California Hunter Education Practice Test 2026: Practice test 2

1. Question 1 of 25

   You hit an animal but it runs off. What is your responsibility?

   • AMake every reasonable effort to find it and finish it quickly
   • BAssume it will recover, since most wounded animals heal on their own
   • CShoot another one instead
   • DLook for a few minutes, then give up
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Make every reasonable effort to find it and finish it quickly

   Following up on every hit is a basic part of ethical hunting.

2. Question 2 of 25

   About how far can a .22 Long Rifle bullet travel?

   • ALess than a quarter mile
   • BAbout 50 yards
   • CMore than a mile
   • DAbout 100 yards
   Show answer

   Answer: C. More than a mile

   Even small rifle bullets can travel a long way, so you must know what is far beyond your target.

3. Question 3 of 25

   How should the tree strap and tether be set?

   • AAt knee height
   • BTied to the platform
   • CAbove head height with little slack
   • DLoose, so you can lean out to shoot
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Above head height with little slack

   A short tether above your head keeps any fall short so you can get back on the stand.

4. Question 4 of 25

   How does a broadhead kill game?

   • ABy cutting blood vessels and organs, causing fast blood loss
   • BBy breaking the large bones of the legs and the shoulders
   • CBy poison
   • DBy shock
   Show answer

   Answer: A. By cutting blood vessels and organs, causing fast blood loss

   Arrows kill by bleeding, so they must hit the vital area.

5. Question 5 of 25

   When should you nock an arrow?

   • AWhen you leave your vehicle
   • BWhile climbing a tree stand, to save time later when game appears
   • COnly when you are ready to shoot at an identified target
   • DWhile walking through brush
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Only when you are ready to shoot at an identified target

   A nocked arrow can be released by accident.

6. Question 6 of 25

   You are hanging in your harness after a fall. Why must you act quickly?

   • AYou will scare deer away from the area for the rest of the hunting season
   • BIt is not urgent
   • CHanging still can cut off blood flow to the legs and become life-threatening
   • DThe harness will tear in a few seconds
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Hanging still can cut off blood flow to the legs and become life-threatening

   Use a suspension relief strap to stand and move your legs, and call for help.

7. Question 7 of 25

   Look at the diagram. Which hunter is easiest for other hunters to see?

   • ABoth are equally easy to see
   • BThe hunter in the blaze-orange hat and vest (1 and 2)
   • CNeither can be seen
   • DHunter 3, because camouflage stands out well against trees
   Show answer

   Answer: B. The hunter in the blaze-orange hat and vest (1 and 2)

   Blaze orange stands out against woods and fields, so other hunters can see you.

8. Question 8 of 25

   How do hunters pay for wildlife conservation in the US?

   • AThey do not pay anything
   • BOnly through donations to private clubs and national hunting organizations
   • COnly through federal income tax
   • DThrough license fees and excise taxes on guns, ammunition and archery gear
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Through license fees and excise taxes on guns, ammunition and archery gear

   This "user pays" system funds state wildlife agencies and benefits all wildlife.

9. Question 9 of 25

   How should frostbitten skin be treated?

   • ARewarm it gently and do not rub it
   • BRub it hard
   • CHold it over a fire
   • DRub it with snow
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Rewarm it gently and do not rub it

   Rubbing damages frozen tissue. Do not rewarm if it might freeze again.

10. Question 10 of 25

    On a hot early-season hunt, a partner is sweating heavily, dizzy and weak. What should you do?

    • AMake them keep walking
    • BMove them to shade, cool them, and have them rest and sip water
    • CCover them with a heavy coat
    • DGive them an energy drink and leave them to rest alone in the sun
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Move them to shade, cool them, and have them rest and sip water

    These are signs of heat exhaustion. If the person becomes confused or stops sweating, call 911.

11. Question 11 of 25

    Which US president, a hunter and conservationist, set aside large areas of public land and wildlife refuges?

    • AGeorge Washington
    • BTheodore Roosevelt
    • CAbraham Lincoln
    • DJohn Adams
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Theodore Roosevelt

    Roosevelt also helped found the Boone and Crockett Club in 1887.

12. Question 12 of 25

    A hunter is selective and judges success by the size of the animal. Which stage is this?

    • ASportsman stage
    • BTrophy stage
    • CShooter stage
    • DLimiting-out stage
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Trophy stage

    In the trophy stage, quality matters more than quantity.

13. Question 13 of 25

    When climbing to a tree stand, how many points of contact should you keep?

    • ANone, as long as you climb quickly and keep your eyes on the platform
    • BTwo
    • CThree: two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand
    • DOne
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Three: two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand

    Three points of contact keep you steady if one hand or foot slips.

14. Question 14 of 25

    Who is often called the father of wildlife management?

    • ADaniel Boone
    • BJohn James Audubon
    • CTheodore Roosevelt
    • DAldo Leopold
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Aldo Leopold

    Leopold wrote the textbook Game Management in 1933.

15. Question 15 of 25

    Before hunting on private land, what should you do?

    • APark out of sight
    • BNothing, as long as there are no signs posted
    • CGet the landowner's permission, ideally in writing
    • DAsk a neighbor
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Get the landowner's permission, ideally in writing

    Getting permission builds good relationships and is required by law in many places.

16. Question 16 of 25

    Why is cotton a poor choice in cold, wet weather?

    • AIt is too warm
    • BIt soaks up water and loses its insulation when wet
    • CIt is too bright
    • DIt is banned for hunting clothing in most states
    Show answer

    Answer: B. It soaks up water and loses its insulation when wet

    Wool and synthetics keep more warmth when damp.

17. Question 17 of 25

    How can hunters help slow chronic wasting disease (CWD)?

    • AMove whole carcasses across the state to share the meat with family
    • BFeed deer in groups during the winter
    • CIgnore sick deer
    • DFollow carcass movement rules and have deer tested when asked
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Follow carcass movement rules and have deer tested when asked

    CWD is a fatal disease of deer, elk and moose.

18. Question 18 of 25

    Besides blaze orange, which bright color do some states, such as Wisconsin, now allow for hunter safety clothing?

    • ADark green
    • BBright red
    • CFluorescent pink
    • DSky blue
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Fluorescent pink

    Wisconsin allows blaze orange or fluorescent pink during firearm seasons.

19. Question 19 of 25

    What should duck hunters wear in a boat?

    • AHeavy waders only
    • BNothing extra
    • CA life jacket only if they cannot swim
    • DA life jacket (PFD) at all times
    Show answer

    Answer: D. A life jacket (PFD) at all times

    A fall overboard into cold water can quickly become deadly, and a life jacket only helps if you are wearing it.

20. Question 20 of 25

    What is carrying capacity?

    • AThe amount of gear in a truck
    • BThe weight a hunter can safely carry out of the woods
    • CThe number of hunters allowed
    • DThe number of animals a habitat can support over time
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The number of animals a habitat can support over time

    When animals exceed carrying capacity, habitat is damaged and animals suffer.

21. Question 21 of 25

    What did the Dingell-Hart amendments of 1970 and 1972 add?

    • AA ban on all handguns
    • BA federal hunting license required in every state for all hunters over 16
    • CA tax on hunting dogs
    • DExcise taxes on handguns and archery gear, partly for hunter education
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Excise taxes on handguns and archery gear, partly for hunter education

    These taxes help pay for hunter education programs and target ranges.

22. Question 22 of 25

    You pull the trigger and nothing happens. What should you do first?

    • ATurn to show your partner
    • BOpen the action right away and look inside the chamber to see what went wrong
    • CLook down the barrel
    • DKeep the muzzle in a safe direction and wait before opening the action
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Keep the muzzle in a safe direction and wait before opening the action

    A cartridge may fire late (a hang fire). Wait with the muzzle pointed safely, then unload carefully.

23. Question 23 of 25

    Do states accept hunter education certificates from other states?

    • AOnly if you live there
    • BNo, you must retake the full course in every state where you plan to hunt
    • COnly for bowhunting
    • DGenerally yes; most states accept another state's approved course
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Generally yes; most states accept another state's approved course

    Michigan and Missouri, for example, accept approved hunter education certificates from other states.

24. Question 24 of 25

    Three hunters walk side by side, numbered 1, 2 and 3 from left to right. Where may hunter 1 shoot?

    • AStraight ahead and to the right
    • BBehind the line
    • COnly into the zone ahead and to the left
    • DAnywhere game appears, as long as it is safe
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Only into the zone ahead and to the left

    Each hunter has a zone of fire that does not overlap the others. Hunter 1 covers ahead and to the left.

25. Question 25 of 25

    What nearly happened to the American bison by the late 1800s?

    • AIt was almost wiped out by unregulated killing
    • BIt became a farm animal only
    • CIt spread across the whole continent, from coast to coast
    • DNothing changed
    Show answer

    Answer: A. It was almost wiped out by unregulated killing

    Bison numbers fell from millions to very few. Protection helped them recover.

Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.