1501:31-29-01. Hunter education course student and instructor regulations

All hunter education courses will be conducted and administered in accordance with policies and procedures established by the chief. Volunteer instructors must possess a valid ohio hunter education instructor certification card at the time they conduct a course. The official course of instruction will be established by the chief. Instructors will obtain student manuals and other training materials for their courses from the division of wildlife. Courses shall be conducted statewide. Courses shall be free of charge with the exception that volunteers may charge nominal fees, in accordance with policies established by the chief, to cover training costs such as facility fees. The division may charge participants for special training courses, home study, equivalency testing, educational materials, and other programs as approved by the chief.

(A) First-time hunting license buyers or first-time hunters who apply for a free hunting license shall complete a hunter education course prior to obtaining a hunting license. The course shall include, but not be limited to, the requirements in section 1533.10 of the Revised Code. Completion of the course shall include passing of an examination and receiving a certificate prescribed by the chief of the division of wildlife.

(B) A volunteer hunter education instructor must be twenty-one years of age or older and shall have successfully completed the Ohio hunter education course and the Ohio hunter education instructor course as prescribed by the division of wildlife. In addition to the course requirements in paragraph (A) of this rule, an instructor shall complete instruction on teaching techniques, teaching fundamentals, and other methods of instruction. Completion of the hunter education instructor course shall include the passing of an examination and receiving a hunter education instructor certification card prescribed by the chief of the division of wildlife. The chief of the division of wildlife shall establish minimum requirements and procedures for the purpose of renewing instructor certification cards. Instructor certification may be withheld or withdrawn at the discretion of the chief.

(C) Persons possessing and producing a legally obtained "National Rifle Association hunter safety course" card issued to a student prior to 1980, or any other legally obtained hunter education card that identifies the owner and indicates the owner has completed a hunter education course administered by another state or Canadian province are considered to have equivalent training and may purchase a hunting license upon presenting such card to an issuing agent.

(D) In lieu of presenting a previously purchased hunting license or evidence of satisfactorily completing an approved hunter education course, persons who are twenty-one years of age or older may make application for and be issued a hunting license after stating on the application that he or she is twenty-one years of age or older and has held a previous hunting license. The division may also issue hunter education certification cards through home-study programs, equivalent training documentation, and testing, proficiency testing, or through other programs established by the chief.

(E) No person shall issue or give a hunter education certificate of completion to another person that has not passed the division's hunter education course, or otherwise met the requirements for certification as established by this rule and division policy. No person shall obtain, use, or attempt to use a division of wildlife hunter education certificate without first completing an authorized division of wildlife hunter education course, or otherwise meeting the requirements for certification as established by this rule and division policy. Instructors will report the names and addresses of passing students to the division immediately after each course. The division will be responsible for maintaining records of students certified and issuing duplicate hunter education student cards. The chief may prescribe a fee for issuing duplicate hunter education student cards.

(F) Duly authorized and recognized conservation clubs and sportsmen's clubs may apply to the chief of the division of wildlife to conduct shoot-to-kill hunter education programs on private lands. The chief, in his sole discretion, may approve shoot-to-kill hunter education courses regardless of the season for young hunters under the age of eighteen years. The chief shall issue a hunter education permit setting forth such limitations, restrictions, or provisions as he deems appropriate in his sole discretion.

The president of the conservation or sportsmen's club shall submit in writing a request at least thirty days prior to the event which shall:

(1) Fully describe the land on which the course shall be taught;

(2) State the number of participants;

(3) State the species of animals to be killed;

(4) Describe in detail the conservation or sportsmen educational benefits from the course;

(5) State any further information the chief may request.

(G) It shall be unlawful for any person to fail to fully comply with provisions set forth in the hunter education permit as issued pursuant to paragraph (F) of this rule. Failure to comply with any provision of said permit shall result in immediate revocation of the hunter education permit without further act of the chief or his authorized representative and the person violating the provision will be subject to prosecution under existing law.

(H) All definitions set forth in rule 1501:31-1-02 of the Administrative Code shall apply to this rule.

Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 10/14/2020 and 10/14/2025
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 1533.10
Rule Amplifies: 1533.10
Prior Effective Dates: 06/01/1979, 06/01/1981, 05/31/1983, 05/31/1984, 06/01/1985, 06/01/1987, 09/15/1987, 06/01/1988, 05/16/1994, 08/17/1995, 11/20/1996, 03/01/2004

Prior History: (Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 07/19/2016 and 07/19/2021
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 1533.10
Rule Amplifies: 1533.10
Prior Effective Dates: 06/01/1979, 06/01/1981, 05/31/1983, 05/31/1984, 06/01/1985, 06/01/1987, 09/15/1987, 06/01/1988, 05/16/1994, 08/17/1995, 11/20/1996, 3/01/2004)