By state law, if you are 18 years of age or older and you want to purchase your first ever hunting license, you must complete a Basic Hunter Education course.
Minor hunters (12-17 years of age) follow a specific set of regulations. While minors are not required to complete a Basic Hunter Education, it is a prerequisite for certain youth programs and it allows minors 15-17 years of age to hunt without direct supervision.
Students must attend all dates of the course they select. Courses are approximately 15 hours in length (scheduled over 2-6 sessions) and are offered in different formats to meet the public's needs. To learn more about Basic Hunter Education, click here.
All courses are FREE of charge and open to the public.
Basic Hunter Education course offerings
To enroll in an open course below call (508) 389-7830
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
If you are viewing this page on a mobile device, turn your device horizontally to view all 3 columns below (location, dates & times, status).
|
Location |
Dates & Times |
Status |
| Woburn Sportsmen Club 155 Middlesex Trpke BEDFORD Handicapped accessible Click for directions |
6 evening course |
CLOSED |
|
Charles C. Kennedy Post |
2 day course |
CLOSED |
|
Cheshire Rod & Gun
|
6 evening course |
CLOSED
|
|
Monument Beach |
4 session course |
CLOSED |
| MassWildlife Field HQ 1 Rabbit Hill Road WESTBOROUGH Handicapped accessible Click for directions |
2 session course with
|
CLOSED
|
|
Seats are available!
|
6 evening course |
OPEN
|
| New England Base Camp 411 Unquity Road MILTON Handicapped accessible Click for directions |
2 session course with
|
CLOSED
|
|
Southboro Rod & Gun Club
|
2 session course with
|
CLOSED
|
|
New England Base Camp
|
2 session course with
|
CLOSED
|
|
Rod and Gun Club of
|
2 session course with
|
CLOSED
|
| Harvard Sportsmen's Club 250 Littleton County Rd HARVARD Handicapped accessible Click for directions |
2 session course with
|
CLOSED
|
|
Waitlist space available! |
4 session course Mon., March 18: 6pm–8:45pm Wed., March 20: 6pm–8:45pm Sat., March 23: 8am–4pm Mon., March 25: 6pm–8:45pm |
WAITLIST
|
|
Wankinquoah Rod & Gun
|
4 session course
|
CLOSED
|
|
Seats are available! |
4 session course |
OPEN
|
| Franklin County Sportsmen's Club 721 River Rd DEERFIELD Handicapped accessible Click for directions |
4 session course |
CLOSED |
|
Falmouth Rod & Gun Club
|
2 session course with
|
CLOSED
|
|
Tewksbury Rod & Gun Club
|
4 evening course
|
CLOSED
|
|
American Legion Post 338 |
2 day course |
CLOSED |
|
Seats are available! |
2 session course with
|
OPEN
|
|
MassWildlife Field HQ
|
2 session course with
|
CLOSED |
|
Waitlist space available! |
2 session course with
|
WAITLIST
|
|
Danvers Fish & Game Club |
2 session course with Independent Study Wed., March 27: 6pm–9pm Sat., April 6: 8am–2pm |
CLOSED Course is full. Enrollment has ended. |
|
Seats are available!
|
2 session course with
|
OPEN
|
|
Seats are available!
|
6 evening course |
OPEN
|
|
Seats are available! |
4 session course
|
OPEN
|
|
Seats are available! |
2 day course
|
OPEN
|
|
Seats are available!
|
4 evening course
|
OPEN
|
|
Seats are available!
|
4 session course
|
OPEN
|
| Updated 2/21/19 |
The above course listing is updated as soon as new courses are open for enrollment. If you do not see a class that meets your availability, continue monitoring this page and sign up to be notified when new courses open for enrollment in your area.
Students less than 18 years of age
Students under the age of 18 must have written consent to attend a Basic Hunter Education course. A parent or guardian should be present at the start of the student's class to complete the student's registration form or the student can bring a signed permission form with them to the start of their course.
Tips for finding a course
- Continue monitoring this page for future course offerings.
- Provide your contact information and we will notify you when courses are scheduled in your area.
- Consider taking a Basic Hunter Education course in a nearby state. A government-issued Basic Hunter Education certificate from any U.S. State, Mexico, or Canada is accepted to meet the prerequisite for purchasing your first-ever Massachusetts hunting license. (IMPORTANT: you cannot use an out-of-state Basic Hunter Education certificate to apply for a Massachusetts firearms license).
What if I don't want to hunt but I do want to obtain a Massachusetts firearms license?
Students who wish only to apply for a firearms license, who do not wish to hunt, do not necessarily need to complete a Basic Hunter Education course. There are other options. Learn more.