By Chase Holmes, News Reporter
TRUSSVILLE — The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is having a free hunters education class on Saturday, August 5.
Anyone born after 1977 is required to attend a hunter’s education class in order to get their hunter’s licences. While the class is generally geared for younger hunter’s licence seekers, Sam Hansen, instructor, said the class is for all ages.
“There are a lot of older people not in that age group that come to this class because they’re going out of state to hunt. A lot of states require a hunter’s education to hunt so we get a lot of people who were born before then but still need it.”
The class will take place at the Trussville Fire Department located at 421 Cherokee Drive. The course is an eight hour class, 8 a.m to 5 p.m. A county game warden will be on hand to answer questions. Lunch will be provided and there will be door prizes.
Hansen said the class starts with firearm safety and goes through the different elements of hunting such as elevated platforms, first aid, archery, safety when using black powder weapons, and more. A particular emphasis is put on safety, especially when hunting from a platform.
“More hunters are killed from falls on an elevated platform than any other cause,” said Hansen. “It’s generally a fall when you are climbing or coming down, and that’s because a lot of hunter’s aren’t in tune with the safety equipment needed to make the climb.”
Students can sign up online at huntered.dcnr.alabama.gov.
For more information, visit www.OutdoorAlabama.com or contact Hansen at (205) 616-4025.