Like it or not, technology is changing the way we live our lives. Many of us now enjoy and even rely on our computers, GPS units, cell phones, fish finders and the like. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is keeping step with these changes and in a little over a month will kick off its first Online Hunter Education Course.

Those who are computer savvy and need or want to take about half of their hunter education course in the relaxing realm of their home might want to consider waiting until July 1. MDC will begin offering an online course that counts for five hours credit of the 10 hours currently required to become certified.

The online version is being offered for those who may not have time to attend the full traditional course. Normally hunter education courses require participants to spend either one full 10-hour day in the classroom or to split the course up among two or three days, often totaling nearly 12 hours.

While the new online version will drastically cut down the time spent in the classroom, participants still will have to schedule and attend a field day to complete their training and receive their certification. The online version of Hunter Education simply will cover all the written material required for the course.

Participants in the online version will be able to review the chapters as many times as they wish and take pre-tests at no charge. At the conclusion of the online portion, students can take their online exam (on which one must score 80 percent or higher). There are no time limits on the exam, though it must be taken in one computer session.

While there is no fee involved for studying the materials or reviewing online information, participants will have to pay a fee of $15 to take the exam and see their results. If you fail the test and decide to retake it online, another fee of $15 will be charged. These fees go directly to the online host company that handles the testing, and not to MDC.

Once you’ve paid the fee and received your passing test results, you’ll need to print out your course certificate and schedule a time to attend the field portion. Students can log on any time between their online course work and their actual field portion to review, study and take pre-tests as much as they wish for free.

MDC reminds everyone who participates that successful completion of the online course work does not make you Hunter Education Certified. You must schedule the final field component, which is composed of an additional five hours, to complete the training and receive proper certification.

The field day will consist of a review of all critical skills necessary for safe and responsible hunting. Students then have to take a multiple-choice test covering both the online items and the review items from the field portion and then take a final hands-on demonstration test of the various skills reviewed.

If you pass these additional tests with a score of 80 percent of higher, you will become Hunter Education Certified. If you fail the field portion, you will have to pay another $15 to take the full online course again or go through the traditional 10-hour classroom course.

While this may sound like a long process, the online portion of this course can realistically reduce the amount of time spent in a classroom environment by at least half.

The Missouri Department of Conservation, along with the volunteers who make this program so successful, have been teaching hunter education since 1957. It wasn’t until 1988 that the program became mandatory for those born after Jan. 1, 1967.

Throughout the history of the program, hunting accidents have decreased by at least 70 percent in our state, which is no small feat. In February of 2007, the Hunter Education Program also celebrated its 50th Anniversary and recognized its one millionth graduate, which is an achievement very few states have reached.

Notes: Online participants must bring their printed out certification to the field day to participate. Youth under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult for the field portion and must provide proof of age. Those 16 years or older must have a valid picture ID to take part in field portion. For complete details about the new online program go to www.mdc.mo.gov/hunt/huntered.

"Using safe practices may get old, but so do those who practice them. "

Author Unknown