Two Kansas hunter education classes are scheduled for Iola in March. The hunter education classes are sponsored by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and taught by volunteer instructors.
“Over the past year I have had several people who were interested in becoming a hunter education instructor,” said Ben Womelsdorf, KDWP National Resource Officer.
“Some of them were instructors in the past and let their certification expire or maybe became too busy to instruct anymore but are interested in getting back to it.”
Womelsdorf said some of the procedures of becoming a hunter education instructor have recently been simplified to encourage individuals to become involve.
Applicants will need to submit an application and take an online precertification test. A background check will be completed.
If the person successfully meets the criteria they will then become an assistant instructor for hunter education. They can then teach segments of classes organized by an instructor. An assistant instructor cannot organize a class, but can teach in classes.
“If the individual becomes an assistant instructor and decides they want to become an instructor, the steps for making the transition are currently being simplified also,” Womelsdorf said. “The pride and devotion encompassed by our hunter education instructors is immeasurable.”
There are opportunities to become an area coordinator and master instructor. Instructors do not receive wages. They can teach as many or as few classes as they wanted and certification lasts three years.
During the three-year period, an instructor needs to teach at least one class and attend a hunter education workshop or pass the recertification test to be recertified for another three years.
“Instructors have the satisfaction that the class full of 11-year-old students they just taught might make it through life without experiencing a hunting incident,” Womelsdorf said. “What better thing can you devote time to?”
Womelsdorf said anyone interested in becoming an instructor may contact him at 620-365-7122 and he will help as much as he can to make the application process as easy as possible. He said leave a message if there is not answer and he will return the call.
On March 18-19, a hunter education class is scheduled at the Allen County Courthouse in Iola. It is a two-day class and participants much attend boy days. On March 18, the class is from 5:30 to 9 p.m. and on March 19, the class runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m. Participants should bring a lunch or make arrangements.
On March 25 and 26, the times are the same for both days including the lunch break. The courthouse assembly room is downstairs, enter in the west doors of the building.
Pre-registration is mandatory so call 620-431-0380 to enroll.
The classes are free, and if born after July 1, 1957 is required before purchasing a hunting license. Youth 12-years of age and older wishing to hunt alone must have successfully taken hunter education. You must be at least 11-years-old to be certified. Kansas honors hunter education classes passed in other states.
Hunter ed instructor certification easy
