Effective November 18, 2009, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission changed their guidelines for distance learning. Students are now required to spend a minimum amount of time on each course page before proceeding to the certification exam.

Click here to go to the latest version of the Today's Hunter in North Carolina online course—the official hunter education course of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

The following course material is for reference only. Please go to the new course to complete your North Carolina certification.

Planning and Preparation

A successful hunt begins with careful planning and preparation. The process usually requires more time than the hunt itself.

Here are some steps you should take to prepare for a hunt.

Educate yourself about the game you’ll be hunting and its environment.
Obtain the most current state regulations.
Buy appropriate clothing and gear for the environment.
Secure lease arrangements and permits (dogs and horses may require a veterinarian’s certificate or a current vaccination record).
Visit the site in the off-season to prepare blinds and cabin facilities.
Sight-in rifles, handguns, and bows; pattern shotguns.
Sharpen your skills at the shooting range.
Pack extra firearms, scopes, bow strings, etc.

When hunting with a group, it is illegal in most states to use your license tag on another person's kill.