Basic Hunter Education courses

Basic Hunter Education is mandatory for all first-time adult hunters.

Attention: You may already qualify to hunt in Massachusetts. Learn more.

Youth hunters (12-17 years of age) follow regulations specific to their age. Learn more.

MassWildlife offers Basic Hunter Education in two formats. Each format covers the same material and students take the same final exam. Choose the one that is right for you:

• In-person (traditional): Students attend an entirely in-person, instructor led course that is offered over multiple days.
• Blended: Students complete the online MA hunter safety study guide before attending one in-person Field Day.

Upon successful completion, graduates are mailed a certificate of completion recognized in all U.S. states, Canada, and Mexico. Certificates are mailed to students about 2 weeks after the end of the course.

All courses are free of charge and open to the public.

In-Person (Traditional) Format

If you select the in-person (traditional) format, you must attend all classroom sessions as scheduled. This course is entirely in-person and is led by a certified teaching team. These are traditional face-to-face classes that are interactive and practical with minimal homework requirements.

To enroll, call [phone]
M-F, 8 a.m.–4 p.m

Location	Dates and Times	Status
Nenameseck Sportsmen's Club 150 Bacon Road PALMER Driving directions Accessible building	Session 2 previously scheduled for Sunday, January 25, 2026 has been postponed due to inclement weather. Session 2 will now be held on Sunday, March 1, 2026,	FULL- already started
Nenameseck Sportsmen's Club 150 Bacon Road PALMER Driving directions Accessible building	2 session course Sunday, February 8, 2026    8AM–4:00PM Sunday, February 15, 2026  8AM–4:00PM Attendance at BOTH sessions is required.	FULL
MassWildlife Field Headquarters 1 Rabbit Hill Rd WESTBOROUGH Driving directions Accessible building	2 session course Tuesday, February 17, 2026  8AM–4:00PM Thursday, February 19, 2026 8AM–4:00PM Attendance at BOTH sessions is required.	WAITLIST (limited number available as of 1/14/26)  To enroll, call [phone]

Blended Format

If you select the blended format, you must:

1. First, complete the onlineMassachusetts Hunter Safety Study Guide at huntercourse.com. You must complete all 16 chapters and all 16 quizzes prior to registration. Use the Course Outline to move from chapter to chapter, quiz to quiz.
2. Next, submit this online form to register, provide proof of completing the study guide, and select a field day (dates listed below).
3. Finally, attend the field day to finish the course and take the final exam.

Learn more about the Blended Format.

Field Day Location	Dates and Times	Status
Carver Sportsmen's Club 127 Main Street (Route 58) CARVER Driving Directions	Saturday  March 7 8 a.m.-4p.m.	FULL  (you must complete the online MA hunter safety study guide before registering)
Rutland Sportsman Club 75 Pleasantdale Road RUTLAND Driving Directions	Saturday March 14 8 a.m.-4 p.m.	FULL (you must complete the online MA hunter safety study guide before registering)
US Fish & Wildlife Service Headquarters 300 Westgate Center Drive HADLEY Driving Directions	Saturday March 21S 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.	OPEN (you must complete the online MA hunter safety study guide before registering) Register here

Future courses will be posted above when enrollment opens. Enrollment typically opens 6-8 weeks before the start of a course.

Tips for Finding a Course

1. Bookmark this page and check back on a regular basis. This list is routinely updated as courses open for enrollment across the state.
2. Sign up to be notified when courses are available in your area.
3. The Basic Hunter Education course is standardized across North America and a government-issued certificate fromany jurisdiction qualifies you to purchase your first-ever Massachusetts hunting or sporting license. Make sure that you read all of the requirements carefully before registering for a course offered by another state.
   • If you choose this option, make sure that you learn and understand all of the Massachusetts hunting regulations before you start hunting.
   • An out-of-state Basic Hunter Education certificate will not be accepted for a firearms license. Contact your local police department for more information about firearms licensing.

Event accommodations

We will do our best to accommodate any needs to allow community members to participate as fully as possible in our events and programs. 

• Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. To submit a request for an accommodation, please email [e-mail] or call 617-626-1282; an ADA Coordinator will receive your request. Please include a description of the request in as much detail as possible and a way we can contact you if we need more information. Please allow at least 2 weeks’ (14 days) advance notice. Last-minute requests will be accepted but we may be unable to fulfill the request.
• Please let us know of any language interpretation requests by email to [e-mail] at least 72 hours before the event.
• Se pueden solicitar servicios adicionales de traducción o interpretación enviando su solicitud por correo electrónico a [e-mail] al menos 72 horas antes de la reunión.
• Serviços adicionais de tradução ou interpretação podem ser solicitados ao enviar um e-mail para: [e-mail] com pelo menos 72 horas de antecedência da reunião.
• 如需额外的笔译或口译服务，请至少在会议开始前 72 小时发电子邮件至 [e-mail] 提出要求.
• Ou ka mande plis sèvis tradiksyon oswa entèpretasyon lè w adrese demann ou pou imèl [e-mail] omwen 72 èdtan anvan reyinyon an.
• Các dịch vụ biên dịch hoặc phiên dịch bổ sung có thể được yêu cầu bằng cách gửi yêu cầu của quý vị qua email đến [e-mail] ít nhất 72 giờ trước cuộc họp.
• Предоставление дополнительных услуг письменного или устного перевода можно запросить, отправив просьбу по электронной почте на адрес [e-mail] как минимум за 72 часа до начала встречи
• Des services de traduction ou d'interprétation supplémentaires peuvent être demandés en envoyant votre demande par e-mail à [e-mail] u moins 72 heures avant la réunion.