at all access points on the property (parking areas, gates, trailheads, or access roads) provides added safety.

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Does the Department provide liability insurance for clubs sponsoring the program?
The Department does not provide liability coverage for Learn to Hunt events. In addition to liability insurance, WI Recreational Use Statute (Wis. Stats. 895.52) limits property owner's liability for people who use their property for recreation. It is recommended that you review this statute before your event.

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How are participants selected?
It is suggested that clubs consider local advertising for their event and develop an application form and enrollment deadline. Also, you may want to work with local hunter education instructors in the area to recruit participants based on their current and previous years classes. If you have more applicants than your group can accomodate, hold a random drawing.

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Are there minimum or maximum numbers of participants?
The maximum number of participants will depend upon the number of instructors, their ability to handle large class sizes, how much hunting land is available and how many mentors, paried one-on-one are available.

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Are there any reports our club has to submit following the Learn to Hunt event?
The Department wants to know who participated in a Learn to Hunt program and what game they harvested. This will help us prepare an annual report to Wisconsin hunters. Therefore, all applicants must submit the application pages concerning participants to your local wildlife biologist.

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Questions for Wildlife Management

Last Revised: Tuesday July 03 2007