Missouri Hunter Safety Course—3 Easy Steps to Get Yours in 2026
In Missouri, all hunters born on or after January 1, 1967, must complete a hunter safety course before getting a hunting license.
Hunter education in Missouri helps hunters understand how to stay safe in the field, along with the ethics of hunting. The safety essentials you'll learn in a hunter safety course include handling firearms and bows safely, outdoor safety, tree stand safety, animal identification, why hunters wear blaze orange, and more.
So if you want to hunt in Missouri in 2026, keep reading to learn how to take the required Missouri hunter safety course. We'll also cover how to get your hunting license in three easy steps!
How to Get Your Missouri Hunter Education Card in 2026
The first step toward getting your Missouri hunting license is to show proof that you've passed a hunter education course (i.e., your hunter education card). The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) requires this card to get your hunting license.
The State of Missouri offers two options for taking the course and getting certified.
Option 1: Take the Two-Step Format (Ages 11 and Older)
Hunters can choose a two-step format to earn the hunter education card. It includes a Knowledge portion, then an in-person Skills Session with a final exam for young hunters between the ages of 10–16.
During the Knowledge portion, hunters can complete the requirement in three ways:
- An online hunter education course (like Hunter-Ed)
- A self-study guide
- A classroom session
Young hunters choosing the online course must bring the online skills session qualifier certificate or their completed chapter reviews to the in-person Skills Session. After completing this in-person session and final exam, you'll receive your Missouri hunter education card.
Option 2: Take an Online Course (Ages 16 and Older)
Any hunter who is at least 16 years old can complete the certification process completely online through an approved course provider (like ilearntohunt). There is no Skills Session requirement if you are above the age of 16.
Work through our interactive course to learn hunter safety essentials. Then, pass the quizzes and final exam. Print your Missouri hunter education certificate (i.e, the Conservation Permit Card) and go hunting!
How to Get Your Missouri Hunting License in 3 Easy Steps
With your ilearntohunt hunting education course complete, you're ready to get your hunting license.
Note: You'll only need to take and pass the hunter safety course once. Your certification is good for life!
Here are three easy steps for getting your hunting license in Missouri.
- Meet the MDC Requirements for Hunter Education
Again, all hunters born on or after January 1, 1967, must complete a state-approved hunter education course before purchasing a Missouri hunting license.
ilearntohunt makes it easy to meet this requirement! Our course is approved by the MDC. - Choose and Purchase the License You Need
Make sure you buy the right hunting permit based on what you plan to hunt. Missouri offers species-specific and other types of licenses.
Then, purchase your license online, using the MO Hunting app, over the phone, or in person through a retail location. These locations include Wal-Mart stores, sporting goods stores, and other locations. - Carry Proof of Your License When Hunting
Don't forget to carry a valid hunting permit when in the field (along with your hunter education card). You'll need to show these documents if a wildlife official asks for them.
If you also need tags for a legal hunt, carry them in the field with you.
How to Take the Missouri Hunter Safety Course Online
The easiest (and fastest) way to get your Missouri hunter safety course certification is to start with the ilearntohunt online course!
The ilearntohunt course:
- Is approved by the MDC and the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA).
- Saves your progress (you can start and stop as needed).
- Can be completed (quickly) in under 3 hours.
- Is a game-style format. It's fun and educational for hunters of any age!
- Is available anywhere you can connect to the internet using a mobile device or computer.
- Is a character-driven story with real-life scenarios and quizzes to help you learn the required material.
- Allows unlimited attempts to pass the final exam. Score at least 80% on the exam to pass.
Why Hunter Safety Education is Important
Why should hunters in Missouri take a hunter education course? And why does the state require it?
Hunter education in Missouri isn’t just another hoop to jump through to buy a tag. It’s about making sure you head home in one piece, your buddies do too, and the hunting heritage we’re proud of keeps rolling for the next generation.
The program, overseen by the Missouri Department of Conservation, isn’t only for first-timers or young hunters chasing their first deer. It’s for anyone heading into Missouri’s timber, river bottoms, crop fields, or Ozark hills with a rifle, shotgun, bow, or crossbow.
When every hunter completes a Missouri-approved course, we’re all working from the same foundation. A state-approved course covers safe firearm handling, proper shot placement and target identification, knowing what’s beyond your target, and respecting both private property and public conservation areas. Just as important, you'll learn to communicate clearly and look out for one another in the field.
That shared standard makes a real difference. It helps prevent accidents, strengthens relationships with landowners, and protects access to the places we hunt. In the long run, hunter education supports the future of hunting in Missouri by showing the public that safety, responsibility, and conservation come first.
What Does Hunter Education Do?
Hunter education in Missouri is about more than satisfying a requirement. It’s designed to make you a safer, sharper, more responsible hunter every time you head out.
- Cut down on accidents and near misses: Safe gun handling, disciplined shot selection, and knowing exactly what’s in front of (and beyond) your target are what keep a good day in the woods from going sideways. The mission is straightforward: everybody walks out of the field the same way they walked in.
- Shape confident, self-reliant hunters: The course covers more than the basics. You’ll dig into navigation, emergency preparedness, basic first aid, and how to properly handle and maintain your equipment. Just as importantly, it reinforces how to hunt respectfully alongside others and how to treat private land, public ground, and Missouri’s forests, prairies, and waterways with care.
- Reinforce ethical hunting standards: How you hunt matters just as much as what you harvest. Missouri’s program stresses fair chase, respect for wildlife, and following seasons and limits set by the MDC. Those principles are what keep wildlife populations healthy and hunting traditions alive across the state.
- Keep hunters informed and within the law: Understanding the rules protects you from costly mistakes and ensures everyone in the field is operating under the same expectations.
Hunter education in Missouri keeps people safe, passes along hard-earned knowledge, and strengthens conservation efforts statewide. Whether you’re gearing up for your first season or you’ve been hunting these hills for decades, the training helps you head into the field better prepared and come home with stories, not regrets.
Why is it Important to Take a State-Specific Hunter Education Course?
Most states recognize hunter education certificates from other states. That’s known as reciprocity. It’s helpful, no doubt, but it doesn’t automatically mean you’re dialed in on the details that matter once you’re hunting here in Missouri.
Missouri’s regulations are specific to this state’s wildlife, landscapes, and hunting traditions. What flew in another state may not line up with how we do things in the Show-Me State.
Before you rely solely on an out-of-state certificate, it’s smart to get familiar with Missouri’s rules and expectations. A Missouri-approved hunter education course walks through state laws, conservation priorities, and safety standards so you’re not guessing when it counts.
It doesn’t take long, and it pays off. A little time spent learning the Missouri way means fewer headaches, safer hunts, and more confidence when you step into the timber, fields, or marsh.
Why Choose ilearntohunt?
When you choose ilearntohunt for your Missouri hunting education, you learn everything required by the state in an online format that's fun and interactive.
Choosing ilearntohunt means:
- MDC-Approved Hunter Safety Education: Our fun, interactive course meets the hunter education requirements set by IHEA-USA and the Missouri Department of Conservation.
- No Minimum Time Requirements: There are no timers when working through an ilearntohunt course! Complete it in less time than other online courses.
- Real-Life Scenarios: Choose a character to start the course. Then, you and your character will apply what you learn to make choices in different scenarios and move through levels.
- Better Information Retention: Studies show that instruction engaging the brain with words and images can significantly increase student comprehension and retention.
When you've worked through all the levels and passed the final exam, you've met the hunter safety education requirement for Missouri!
Remember: hunters between the ages of 10 and 16 must also pass the in-person Skills Session to complete the certification.
Get Your Hunter Safety Certification for Missouri with ilearntohunt!
Make sure you're ready for hunting season in Missouri! Take the ilearntohunt hunter safety course to get certified. You can't get hunt without it!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We have answers to the top questions about the Missouri hunter safety course!
Q: Can you take a hunter safety course online in Missouri?
A: Yes, you can take a hunter safety course online in Missouri! The most convenient way to take the course is through MDC-approved providers like ilearntohunt. Hunters ages 10–16 must also pass an in-person Skills Session to complete their hunter education.
Q: Can you get a hunting license in Missouri without taking the safety course?
A: No, you must have proof of hunter education to buy a Missouri hunting license.
Q: How much is the hunter safety course in Missouri?
A: If you take the online, game-style hunter safety course for Missouri through ilearntohunt, the cost is $39.95.
Q: How long does the MO hunter safety course take?
A: The online MO hunter education course through ilearntohunt typically takes three hours (or less) to complete.
Q: When should I sign up for the Missouri hunting education course before hunting season?
A: We recommend signing up and completing the course at least several weeks before your planned hunt to receive your certification and avoid last-minute issues.
