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 508-389-7830
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.

Location	Dates and Times	Status
Nenameseck Sportsmen's Club* (pronounced “Nen-na-mess-ick”) 75 West Ware Rd PALMER Driving directions Accessible building	2 sessions required Sat, Aug 9: 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Sat, Aug 16: 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Attendance at both sessions is required.	CLOSED Course started. Enrollment has ended.
Danvers Fish & Game Club 20 Birch Rd MIDDLETON Driving directions Accessible building	3 sessions required Tue, Sept 16: 6 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Thu, Sept 18: 6 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Sun, Sept 21: 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Attendance at all 3 sessions is required.	OPEN To enroll, call 508-389-7830

*Nenameseck Sportsmen's Club note: The entrance on Bacon Road is closed at one end. Please use the West Ware Road entrance to get to the clubhouse.

Continue scrolling for opportunities in the Blended format.

Blended Format

If you select the blended format, you must:

1. First, complete the online Massachusetts 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
Bass Pro Shops 1 Bass Pro Drive FOXBOROUGH Driving directions Accessible building	Saturday August 16 8 a.m.–4 p.m.	OPEN Register here (you must complete the online MA hunter safety study guide before registering)
Singletary Rod & Gun Club 300 Sutton Ave OXFORD Driving directions	Sunday August 17 8:15 a.m.–4 p.m.	OPEN Register here (you must complete the online MA hunter safety study guide before registering)
Swift River Sportsman's Club 350 Cold Spring Rd BELCHERTOWN Driving directions Accessible building	Sunday August 24 8 a.m.–4 p.m.	OPEN Register here (you must complete the online MA hunter safety study guide before registering)
New addition! Carver Sportsmen's Club 127 Main St (Route 58) CARVER Driving directions	Saturday September 6 8 a.m.–4 p.m.	OPEN Register here (you must complete the online MA hunter safety study guide before registering)
Lee Sportsmen's Association 565 Fairview St LEE Driving directions	Saturday September 6 9 a.m.–5 p.m.	OPEN Register here (you must complete the online MA hunter safety study guide before registering)
Rutland Sportsmen's Club 75 Pleasantdale Rd RUTLAND Driving directions	Saturday September 6 8 a.m.–4 p.m.	OPEN Register here (you must complete the online MA hunter safety study guide before registering)
New addition! U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region Headquarters 300 Westgate Center Drive HADLEY Driving directions Accessible building	Saturday September 13 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.	OPEN Register here (you must complete the online MA hunter safety study guide before registering)
Monument Beach Sportsman’s Club 199 MacArthur Blvd BOURNE Driving directions	Saturday September 13 8 a.m.–4 p.m.	OPEN Register here (you must complete the online MA hunter safety study guide before registering)
Harvard Sportsmen's Club 250 Littleton County Rd HARVARD Driving directions	Saturday September 13 8 a.m.–4 p.m.	OPEN Register here (you must complete the online MA hunter safety study guide before registering)
Billerica Rod and Gun Club 216 Pond St BILLERICA Driving directions	2 evenings required Mon., Sept. 15 and Wed., Sept. 17 Both nights from 6 p.m.–9:30 p.m.	OPEN Register here (you must complete the online MA hunter safety study guide before registering)
Ashfield Rod and Gun 161 North St PLAINFIELD, MA Driving directions	Saturday September 27 8 a.m.–4 p.m.	OPEN Register here (you must complete the online MA hunter safety study guide before registering)
Concord Rod and Gun Club 74 Strawberry Hill Road CONCORD Driving Directions Accessible building	Sunday September 28 8 a.m.–4 p.m.	OPEN Register here (you must complete the online MA hunter safety study guide before registering)
Rod & Gun Club of New Bedford 1407 N Hixville Rd DARTMOUTH Driving directions Accessible building	Saturday October 4 8 a.m.–4 p.m.	OPEN Register here (you must complete the online MA hunter safety study guide before registering)
Fin Fur and Feather Club 101 Larch Road MILLIS Driving directions	Sunday October 5 8 a.m.–4 p.m.	OPEN Register here (you must complete the online MA hunter safety study guide before registering)

Future courses will be posted above when enrollment opens. We typically open enrollment 6-8 weeks prior to the start date.

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 from any 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 to apply for a firearms license. Contact your local police department for more information about firearms licensing.

Special accommodations

• Please let us know of any interpretation or other accessibility needs by email to [e-mail] at least 72 hours before the event. We will do our best to accommodate any needs to allow community members to participate as fully as possible.
• 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.