A free course required for first-time hunters seeking a Pennsylvania hunting license was offered at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area visitor center on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Only 11 seats remained the day before.
“If you want to get your first license this year, you really should schedule a class soon because the availability shrinks some every day,” said Travis Lau, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
More women hunting
A growing number of women are hunting in Pennsylvania, according to data released by the Game Commission that week. Since the 2009-10 license year, the number of women seeking licenses had grown 44 percent.
How to get started
So how does a newcomer give hunting a shot?
“In order to get a license, you need to first take Hunter-Trapper Education,” Lau said. “We also offer mentored youth and mentored adult permits. These can be purchased without the requirement to complete Hunter-Trapper Education, but the number of species that can be hunted is limited, and there are other rules. Importantly, you can’t hunt by yourself; the mentor has to be there.”
The Middle Creek class
The Middle Creek course ran from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants had to read some materials online beforehand, and all registrants had to be at least 11 years old by the day of the class.
The in-person Hunter-Trapper Education course is free and offered at locations across the state, with registration through the Game Commission’s website.
Online option
An online course was also available for those 16 and older, at a cost of $19.50.
“In my opinion, the biggest advantage of the online course is it can be completed over a number of sessions. You can stop, then pick up where you left off,” Lau said.
Either option requires about six hours. The live class requires reading four chapters before the course date.
Accommodations
People with permanent or temporary disabilities can hunt with accommodations. Those who meet certain guidelines, for example, can apply to use their vehicle as a blind.
About Middle Creek
Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area straddles the Lancaster-Lebanon county line near Kleinfeltersville, a short drive from Lititz. Managed by the Game Commission, it is best known for the tens of thousands of snow geese and tundra swans that stop there during spring migration. The visitor center hosts exhibits, programs and classes throughout the year, and portions of the area are open to hunting in season.
What the course covers
Hunter-Trapper Education focuses on safety and responsibility. Students learn firearm handling, tree stand safety, wildlife identification, hunting laws and ethics, and the role of hunting in wildlife management. Many experienced hunters say the course is valuable even for adults who grew up around firearms.
Why it matters
Hunting license sales help fund wildlife conservation in Pennsylvania. The Game Commission relies heavily on license revenue and federal excise taxes on firearms and ammunition to manage state game lands and wildlife habitat. New hunters, including the growing number of women taking up the sport, help sustain that system.
Getting ready
First-time hunters are encouraged to complete the course well before the season opens, buy their license early and spend time at a range practicing safe handling before heading into the field.
Hunting and safety
Pennsylvania requires hunters to wear fluorescent orange during many seasons, and the Game Commission credits hunter education and orange requirements with a large drop in hunting-related shooting incidents over the decades.
Experienced hunters often volunteer as mentors, passing along safe habits and woodsmanship to newcomers in the field.
This article was originally published in September 2016.