Hunter Education Practice Test (US) 2026
Every state runs its own hunter education course, but the courses share common standards, so the same safety, ethics and conservation topics appear on exams across the country. These practice sets cover those shared topics. For state rules such as birth-date requirements, pick your state's test.
En bref
Pour réussir : Set by each state (for example, 80% in Michigan and Missouri). Organisé par : Each state wildlife agency; courses are built to standards set with the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA). Entraînez-vous ici gratuitement avec 120 questions, chacune avec la réponse et une explication. Vérifié à partir des sources officielles le 10 octobre 2026.
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Question 1 sur 25
Voir la réponse
Réponse: A. Treat every firearm as if it is loaded
The first rule is to treat every firearm as loaded, even if you think it is empty.
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Question 2 sur 25
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Réponse: D. Always point the muzzle in a safe direction
Muzzle control is the most important habit. If a gun fires by accident, nobody gets hurt.
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Question 3 sur 25
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Réponse: 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.
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Question 4 sur 25
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Réponse: 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.
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Question 5 sur 25
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Réponse: 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.
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Question 6 sur 25
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Réponse: B. Point it in a safe direction and check the chamber and magazine yourself
Never take anyone's word that a gun is unloaded. Check it yourself with the muzzle pointed safely.
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Question 7 sur 25
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Réponse: 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.
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Question 8 sur 25
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Réponse: B. It can fail, so it never replaces safe muzzle control
Safeties are mechanical and can wear out or break. Always control the muzzle.
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Question 9 sur 25
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Réponse: B. Wait until you can clearly see and identify the animal
Never shoot at sound, movement or color. Hunters are sometimes mistaken for game.
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Question 10 sur 25
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Réponse: 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.
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Question 11 sur 25
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Réponse: D. A 20-gauge shell can lodge in the 12-gauge barrel, which can burst if fired
Carry only one type of ammunition, the one marked on your barrel.
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Question 12 sur 25
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Réponse: A. Unload and check that the barrel is clear
A blocked barrel can burst when fired. Always check the bore after a fall.
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Question 13 sur 25
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Réponse: 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.
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Question 14 sur 25
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Réponse: A. Do not use them before or during hunting or shooting
Alcohol and drugs slow reactions and hurt judgment.
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Question 15 sur 25
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Réponse: A. Unloaded and locked, with ammunition stored separately
Locked, unloaded storage keeps firearms away from children and unauthorized people.
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Question 16 sur 25
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Réponse: 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.
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Question 17 sur 25
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Réponse: B. Unloaded, with the action open and the muzzle pointed safely
An open action lets the other person see that the firearm cannot fire.
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Question 18 sur 25
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Réponse: B. The bullet or pellets can ricochet in a new direction
Water, rocks and pavement can make projectiles bounce toward people.
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Question 19 sur 25
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Réponse: C. More than a mile
Even small rifle bullets can travel a long way, so you must know what is far beyond your target.
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Question 20 sur 25
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Réponse: B. Unload your firearm
Unload whenever there is a chance you could slip or fall.
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Question 21 sur 25
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Réponse: 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.
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Question 22 sur 25
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Réponse: A. Stop and not shoot outside their own zone
Swinging the muzzle into a partner's zone is a common cause of hunting incidents.
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Question 23 sur 25
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Réponse: D. The two-hand (ready) carry
With both hands on the gun and the muzzle up and ahead, you have full control and can raise it quickly.
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Question 24 sur 25
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Réponse: D. When someone is walking behind you
Choose a carry that keeps the muzzle away from everyone around you.
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Question 25 sur 25
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Réponse: B. When someone is walking in front of you
In the trail carry, the muzzle points ahead, toward anyone in front.
Clavier : 1–4 pour répondre, Entrée pour la question suivante.
L’examen réel : Set by each state (for example, 80% in Michigan and Missouri)
À savoir avant l’examen
- Hunter education courses in North America are developed to standards set with IHEA-USA and IHEA-Canada.
- The TAB-K rules: Treat every firearm as loaded; Always point the muzzle in a safe direction; Be certain of your target and what is before and beyond it; Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot.
- The Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937 funds wildlife restoration with an excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition.
- Birth-date rules differ by state. For example, Texas requires hunter education for hunters born on or after Sept. 2, 1971.
- Exam formats differ too: New York's course ends with a 50-question final exam, and Missouri's skills session ends with a 35-question final.
- Michigan and Missouri both require 80% or better on the hunter education final exam.
Questions fréquentes
Is there one national hunter education test?
No. Each state runs its own course and exam, but they follow shared standards, so most topics are the same everywhere.
Quel est le seuil de réussite ?
It is set by each state. Michigan and Missouri, for example, require 80% or better. These practice tests use 80%.
Is my hunter education card good in other states?
Generally, yes. Most states accept an approved course from another state. Michigan and Missouri, for example, accept certificates from other states.
What topics are on a hunter education exam?
Firearm and bow safety, safe carries and zones of fire, tree stand safety, hunter orange, wildlife identification, ethics, conservation history, laws, survival and first aid.
What does TAB-K mean?
Treat every firearm as if it is loaded; Always point the muzzle in a safe direction; Be certain of your target and what is before and beyond it; Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot.
Sources
- Wisconsin DNR: This Hunting Season, Make Safety Your Top Target (TAB-K and tree stands)
- Texas Parks and Wildlife: Hunter Education Instructor Manual
- Michigan DNR: Hunter safety certificate
- Missouri Department of Conservation: Hunter Education
- NYSDEC: Hunter Education Program Courses and Certifications
- Texas Outdoor Annual: Hunter Education
- Manitoba Wildlife Federation: Hunter Education information (IHEA standards)