Attention: You may already qualify to hunt in Massachusetts. Find out more.
By state law, all first-time hunters (18 years of age or older) must successfully complete a Basic Hunter Education course before they may purchase a Massachusetts hunting or sporting license. Government issued “certificates of completion” from any jurisdiction are accepted.
Minors, 12 to 17 years of age, have separate rules to follow (learn more). While minors are not mandated to complete Basic Hunter Education to hunt, it is one option for minors (15-17 years of age) to purchase hunting license and it is a prerequisite for all minors (12-17 years of age) to participate in some youth programs such as the youth turkey hunt program and the young adult pheasant hunt program.
All courses are FREE of charge and open to the public.
Basic Hunter Education course listing
To enroll, call (508) 389-7820
M-F, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
| Facility & Address | Dates & Times | Status |
|---|---|---|
| MassWildlife Field Headquarters 1 Rabbit Hill Road WESTBOROUGH Handicapped accessible Driving directions |
2-day hybrid course Joining both dates and completion of online study guide required. |
COURSE IS FULL Enrollment is closed |
| Worthington Rod & Gun Club 458 Dingle Road WORTHINGTON Driving directions |
4-day traditional course In-person attendance at all dates required. |
OPEN To enroll call (508) 389-7820 Press zero to reach an attendant |
| Mahar Regional School 507 S Main Street ORANGE Handicapped accessible Driving directions |
2-day independent study course In-person attendance at both dates and completion of online study guide required |
COURSE IS FULL Enrollment is closed |
In response to demand, MassWildlife will be adding more hunter education courses throughout the summer.
If you don’t find a class that suites your needs, please check back soon as more classes and locations will be added over the next several weeks.
Tips for finding a course
- Bookmark this page and check back on a regular basis. This list is routinely updated as courses open for enrollment across the state.
- Sign up to be notified of Basic Hunter Education courses offered near your town/city when they open for enrollment.
- Consider completing Basic Hunter Education through a different state. Government-issued certificates from any jurisdiction (i.e. any state) will qualify you to purchase your first-ever hunting license in Massachusetts.
- Completing an out-of-state course is only recommended if you already have a firearms license or do not wish to obtain a firearms license. A Basic Hunter Education certificate issued by another state will not be accepted by a Massachusetts police department to apply for a firearms license.
Firearms licensing
Individuals who only wish to apply for a firearms license should take a firearms safety course. Certified firearms safety courses are the ideal course for non-hunters and individuals who want only to obtain a Massachusetts firearms license [i.e. Firearms Identification Card (FID) or License to Carry (LTC)]. Contact your local police department to learn what conditions must be met before a firearms license is issued.