Alaska Hunter Education Study Guide 2026

Who needs hunter education in Alaska

Alaska does not require hunter education everywhere. The rule depends on where you hunt, how old you are and what kind of hunt you are in. The key birth date is January 1, 1986.

The five units

If you are 18 or older and were born after January 1, 1986, you must complete Basic Hunter Education before you hunt in Game Management Units 7, 13, 14, 15 and 20.

Hunters under 18

A hunter under 18 in those units has two choices. They can complete the course, or they can hunt under the direct, immediate supervision of a licensed hunter who is 18 or older and who has either completed the course or was born on or before January 1, 1986.

Other places and hunts

• Some special areas also require certification, such as the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge and parts of the Eagle River, Palmer/Wasilla and Eklutna Lake management areas, depending on the species or weapon.
• In the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge, uncertified hunters under 10 may hunt under direct adult supervision.
• Youth Hunts: every youth hunter taking part must be certified.
• Weapons-restricted hunts: you need the course for the weapon you will use, and some of these hunts also require basic hunter education.

Part 1: the online course

Basic Hunter Education in Alaska has two parts. The first part is an online course that takes about 6 to 8 hours. It ends with a written test. You pay for the course online.

When you pay for and pass the online course, ADF&G emails you a Field Day Qualifier Certificate. It has a Qualifier Number. After a wait of about 1 to 3 days, you can use that number to sign up for a Field Day.

Who the course is for

ADF&G does not set a minimum age. The course is designed for students 10 and up, and younger children may find it hard to pass. Parents are encouraged to come to the Field Day with students who are 12 and under.

Do not wait too long

You must finish the Field Day within one year of completing the online part. If you miss that window, you must repeat the entire course, online part included.

Part 2: the Field Day

The Field Day lasts about 4 to 5 hours. It is where you show that you can handle a firearm safely, not just answer questions about it.

What happens at the Field Day

1. A review of safety rules and Alaska hunting regulations.
2. Firearms handling practice with non-functioning firearms.
3. A field course.
4. A live-fire proficiency shoot.

ADF&G provides the firearms, ammunition and targets. You may not bring your own firearm.

The shooting test

First you fire 15 practice shots: five standing, five kneeling and five sitting. Then you fire a certification shoot of five rounds from one position, with no rests. To pass, 4 of the 5 shots must land inside a circle. The size of the circle depends on the firearm and distance used:

Students with disabilities do not have to sit, kneel or lie prone.

Your card

When you finish all steps, your Hunter Education Certification Card is mailed to you. The certification is for life, and ADF&G says it is recognized by all states, Canadian provinces and Mexico.

Bowhunter and other weapon courses

Alaska also runs bowhunter, crossbow and muzzleloader education. These are separate courses. Basic hunter education does not count for them, and they do not count for basic hunter education.

Who needs bowhunter education

• Hunters born on or after January 1, 1986, who hunt big game with archery equipment. They must carry the card in the field.
• Everyone in an archery-only big game hunt, whatever their birth date.

Alaska accepts bowhunter cards from other states' and provinces' NBEF or IBEP courses. A bowhunting license or age exemption from another state does not count.

How the bowhunter course works

Like the basic course, it has an online part and a Field Day. You need 80% to pass the online part. The qualifier is valid for 365 days. At the Field Day you review safety and regulations, do a blood trailing exercise and take a shooting proficiency test.

For the shooting test you bring your own bow. You shoot eight arrows at four 3-D animal targets from standing and kneeling positions, at 10 to 30 yards, with field tips only (no broadheads). To pass, five of eight arrows must hit the vitals, with at least one vital hit on each target and a double kill shot on one.

Study tips and safety basics

The written test covers the topics taught in hunter education across North America. The US-wide practice sets on this page cover them in depth. Focus on these areas:

• Safe firearm handling: treat every firearm as loaded, control the muzzle, keep your finger off the trigger until ready, and be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
• Field carries and crossing obstacles: unload before crossing fences, ditches or getting into a boat.
• Hunter ethics: fair chase, respect for landowners and a quick, clean kill.
• Wildlife management and conservation: why seasons and bag limits exist and how hunters fund conservation.
• Survival and first aid: Alaska weather can turn quickly. Tell someone your plan, carry survival gear, and know the signs of hypothermia.