Hunter safety is important because it's 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 safety classes.
Massachusetts law is clear: due to state regulations, all first-time hunters age 18 or older must complete hunter education 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 Massachusetts.
- Complete an in-person course through the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife. Students attend an entirely in-person, instructor-led course that is offered over multiple days.
- A hybrid/blended course through a Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife exclusive partner. Students complete the online MA hunter safety study guide (16 chapters & quizzes) before attending one in-person Field Day.
- Or complete our 3-hour online-only, all-video-based Hunter Education Course (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 Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife website states that if you're a graduate of a Basic Hunter Education course, you qualify for a Massachusetts hunting license.
3 Easy Steps to Get Your MA Hunting License with HunterSafetyUSA
- Step 1: Complete our online-only, IHEA-approved hunter safety education course (Adults 17 and older only). No in-person field day is 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 Massachusetts, as well as all other 49 US States, Mexico, and Canada.
- Step 3: You can now go buy your hunting license in MA 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, complete it today, and use our comprehensive study guide to enhance your learning experience! 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 Massachusetts Hunters
HunterSafetyUSA is:
- Online-only, no in-person course 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 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 MA 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: Make use of a study guide to help focus your revision efforts.
Every answer is covered during the course.
Our course includes comprehensive safety training and 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 study guide, 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 a study guide, 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 Massachusetts hunting license!
Once you have completed the 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 Massachusetts), 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 as soon as possible so we can ensure you receive 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 Massachusetts Hunting License
As soon as you receive your permanent Hunter Education Certificate from completing our course (you will get it via email from "TPWD Element LMS" within a few business days), you are eligible to go and buy your hunting license in whichever states you plan on legally hunting in, and the NRA provides additional resources on responsible hunting practices.
To hunt in Massachusetts, you can purchase your license online through the MassFishHunt Licensing Portal or in person at authorized vendors. A full directory is available on the MassWildlife License Agent Map.
Below are some suggested authorized in-person hunting license agents in the state of Massachusetts:
- Cabela’s – Berlin, MA Address: 44 Highland Commons E, Hudson, MA 01749
Phone: (978) 212-6200 - Walmart Supercenter – Northborough, MA Address: 200 Otis St, Northborough, MA 01532 Phone: (508) 393-4382
- Dick’s Sporting Goods – Dedham, MA Address: 180 Providence Hwy, Dedham, MA 02026 Phone: (781) 329-2862
For more information, you can contact:
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife)
Contact Information: Phone: (508) 389-6300 Website: mass.gov/hunting
Why is Hunter Safety Important?
Hunter safety is important for several reasons, whether you're a bowhunter or using firearms:
- Prevents Accidents and Injuries: Proper training, including safety training and 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.
- 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 recognize the importance of conservation and manage wildlife populations sustainably, thereby helping to preserve biodiversity and maintain ecosystem balance.
- Builds Responsible and Skilled Hunters: Safety courses teach proper use, storage, and transportation of firearms, along with 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 Massachusetts?
Yes, the permanent Texas Parks & Wildlife Hunter Education Card (Certification) is recognized by Massachusetts and all other states and provinces with mandatory hunter education requirements due to reciprocity agreements with the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA). The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife website states that if you're a graduate of a Basic Hunter Education course, you qualify for a Massachusetts hunting license.
Can you take an online Hunter Safety course in Massachusetts?
Yes, our online hunters education course is fully online & only 3 hours long. It covers essential hunter safety education topics, making it one of the most efficient ways to fulfill your requirements.