Hunter safety certification is important because its proven to prevent accidents, promotes ethical and legal hunting, supports wildlife conservation, enhances skills and responsibility among hunters, and maintains positive public perception, a concept often introduced in basic hunter-trapper education and reinforced through field day safety classes.
In Illinois, due to state regulations and hunting laws, anyone born after January 1, 1980 must complete an approved Illinois hunter safety course or online course and obtain a hunter education certificate, which often includes a field day, before buying a hunting license.
3 Easy Steps to Get Your IL Hunting License
- Step 1: Complete our online-only, IHEA-approved hunter safety education course (Adults 17 and older only). No in-person field day required for adults when taken through HunterSafetyUSA.
- 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 and for use when hunting in Illinois, as well as all other 49 US States, Mexico, and Canada.
- Step 3: You can now go buy your hunting license in IL or any other US State and hunt legally for life.
We explain the steps in more detail below, including information on scheduling a field day, but if you're ready to get started, head over to our online Hunter Education Course and complete it today! Its 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 Illinois Hunters
HunterSafetyUSA is:
- Online-only, no in-person course or field day 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, making it an ideal format for those enrolled in an online course. 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, making it a flexible online course.
- Unlimited exam attempts.
- Valid in all 50 US States as well as Mexico and Canada.
- We offer a 100% money-back guarantee.
What to expect in the Hunter Safety Course IL
Skip having to attend an in-person field-day course with our interactive course. We provide all the resources to get you fully certified online. Your IHEA Approved hunter education certificate and TPWD Hunter Education Card is accepted for use in Illinois (Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)) for resident and non-resident hunters alike, as well as all 49 other US States, Canada and Mexico.
Signing up for your Illinois 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 online 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 IL Final Exam
The final exam is 60 multiple-choice questions, akin to a field day for testing your knowledge, 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 Illinois hunter safety course includes comprehensive safety training and allows unlimited retake attempts if you fail the first time, providing you with a field day experience to improve and succeed.
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, and a field day offers a great opportunity to practice these skills.
We provide study materials for our online course, and you can quiz yourself at home. Repetition, real-world application (even dry-firing a toy gun, attending a field day, or role-playing scenarios) help solidify learning and prepare you for the certification process.
Step 2: Getting your Hunter Education Certification
After completing the online course and passing the final exam, including any necessary field day activities, you’ll receive your Hunter Education Certificate. You're now ready to purchase your first Illinois 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 act as your temporary Hunter Education Certificate until your permanent certificate (card) is ready for download from TPWD, approximately 3-4 business days following the completion of 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 USA States (including Illinois), Mexico, Canada, and any other country or US 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, something you'd take on a field day. 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 Illinois Hunting License.
To hunt in Illinois, you can purchase your license either online through the official licensing platform ExploreMoreIL or in person at an authorized licensing agent, especially after completing an online hunter education course in Illinois like ours. A comprehensive list of in-person agents is available here: ExploreMoreIL Agent Locator.
Below are some suggested authorized in-person hunting license agents in the state of Illinois:
- Bass Pro Shops – Gurnee, IL Address: 6112 W Grand Ave, Gurnee, IL 60031 Phone: (847) 856-1229
- Cabela's – Hoffman Estates, IL Address: 5225 Prairie Stone Pkwy, Hoffman Estates, IL 60192 Phone: (847) 645-0400
- Walmart Supercenter – Springfield, IL Address: 1100 Lejune Dr, Springfield, IL 62703 Phone: (217) 529-6221
- Six Mile Regional Library District – Granite City, IL Address: 2001 Delmar Ave, Granite City, IL 62040 Phone: (618) 452-6238
- Dick's Sporting Goods – Peoria, IL Address: 5205 W War Memorial Dr, Peoria, IL 61615 Phone: (309) 692-3900
- Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Contact Information: Phone: (217) 782-6302 Email: [email protected] Website: dnr.illinois.gov
Why is Hunter Safety Important?
Hunter safety is important for several reasons, whether you're a bowhunter or using firearms, and enrolling in an Illinois hunter safety course along with having a field day for practical application can enhance learning:
- Prevents Accidents and Injuries: Proper training, including field day experiences, basic hunter-trapper education, and an online course on firearm handling, safe shooting practices, and hunting techniques significantly reduces the likelihood of accidental shootings and other hunting-related injuries.
- Ensures Ethical Hunting: Hunter safety education promotes responsible hunting ethics, including respect for wildlife, sustainable hunting practices, and adherence to laws and regulations.
- Protects Wildlife and Conservation Efforts: Responsible hunters understand the importance of conservation and manage wildlife populations sustainably, helping preserve biodiversity and ecosystem balance.
- Builds Responsible and Skilled Hunters: Safety courses often include a field day component, where participants learn the proper use, storage, and transportation of firearms, along with navigation, first aid, survival skills, and respectful interactions with other hunters, bowhunters, and landowners, as well as the importance of having ATV insurance when using all-terrain vehicles during hunting trips.
- Legal Compliance: Most regions require completion of hunter safety courses and certification to obtain hunting licenses, emphasizing legal and regulatory adherence.
- Enhances Public Perception: Safe and ethical hunting practices improve the public's perception of hunters, demonstrating responsible stewardship of natural resources.
Hunter safety, including attending a field day, obtaining a hunter education certificate, 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 much does it cost to get your Hunter Education Certificate for IL?
$29. We accept Apple Pay, Google Pay, all major credit cards, and signature debit cards. We also offer a 100% money-back guarantee.
How early should I sign up for the Illinois Hunter Safety Course, including an online course option, before the hunting season to ensure you're prepared for a field day experience?
Ideally, take your course by summer so you don’t miss out during the license purchase rush in late summer and fall.