On July 1, Kentucky became the eighth state to adopt the NRA’s free online hunter education course, NRAHE.org.
Prior to the course’s adoption, a Kentucky survey revealed the free interactive online course, which can be tailored to meet the different hunter education standards of each state, received support from nearly 80 percent of those surveyed.
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources acting assistant director of information and education Brent McCarty cited monetary reasons as well as practicality as the major factors behind the decision.
“We can’t thank the NRA enough for what it has provided through this program,” McCarty said. Due to the adoption of the NRA’s program, instructors are now available to expand on what the agency offers its hunters. However, standard in-person courses won’t be phased out. The NRA’s program is simply going to provide another option to potential hunters in Kentucky.
Like Kentucky, some states add a mentor component to their hunter safety requirements. In these cases, the NRA will issue hunter safety cards to those who’ve completed the online course, which they can use to obtain their hunting licenses and fulfill any mentor requirements.
Along with Kentucky, Connecticut, Florida, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and West Virginia all have opted to use the NRA’s free online hunter education course.
