California Hunter Education Practice Test 2026: Practice test 5

1. Question 1 of 25

   Why can deer hunters wear blaze orange?

   • ADeer see colors differently, so orange does not stand out to them as it does to us
   • BDeer are completely color-blind, so they cannot see any bright colors at all in daylight
   • CDeer are attracted to orange
   • DOrange is only worn after shooting
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Deer see colors differently, so orange does not stand out to them as it does to us

   Hunter orange is very visible to people. Movement and scent are more likely to alert deer.

2. Question 2 of 25

   Which animal position offers the best shot at the vitals?

   • AFacing toward you at long range
   • BFacing straight away
   • CRunning
   • DBroadside or quartering away
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Broadside or quartering away

   These angles give the clearest path to the heart and lungs.

3. Question 3 of 25

   Why is shooting from a road or vehicle a poor choice?

   • AIt gives the best backstop
   • BIt is the safest way to hunt
   • CIt is unsafe, unfair to the animal, and illegal in many states
   • DIt is required on public land so hunters do not damage the habitat
   Show answer

   Answer: C. It is unsafe, unfair to the animal, and illegal in many states

   Roads are used by people, and shooting from them often breaks fair chase and the law.

4. Question 4 of 25

   You fall into cold water. What should you do first?

   • ATake off your life jacket so you can swim faster to the shore
   • BSwim hard to shore right away
   • CKeep your head above water and get your breathing under control
   • DShout until you are tired
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Keep your head above water and get your breathing under control

   Cold shock causes gasping for about the first minute. Control your breathing, then act.

5. Question 5 of 25

   Why is "sky busting" (shooting at ducks or geese that are too far away) a bad practice?

   • AIt wounds birds that fly off and are never recovered
   • BIt uses too little ammunition
   • CIt is the best way to hunt geese, so it is not a bad practice
   • DIt is only bad on windy days
   Show answer

   Answer: A. It wounds birds that fly off and are never recovered

   Shoot only at birds within your effective range so you can kill cleanly and retrieve them.

6. Question 6 of 25

   Where should you aim for a quick, clean kill on big game?

   • AThe hindquarters
   • BThe neck
   • CThe heart-lung area
   • DThe head
   Show answer

   Answer: C. The heart-lung area

   The vital area is the largest target that kills quickly and wastes the least meat.

7. Question 7 of 25

   In the TAB-K rules, what does the "K" stand for?

   • AKeep your finger outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot
   • BKneel before every shot
   • CKnow the season dates
   • DKeep the gun loaded in the truck so you are ready the moment you see game
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot

   Resting a finger on the trigger while walking can cause an unintended shot.

8. Question 8 of 25

   What is hypothermia?

   • ADehydration
   • BA high fever
   • CA dangerous drop in body core temperature
   • DA bad sunburn
   Show answer

   Answer: C. A dangerous drop in body core temperature

   Wind, wet clothes and cold water pull heat from the body fast.

9. Question 9 of 25

   What is the difference between antlers and true horns?

   • AAntlers are shed every year; true horns usually grow for life
   • BHorns are shed every spring
   • CThere is no difference
   • DAntlers are made of keratin, like fingernails, and are never shed
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Antlers are shed every year; true horns usually grow for life

   Deer, elk and moose grow antlers. Bison, sheep and goats grow horns.

10. Question 10 of 25

    What happened to the passenger pigeon?

    • AIt moved to Europe
    • BIt became common in cities
    • CIt became extinct, largely from unregulated market hunting and habitat loss
    • DIt nearly died out but was restored by hunters and is common again in eastern forests
    Show answer

    Answer: C. It became extinct, largely from unregulated market hunting and habitat loss

    The last known passenger pigeon died in 1914. Its loss helped build support for wildlife laws.

11. Question 11 of 25

    How should you get your gun or bow into a tree stand?

    • AHave someone toss it up
    • BCarry it loaded in one hand
    • CPull it up unloaded with a haul line after you are secure
    • DCarry it on your back while you climb so your hands are free
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Pull it up unloaded with a haul line after you are secure

    Climb with both hands free, then raise unloaded firearms and bows with a haul line.

12. Question 12 of 25

    Which direction is a "safe direction" to point a firearm?

    • AAlways straight up, since bullets fired into the air cannot come back down with force
    • BToward your hunting partner's feet
    • CAlways at your feet
    • DOne where an accidental shot could not injure anyone or damage property
    Show answer

    Answer: D. One where an accidental shot could not injure anyone or damage property

    What is safe depends on the situation. Think about people, buildings and hard surfaces.

13. Question 13 of 25

    Since 1934, what federal stamp must waterfowl hunters age 16 and older buy?

    • AA federal fishing stamp
    • BThe Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Duck Stamp)
    • CA national park pass
    • DA federal deer and turkey stamp
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Duck Stamp)

    Duck Stamp money buys and protects wetland habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System.

14. Question 14 of 25

    Why should you never shoot at water or a flat, hard surface?

    • AThe noise carries much farther and scares away all game
    • BThe bullet or pellets can ricochet in a new direction
    • CIt is only a problem with rifles
    • DIt will damage your scope
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The bullet or pellets can ricochet in a new direction

    Water, rocks and pavement can make projectiles bounce toward people.

15. Question 15 of 25

    How do white-tailed deer antlers usually grow?

    • AThey fork, and each fork forks again
    • BThey grow straight back from the head with no points
    • CPoints grow up from one main beam on each side
    • DThey are flat and wide like a shovel
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Points grow up from one main beam on each side

    Mule deer antlers fork into branches. White-tailed deer points rise from a main beam.

16. Question 16 of 25

    What is the safest way to store firearms at home?

    • AUnloaded and locked, with ammunition stored separately
    • BLoaded in a closet
    • CUnloaded on an open rack, with the ammunition on the shelf beside it
    • DLoaded under the bed for quick use
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Unloaded and locked, with ammunition stored separately

    Locked, unloaded storage keeps firearms away from children and unauthorized people.

17. Question 17 of 25

    A hunter enjoys the whole experience, shares it and helps teach others. Which stage is this?

    • ALimiting-out stage
    • BSportsman stage
    • CTrophy stage
    • DShooter stage
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Sportsman stage

    The sportsman stage values the full outdoor experience and passing on skills.

18. Question 18 of 25

    After unloading, how should a lone hunter get a firearm across a fence?

    • ALean it against the fence with the safety on, then climb over right beside it
    • BLay it on the far side, muzzle pointing away, and cross away from the muzzle
    • CThrow it over
    • DHold it overhead as you climb
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Lay it on the far side, muzzle pointing away, and cross away from the muzzle

    The firearm lies on the far side pointing away, so you are never in front of the muzzle while crossing.

19. Question 19 of 25

    Who sets the standards that hunter education courses across North America are built on?

    • AEach hunting store
    • BThe National Park Service
    • CThe Federal Aviation Administration
    • DThe International Hunter Education Association (IHEA)
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The International Hunter Education Association (IHEA)

    State and provincial courses are developed to standards set with IHEA-USA and IHEA-Canada.

20. Question 20 of 25

    How should you help someone with mild hypothermia?

    • AGet them out of the wind and wet and put dry layers on them
    • BHave them sit in the wind
    • CGive them alcohol to warm them up
    • DRub their arms and legs hard to get the blood moving again
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Get them out of the wind and wet and put dry layers on them

    Warm them gently, never give alcohol, and get medical help for serious cases.

21. Question 21 of 25

    How should you carry a harvested wild turkey out of the woods?

    • AOver your shoulder in full view
    • BWrapped in blaze orange so it is not mistaken for a live bird
    • CHeld up high so other hunters can clearly see its beard and fan
    • DHidden in camouflage
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Wrapped in blaze orange so it is not mistaken for a live bird

    Covering the bird keeps other hunters from seeing turkey colors moving through the woods.

22. Question 22 of 25

    When do many tree stand falls happen?

    • AWhile climbing up or down, or getting into or out of the stand
    • BOnly after dark
    • COnly on ladder stands that are more than 20 years old and rusty
    • DOnly while sleeping in the stand
    Show answer

    Answer: A. While climbing up or down, or getting into or out of the stand

    Moving between the ladder or steps and the platform is a risky time, so stay connected the whole way.

23. Question 23 of 25

    How should firearms be carried in a vehicle?

    • ALoaded on the seat
    • BWith a round in the chamber
    • CLoaded with the safety on
    • DUnloaded, and in a case
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Unloaded, and in a case

    Many states ban loaded firearms in vehicles. Pennsylvania, for example, bans a loaded firearm in, on or against any motor vehicle.

24. Question 24 of 25

    Why should you never dry-fire a bow or crossbow?

    • AIt only affects the sight
    • BIt makes the bow quieter and much less accurate
    • CIt wastes arrows
    • DIt can damage the bow and injure the shooter
    Show answer

    Answer: D. It can damage the bow and injure the shooter

    Without an arrow to absorb the energy, the bow can break.

25. Question 25 of 25

    What should you do before you climb a steep bank, jump a ditch or get into a boat?

    • APut the safety on and keep it loaded
    • BUnload your firearm
    • CHold the barrel for balance
    • DPut your finger on the trigger
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Unload your firearm

    Unload whenever there is a chance you could slip or fall.

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