California Hunter Education Practice Test 2026: Practice test 3

1. Question 1 of 25

   When turkey hunting, what kind of spot should you sit against?

   • AOpen ground with nothing behind you, so you can see all around
   • BA small sapling
   • CThe edge of a road
   • DA tree or stump wider than your shoulders
   Show answer

   Answer: D. A tree or stump wider than your shoulders

   A wide backstop helps protect you from a hunter shooting from behind and hides your outline.

2. Question 2 of 25

   Why should waterfowl hunters learn to tell drakes from hens?

   • AIt only matters for geese, since all ducks have exactly the same limits
   • BDrakes are only legal in spring
   • CSome bag limits are different for males and females of the same species
   • DHens cannot be legally hunted anywhere
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Some bag limits are different for males and females of the same species

   Learning plumage and flight patterns helps you follow species and sex limits.

3. Question 3 of 25

   Which species is a well-known conservation success story, restored with help from hunter-funded programs?

   • ACarolina parakeet
   • BGreat auk
   • CPassenger pigeon
   • DWild turkey
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Wild turkey

   Wild turkeys were restored to most of their former range through trapping, moving birds and habitat work.

4. Question 4 of 25

   How should you approach big game that appears to be dead?

   • AFrom behind and slightly uphill, watching for movement, ready for a follow-up shot
   • BQuickly, without your gun
   • CFrom the front, near the antlers, so you can look closely at its eyes and nose
   • DBy poking it with your foot from the front
   Show answer

   Answer: A. From behind and slightly uphill, watching for movement, ready for a follow-up shot

   A wounded animal can suddenly get up. Approach carefully and watch the eyes and chest.

5. Question 5 of 25

   If you get lost, what does "STOP" stand for?

   • AStop, Think, Observe, Plan
   • BShout, Turn, Off-trail, Panic
   • CStart, Turn, Open, Proceed
   • DSearch, Travel, Orient, Push on
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Stop, Think, Observe, Plan

   Staying calm and making a plan is the first survival step.

6. Question 6 of 25

   Which state started the first mandatory hunter education program, in 1949?

   • ACalifornia
   • BFlorida
   • CNew York
   • DTexas
   Show answer

   Answer: C. New York

   Today every state offers hunter education, and most require it for new hunters.

7. Question 7 of 25

   What is true about a firearm's mechanical safety?

   • AIt only works on rifles
   • BIt can fail, so it never replaces safe muzzle control
   • CIt also unloads the gun
   • DIt makes the gun completely impossible to fire by accident
   Show answer

   Answer: B. It can fail, so it never replaces safe muzzle control

   Safeties are mechanical and can wear out or break. Always control the muzzle.

8. Question 8 of 25

   Why should you avoid long-range or running shots at big game?

   • AThey are always illegal
   • BThey are more likely to wound the animal than kill it quickly
   • CThey damage your gun
   • DThey are only a problem for bowhunters, not for hunters with rifles
   Show answer

   Answer: B. They are more likely to wound the animal than kill it quickly

   Take only shots you are confident will hit the vital area.

9. Question 9 of 25

   What does "fair chase" mean?

   • AHunting without an unfair or improper advantage over the animal
   • BChasing game with a vehicle until it gets too tired to run any farther
   • CGiving the animal a head start
   • DShooting only running animals
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Hunting without an unfair or improper advantage over the animal

   Fair chase shows respect for the animal and for hunting.

10. Question 10 of 25

    A rabbit runs from hunter 2's zone into hunter 1's zone. What should hunter 2 do?

    • AStop and not shoot outside their own zone
    • BStep in front of hunter 1
    • CShout a warning to hunter 1 and then shoot quickly
    • DSwing with the rabbit and shoot
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Stop and not shoot outside their own zone

    Swinging the muzzle into a partner's zone is a common cause of hunting incidents.

11. Question 11 of 25

    Why should you field dress big game quickly?

    • ATo take better photos
    • BTo attract other deer
    • CBecause the law requires it within one minute
    • DTo cool the meat fast and prevent spoilage
    Show answer

    Answer: D. To cool the meat fast and prevent spoilage

    Body heat and bacteria spoil meat. Remove the organs and let it cool.

12. Question 12 of 25

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

    • ABlend in with camouflage from head to toe
    • BBe certain of your target and what is in front of and beyond it
    • CBring extra ammunition on every trip
    • DBuy a new license before each trip into the field, even if your old one is valid
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Be certain of your target and what is in front of and beyond it

    You are responsible for every shot, including where it goes if it misses or passes through.

13. Question 13 of 25

    What is biological surplus?

    • ALeftover meat that hunters give away to their friends and neighbors after the season
    • BExtra animals produced each year that the habitat cannot support through winter
    • CAnimals kept on game farms
    • DAnimals in zoos
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Extra animals produced each year that the habitat cannot support through winter

    Regulated hunting can take part of this surplus that would otherwise be lost.

14. Question 14 of 25

    Almost all hunting incidents involve what?

    • AAn attack by a wounded animal
    • BA broken firearm that fires on its own without anyone touching the trigger
    • CBreaking one or more of the basic TAB-K safety rules
    • DBad weather and poor visibility
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Breaking one or more of the basic TAB-K safety rules

    Wisconsin DNR notes that virtually all hunting incidents involve a violation of at least one TAB-K rule.

15. Question 15 of 25

    What should you do right after shooting at a deer?

    • AShoot again into the brush where it went, to make sure it stays down for good
    • BChase it right away so it cannot get far
    • CWatch where it goes, mark where it stood, and wait quietly before tracking
    • DLeave if it did not fall
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Watch where it goes, mark where it stood, and wait quietly before tracking

    Waiting lets a hit animal lie down nearby, and marking the spot helps you find the trail.

16. Question 16 of 25

    What is a common distress signal?

    • AThree of anything, such as three whistle blasts or three fires
    • BWaving a hat once
    • CTwo short flashes of light
    • DOne long shout
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Three of anything, such as three whistle blasts or three fires

    Signals in threes are recognized as a call for help.

17. Question 17 of 25

    A partner has a deep cut that is bleeding heavily. What should you do first?

    • AGive them water and wait for it to stop on its own
    • BSend them to walk out alone
    • CRinse it and leave it open
    • DPress firmly on the wound and call for help
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Press firmly on the wound and call for help

    Firm, direct pressure is the first step to stop severe bleeding.

18. Question 18 of 25

    Which is an early sign of hypothermia?

    • AExtreme thirst
    • BUncontrolled shivering and clumsy hands
    • CItchy skin
    • DA red, sweaty face
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Uncontrolled shivering and clumsy hands

    As it gets worse, a person may stumble, slur words and become confused.

19. Question 19 of 25

    You see movement and hear a noise in the brush. What should you do?

    • AFire a warning shot
    • BWait until you can clearly see and identify the animal
    • CFire at the sound, since deer are the only animals there
    • DShoot quickly before it leaves
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Wait until you can clearly see and identify the animal

    Never shoot at sound, movement or color. Hunters are sometimes mistaken for game.

20. Question 20 of 25

    Why should heaters never be used in a closed blind or tent without ventilation?

    • AThey can produce deadly carbon monoxide
    • BThey scare game
    • CThey use up too much fuel too fast
    • DThey melt the blind
    Show answer

    Answer: A. They can produce deadly carbon monoxide

    Carbon monoxide has no color or smell.

21. Question 21 of 25

    You are lost in cold, wet weather as night falls. What is usually your first priority?

    • AWalking out in the dark
    • BShelter to stay warm and dry
    • CClimbing a tall tree
    • DFinding food to keep up your energy
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Shelter to stay warm and dry

    You can survive days without food but only hours without protection from cold and wet.

22. Question 22 of 25

    What should you check before using a tree stand?

    • AThe stand, straps and harness for wear, and the tree for damage or weakness
    • BOnly the color of the stand
    • COnly the seat padding
    • DNothing, as long as it worked last year and has stayed on the same tree since then
    Show answer

    Answer: A. The stand, straps and harness for wear, and the tree for damage or weakness

    Make sure the tree can hold both the stand and you.

23. Question 23 of 25

    Which ammunition should you use?

    • AWhatever is cheapest
    • BAny shell that fits in the chamber and lets the action close
    • CAny shell of a similar length
    • DOnly ammunition that matches the data stamp on the barrel
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Only ammunition that matches the data stamp on the barrel

    The barrel is stamped with its gauge or caliber. The wrong ammunition can cause a dangerous failure.

24. Question 24 of 25

    When should you NOT use the shoulder carry, which points the muzzle up and behind you?

    • AWhen someone is beside you
    • BWhen you are at the back of the group
    • CWhen walking alone
    • DWhen someone is walking behind you
    Show answer

    Answer: D. When someone is walking behind you

    Choose a carry that keeps the muzzle away from everyone around you.

25. Question 25 of 25

    What must migratory bird hunters register with in each state where they hunt?

    • AThe state driver's license office
    • BA national gun registry
    • CA local hunting club
    • DThe Harvest Information Program (HIP)
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The Harvest Information Program (HIP)

    HIP gives biologists the contact list they need to survey migratory bird harvest.

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