Where Can You Take the Mississippi Hunter Safety Course?
The Mississippi hunter education course is available online at ilearntohunt, approved by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP). You can complete the course on any device, at your own pace, though whether the online path is open to you depends on your age and residency.
For residents 12 and older, the online course is the whole story: pass the exam, print your certificate, and you're certified. Residents 10 and 11, along with nonresidents of any age, need MDWFP's in-person Classroom Course instead.
Here's what you need to know about where to find each part of the Mississippi hunter safety course, whether you qualify for the online path or not.
Where Can You Find the Mississippi Hunter Safety Course?
Mississippi offers two ways to complete your hunter education requirement, and which one applies to you comes down to residency and age.
- If you're a Mississippi resident 12 or older, you can complete the entire requirement through the online course at ilearntohunt.
- If you're a resident 10-11, or a nonresident of any age, Mississippi requires the in-person Classroom Course instead; the online path isn't available to you.
Note: Unlike several neighboring states, Mississippi's online path doesn't require any in-person follow-up. Pass the exam, and you're done.
Use the table below as a quick reference for where to register for each option.
Where to Find the Mississippi Hunter Safety Course | ||
Format | Register/Access | Notes |
Online (residents 12+) | ilearntohunt Mississippi course | Residents only. Self-paced, under 3 hours. No field day required. |
| Classroom Course (residents 10-11, and all nonresidents) | MDWFP staff and volunteer instructors | 10 hours in-person instruction. Free of charge. |
Most states, including Mississippi, now let at least some new hunters take the course online for their full certification. If you want to know exactly what to expect before you register, see how long it takes first.
Who Needs to Take the Mississippi Hunter Safety Course?
Mississippi requires hunter education for anyone born on or after January 1, 1972, before they can buy a hunting license. Hunters born before that date are grandfathered in and don't need certification at all.
The minimum age for the online course is 12, and it's limited to residents. Residents 10 and 11 can still get certified, just through the Classroom Course instead.
What about kids?
- A child between 12 and 16 can hunt without a certificate if directly supervised by a licensed or exempt Mississippi resident hunter at least 21 years old.
- A child under 12 always needs that same direct supervision, certificate or not.
- Residents 16 and older who haven't finished hunter education yet can also look into Mississippi's one-time Apprentice Sportsman License, which allows hunting under a licensed adult's supervision without certification first.
For the full breakdown of timing, read more about the Mississippi course duration. Once you're certified, check the MDWFP hunting seasons page before you head out.
How to Take Your Mississippi Hunter Safety Course
Getting certified in Mississippi is simpler than in most states, since eligible residents complete the entire process online with no in-person step required.
- Visit the ilearntohunt Mississippi course page and confirm you meet the residency and age requirements before you start.
- Complete the self-paced online modules and pass the final exam with a score of at least 70%.
- Print your Hunter Education Completion Card right away; it serves as your permanent certificate, with nothing further required.
Because there's no Field Day or classroom session to schedule for eligible residents, you won't run into the spot-availability crunch some other states face. Even so, start your certification well ahead of the fall hunting season (or the season you plan to hunt), so your certificate and license are ready before opening day gets busy.
Can You Hunt in Mississippi Before You're Certified?
Yes, within limits.
Hunters 12 to 15 can hunt without a certificate if directly supervised by a licensed adult 21 or older, and residents 16 and up can use a one-time Apprentice Sportsman License instead. Neither option replaces hunter education permanently, so you'll still need to complete the course to hunt unsupervised going forward.
How Much Does the Mississippi Hunter Safety Course Cost?
Costs stay simple for most residents, since there's no separate field day fee stacked on top of the online course.
Costs: Mississippi Hunter Safety Course | |
Course | Cost |
| ilearntohunt online course | $49.95 |
| Classroom Course | Free |
| Duplicate Hunter Education Card (if needed) | $3.00 |
The online course fee covers your printed Hunter Education Completion Card. Mississippi doesn't stack a separate field day or self-certification fee on top the way some other states do.
Start Your Mississippi Hunter Safety Course Online Today
Getting certified in Mississippi is quick for eligible residents: one online course, one exam, and you're ready to hunt.
Get started online today. If you're not eligible for the online path, register for MDWFP's Classroom Course instead.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can I take the Mississippi hunter safety course online?
A: Yes, you can take the Mississippi hunter safety course online if you're a Mississippi resident age 12 or older. Residents 10-11 and all nonresidents must complete MDWFP's in-person Classroom Course instead.
Q: Do I need to attend an in-person class for the Mississippi hunter safety course?
A: No, you don't need to attend an in-person class for Mississippi hunter safety certification if you qualify for the online path. Mississippi residents 12 and older who complete the ilearntohunt course are certified as soon as they pass the exam, with no field day or classroom visit afterward.
Q: How old do you have to be to take the Mississippi hunter safety course online?
A: You must be a Mississippi resident at least 12 years old to take the MS hunter safety course online. Residents 10 and 11 can still get certified, but only through the in-person Classroom Course.
Q: Do you have to be a Mississippi resident to take the course online?
A: Yes, Mississippi's online hunter education course is limited to residents. Nonresidents of any age must complete the in-person Classroom Course to get certified, regardless of how long they've hunted elsewhere.
Q: What is the Mississippi Apprentice Sportsman License?
A: The Missippi Apprentice Sportsman License is a one-time license letting a resident 16 or older hunt under a licensed adult's supervision without completing hunter education first. Note that it doesn't replace the certification requirement for future hunts.
Q: How much does the Mississippi ilearntohunt course cost?
A: The ilearntohunt online course costs $49.95. Mississippi doesn't require a field day for eligible online students, so there's no additional certification fee on top of that.
