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.

Preparation and Survival Skills

How to prepare for a safe hunting trip and deal with emergencies that may arise while hunting . . .

Hunters sitting near campfire

Learning Objectives

You should be able to:

List and describe four ways to prepare properly for hunting.
Prepare a sample hunting plan.
List three conditions that affect a hunter's physical ability to perform safely and responsibly.
Describe how to dress for hunting in cold weather.
State why hunters should wear daylight fluorescent orange clothing.
Demonstrate how to read a topographic map and use a compass.
List the five primary requirements for survival.
List the eight basic survival rules.
Describe three ways to signal for help when lost in the outdoors.
Give the causes and symptoms of hypothermia, and explain how to prevent and treat hypothermia.
Give the causes and symptoms of heat exhaustion, and explain how to prevent and treat heat exhaustion.
Give three examples of why it's important for every hunter to attend first-aid and CPR training courses.
Demonstrate how to stop bleeding.
Explain what to do if someone breaks a bone.
Describe how to recognize first-, second-, and third-degree burns, and how to treat them.
Explain what to do immediately if a person suffers a chest wound.