Hunter safety is important because it has been proven to prevent accidents, promote ethical and legal hunting practices, support wildlife conservation, enhance skills and responsibility among hunters, and maintain a positive public perception, a concept often introduced in basic hunter-trapper education and reinforced through safety classes.
Alabama law is clear: due to state regulations, anyone born after August 1, 1977 must complete a hunter education course before buying a hunting license.
How do I get my Hunter Education Certificate (Card)
You have 3 options to complete your hunter education requirements to hunt in Alabama.
- Complete an in-person course through the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR). Typically, you will need to register for these months in advance, so plan accordingly if you want to pursue the in-person option. Youth hunters typically 17 or under) are required to take the in-person option.
- An online course through an ADCNR exclusive partner. These courses, on average, will take about 8 hours and require you to read through the content, as well as watch some videos.
- Or complete our 3-hour online-only, all-video-based Hunter Education Course with HunterSafetyUSA (Adults 17 and older only). We are an International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) and Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPWD) approved provider. The IHEA & TPWD Hunter Education Card you will receive after our course is valid for life and is accepted in all 50 US States and any additional territories or countries that share reciprocity with the IHEA. No in-person requirements are required for our course.
The ADCNR website states that "Alabama accepts all other states' hunter education certifications. Therefore, if you completed your hunter education in another state, you are good to go here.”
3 Easy Steps to Get Your AL Hunting License with HunterSafetyUSA
- Step 1: Complete our online-only, IHEA-approved hunter safety education course (Adults 17 and older only).
- Step 2: Print or save your temporary certificate for immediate use. Your permanent TPWD hunter education certificate (card) will be emailed to you within 3-5 business days and is valid for life, allowing you to use it when hunting in Alabama, as well as all other 49 US States, Mexico, and Canada.
- Step 3: You can now buy your hunting license in AL or any other US State and hunt legally for life.
We explain the steps in more detail below, but if you're ready to get started, head over to our online Hunter Education Course and complete it today, where you'll find comprehensive Alabama courses tailored to meet state requirements. It's 3 hours of self-paced videos, no reading required. We are the only 100% video-based course on the market.
Step 1: Hunter Safety Course for Alabama Hunters
HunterSafetyUSA is:
- Online-only, no in-person class required.
- All video-based, so there's no requirement to read anything. It includes closed captions, and you can search the video by keyword.
- Self-paced, meaning you can come and go as needed. Your progress is automatically saved.
- 3 hours long, covering essential hunter safety education topics, including archery, making it one of the fastest ways to complete your requirements.
- You can do it from your phone, computer, or tablet, or switch between them if you like.
- Unlimited exam attempts.
- Valid in all 50 US States as well as Mexico and Canada.
- We offer a 100% money-back guarantee.
Signing up for your Alabama Hunter Safety Course
Sign up for the course, pay, & provide your information for your hunter education certificate. Make sure it matches your driver's license or state ID, if you have one.
Taking the Hunter Education Course online
This is an overview of our course landing page, showing the 5 units you must complete to take the final exam:
Here is an example of a unit section. You have the choice to watch the video or read the material for each section:
Here is an example of the video content found throughout our course for each section found within the 5 units:
The Hunter Safety course AL Final Exam
The final exam is 60 multiple-choice questions, and your scores are provided immediately.
To pass, you need a score of 80% or higher.
Tips for passing your final exam:
Every answer is covered during the online course.
Our free course allows unlimited retake attempts if you fail the first time.
Here are a few example questions you might encounter:
- What is the safest direction to point a firearm?
- Which of the following is an ethical hunting or trapping practice?
- What should you do first if you become lost in the woods? Review the provided study materials and quiz yourself at home. Repetition and real-world application (even dry-firing a toy gun or role-playing scenarios) help solidify learning.
We provide study materials, and you can quiz yourself at home. Repetition and real-world application (even dry-firing a toy gun or role-playing scenarios) help solidify learning.
Step 2: Getting your Hunter Education Certification
After completing the course and passing the final exam, you’ll receive your Hunter Education Certificate. You're now ready to purchase your first Alabama hunting license!
Once you have completed the online course, you can see your exam pass rate and temporary certificate here:
You can click the certificate page to see, save & print your temporary certificate:
You will receive a final certificate of completion upon completing our course and passing the final exam. We encourage users to print this certificate, as it will serve as your temporary Hunter Education Certificate until your permanent certificate (card) is ready for download from TPWD, approximately 3-4 business days after completing your course. You will receive an email from "TPWD Element LMS” with your permanent Hunter Ed Card.
Receiving your state-issued hunter education card
Once you complete the certification, we submit your course results to TPWD. They will issue and email you your permanent Hunter Education Certificate (card). This is valid for use in all 50 U.S. states (including Alabama), Mexico, Canada, and any other country or U.S. territory that has reciprocity with IHEA-USA & State Issued Hunter Education Certificates.
You will receive this email from "TPWD Element LMS" when your permanent certificate is ready for download in approximately 3-4 business days. If you don't see the email within that time frame please email us asap so we can make sure you get it.
Treat your card like a driver’s license. You can either print it and store it in your wallet or keep a digital copy on your phone. Keep it safe, as you’ll need to show proof of certification when applying for a new hunting license or if requested by a game warden in the field. If you lose it you can always reprint or re-download it. Just reach out to us via email, and we will help you.
Step 3: Where to buy your Alabama Hunting License
To hunt in Alabama, you can purchase your license either online through the Outdoor Alabama platform or in person through a licensed agent. A full list of in-person license vendors can be found on the Alabama License Agent Locator.
Below are some top in-person hunting license agents in Alabama:
- Bass Pro Shops – Leeds, AL Address: 5000 Bass Pro Blvd, Leeds, AL 35094
Phone: (205) 702-7500 - Walmart Supercenter – Montgomery, AL Address: 10710 Chantilly Pkwy, Montgomery, AL 36117 Phone: (334) 272-0263
- Academy Sports + Outdoors – Dothan, AL Address: 3950 Montgomery Hwy, Dothan, AL 36303 Phone: (334) 702-4400
- Mark’s Outdoors – Vestavia Hills, AL Address: 1400-B Montgomery Hwy, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216 Phone: (205) 822-2010
For more information, you can contact:
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR)
Contact Information: Phone: (334) 242-3465 Website: outdooralabama.com
Why is Hunter Safety Important?
Hunter safety is essential for several reasons, whether you're a bowhunter or using firearms:
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Prevents Accidents and Injuries: Proper training, including basic hunter-trapper education, in firearm handling, safe shooting practices, and hunting techniques significantly reduces the likelihood of accidental shootings and other hunting-related injuries.
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Ensures Ethical Hunting: Hunter safety education promotes responsible hunting ethics, including respect for wildlife, sustainable hunting practices, and adherence to laws and regulations
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Protects Wildlife and Conservation Efforts: Responsible hunters recognize the importance of conservation and manage wildlife populations sustainably, thereby helping to preserve biodiversity and maintain ecosystem balance.
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Builds Responsible and Skilled Hunters: Safety courses, including online courses, teach the proper use, storage, and transportation of firearms, as well as navigation, first aid, survival skills, and respectful interactions with other hunters, bowhunters, and landowners.
- Legal Compliance: In most regions, completion of hunter safety courses is required to obtain a hunting license, emphasizing the importance of adhering to legal and regulatory requirements.
- Enhances Public Perception: Safe and ethical hunting practices improve the public's perception of hunters, demonstrating responsible stewardship of natural resources.
Hunter safety, along with basic hunter-trapper, archery, and bowhunter education, fosters a culture of responsibility, ethical behavior, and environmental stewardship within the hunting community.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early should I sign up for the course before the hunting season?
Ideally, take your course by summer so you don’t miss out during the license purchase rush in late summer and fall.
How much does it cost to get your Hunter Education Certificate?
$29. We accept Apple Pay, Google Pay, all major credit cards, and signature debit cards. We also offer a 100% money-back guarantee.
Will the Texas Hunter Education Card (Certificate) be accepted in Alabama?
Yes, the permanent Texas Parks & Wildlife Hunter Education Card (Certification) is recognized by Alabama and all other states and provinces with mandatory hunter education requirements due to reciprocity agreements with the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA). The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website states that "Alabama accepts all other states' hunter education certifications. Therefore, if you completed your hunter education in another state, you are good to go here.”
What is the hunter safety course in Alabama?
You have 3 options for hunter safety courses in Alabama.
- Complete an in-person course through the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR). Typically, you will need to register for these months in advance so plan accordingly if you want to pursue the in-person option. Youth hunters (typically 17 or under) are required to take the in-person option.
- An online course through ADCNR's exclusive partner. These courses, on average, will take about 8 hours and require you to read through the content, as well as watch some videos.
- Or complete our 3-hour online-only, all-video-based Hunter Education Course with HunterSafetyUSA (Adults 17 and older only). We are an International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) and Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPWD) approved provider. The IHEA & TPWD Hunter Education Card you will receive after our course is valid for life and is accepted in all 50 US States and any additional territories or countries that share reciprocity with the IHEA. No in-person requirements are required for our course.