La. Admin. Code tit. 76 § I-312

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section I-312 - Hunter Education Program Certification Policy

A. The Wildlife and Fisheries Commission shall be the sole authority for establishing minimum requirements for certification of student and volunteer instructors and for the overall administration of the Louisiana Hunter Education Program. The Louisiana Hunter Education Program shall meet the minimum performance guidelines for the basic hunter education course as set forth by the International Hunter Education Association-USA Hunter Education Standards.

B. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries shall maintain an electronic database of all students and active instructors who have successfully met the requirements for certification.

C. Requirements for hunter education student certification shall be as follows:

1. Provide at least the following information:

a. legal name;

b. date of birth;

c. state of residency;

d. State-issued drivers license or identification number or last four digits of social security number;

e. physical and mailing address;

f. a valid email address for purposes of electronic document delivery.

2. Demonstrate sufficient knowledge and understanding of safe hunting practices, firearm safety, and conservation principles by successfully completing one of the following courses:

a. For classroom based hunter education course:

i. attend the required classroom instruction as approved by the Louisiana Hunter Education Program;

ii. successfully complete a written exam prepared by the Louisiana Hunter Education Program;

iii. demonstrate the ability to safely handle hunting firearms

b. For computer based hunter education course:

i. complete the required computer based hunter education instruction as approved by the Louisiana Hunter Education Program;

ii. successfully complete a computer based exam prepared by the Louisiana Hunter Education Program.

c. For blended computer based and field day combination course:

i. complete the required computer based hunter education instruction as approved by the Louisiana Hunter Education Program;

ii. successfully complete a computer based exam prepared by the Louisiana Hunter Education Program;

iii. successfully complete the required field day instruction as approved by the Louisiana Hunter Education Program.

D. Requirements for bowhunter education certification shall be as follows:

1. successfully complete the required bowhunter education course as approved by the Louisiana Hunter Education Program in accordance with the National Bowhunter Education Foundation standards;

E. Upon successful completion of any of the approved courses, LDWF shall provide credentials documenting course completion.

F. Minimum age for certification in all courses within the Louisiana Hunter Education Program shall be as follows:

1. classroom based hunter education course-age 10;

2. computer based hunter education course-age 16;

3. blended computer based and field day combination course-age 10.

G. All persons ages 10 and 11 who are hunter education certified, while hunting in the state of Louisiana, are to be accompanied by and under the direct supervision of a person who is 18 years of age or older and has a valid hunting license or proof of successful completion of a hunter education course approved by the department in order for that certification to be valid. Direct supervision means that the person being supervised shall be within normal audible voice proximity and in direct line of sight of the supervising adult at all times.

H. Requirements for volunteer instructor certification shall be as follows:

1. complete a minimum of 12 hours of classroom, field, and/or computer based instruction as approved by the Louisiana Hunter Education Program;

2. pass a written exam prepared by the Louisiana Hunter Education Program;

3. demonstrate the ability to lead students through exercises that exhibit the safe handling of hunting firearms; and

4. upon successful completion of instructor training, candidates shall be certified for an initial two-year period. Recertification shall be contingent on continued participation in the Louisiana Hunter Education Program.

La. Admin. Code tit. 76, § I-312

Promulgated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, LR 33:1396 (July 2007), Amended by LR 461613 (11/1/2020), Amended LR 481107 (4/1/2022).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 56:699.3.