How to Get Your 2026 Wyoming Hunter Education Course in 3 Easy Steps
Ready to hunt in Wyoming this season? If you were born on or after January 1, 1966, you must show proof of a hunter education certification before buying your license.
The exception: if you have obtained a Hunter Mentor program special authorization from the state and are hunting with a mentor.
A hunter safety course helps you stay safe in the field. Through a state-approved hunter safety course, you'll learn proper firearm and bow handling, basic shooting and hunting skills, outdoor safety, tree stand safety, why hunters wear blaze orange for hunts, the hunting laws for your state, and more.
So, if you're planning a hunt in Wyoming in 2026, keep reading to learn how to take the Wyoming hunter safety course and get a hunting license.
How Do I Get My Hunter Education Card in Wyoming?
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department offers two ways to meet hunter safety certification requirements.
1. Take an In-Person, Instructor-Led Course
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department recommends the in-person course for hunters ages 10 and older who want hands-on learning. Schedule a day and time to begin your Wyoming hunter safety course through one of the state's in-person classroom sessions.
2. Take a Hybrid Online Course
Hunters ages 10 and older can take an online/hybrid course, open to Wyoming residents and nonresidents.
Once you've completed the online coursework, you will receive an Internet Completion Course Voucher. This certification expires 365 days after course completion.
Use the Internet Completion Course Voucher to prove completion of the online portion of the hybrid course. Register for a final, in-person Internet Completion Class, and attend the class to finish your training. Class requirements include passing a 50-question written final exam and a hands-on practical on firearm handling.
Hunter-Ed is proud to be an approved online hunter education course for Wyoming! It's the most convenient way to get Wyoming hunter safety training online.
3 Easy Steps to Get Your 2026 Wyoming Hunting License
With your hunter certification, you're ready to get your license and hunt! Here are three easy steps to get your Wyoming hunting license.
- Meet the Requirements (and Complete a Hunter Education Course)
Remember: all hunters in Wyoming born on or after January 1, 1966, must show proof of completing a hunter safety course before buying a hunting license (unless they have obtained a Hunter Mentor program special authorization from the state and are hunting with a mentor).Hunter-Ed makes it easy to do that through our course, approved by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department!
- Choose the Right License Type and Purchase It
Determine the hunting license you need. Choose from resident, nonresident, youth, and other licenses. Then, purchase your license online via the Wyoming Game and Fish Department website or in person at a license vendor. - Bring Proof of Your License When Hunting
Carry a valid hunting license and any necessary tags, stamps, or permits for every hunt.
Next, let's look at these steps in more detail.
Step 1: How to Take the Wyoming Hunter Safety Course
The easiest way to get your hunter safety certification in Wyoming is to take the Hunter-Ed online course! However, remember that all hunters taking the hybrid course must also complete an in-person Internet Completion Class.
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Step 2: Get Your Hunter Education Certificate
After completing the online portion of a hybrid course through Hunter-Ed, you'll be one step closer to meeting the hunter education requirements for Wyoming!
When you complete the online coursework, you'll receive an Internet Completion Course Voucher. You can print the voucher immediately or request a PDF via email. Note that it expires 365 days after course completion.
After you finish the final in-person Internet Completion Class, you'll receive your permanent hunter education certificate within two weeks.
Your Hunter Education Card is Your Proof of Certification
Your hunter education certificate is a crucial document for every hunting season. Store it safely between hunts and protect it in the field, and always carry it when you hunt (along with your hunting license).
If you lose your certificate, visit the ilostmycard website to request a replacement before hunting season begins.
Step 3: Where to Get Your Wyoming Hunting License in 2026
Your Wyoming hunter safety course is now behind you. You're ready to get your hunting license and go hunting!
Buy a Hunting License Online
The easiest way to get your license is to buy it online. This can be particularly convenient if you don't live close to an in-person license vendor, or you plan to hunt in Wyoming while you're a resident of another state.
Buy In Person
If you prefer to pick up a license in person, Wyoming has plenty of locations where you can purchase one. Pick up a license at one of many license dealers throughout the state.
Why Hunter Education Is Important
Before heading out for a hunt in Wyoming, completing a hunter safety course is a wise step. Whether you're gearing up for your first hunting season or you've spent years chasing elk, mule deer, antelope, or upland birds, the course sharpens your skills and reinforces the fundamentals of safe, responsible hunting.
The Wyoming hunter safety course focuses on real-world knowledge you'll actually use in the field, including:
- Safe firearm handling and storage
- Ethical decision-making while hunting
- Situational awareness and sound judgment in real scenarios
The training is practical and scenario-based, designed to help you think clearly and act safely in a variety of hunting conditions. The ultimate goal is simple: ensure every hunter returns home safely after each trip.
Beyond core safety principles, the course also prepares you for Wyoming's unique environments. The curriculum also touches on public land access, understanding regulations, and being prepared for remote backcountry situations where self-reliance is key.
In the end, hunter education in Wyoming reinforces the responsibility that comes with hunting. It encourages respect for wildlife, land stewardship, and ethical behavior—helping protect Wyoming's rich hunting traditions for generations to come.
Why are a State-Specific Hunter Education Courses Important?
Many states honor hunter education certificates earned elsewhere, and Wyoming generally does the same. If you've completed an approved course in another state, it will likely meet the requirements when you plan a hunt in Wyoming.
That flexibility is especially useful for nonresident hunters who travel across state lines and want to avoid repeating the same introductory training.
Still, if you're preparing for your first season in Wyoming, taking a course tailored to the state is ideal. State-specific instruction highlights details that broader courses may only touch on, helping you better understand what to expect in the field.
For instance, an out-of-state course may not fully cover Wyoming's licensing structure, draw system, or season timelines. It may also skip over regulations tied to popular big game species such as elk, mule deer, and pronghorn, as well as considerations for hunting in remote areas.
Before relying solely on an out-of-state certification, consider a Wyoming-focused hunter education course. It's a practical way to get familiar with local laws, prepare for the state's unique terrain and conditions, and ensure you're hunting safely and responsibly.
Why Choose Hunter-Ed
Hunters get more with Hunter-Ed!
You get a learn-at-your-pace online course that covers the essentials of hunting safely (while meeting the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's requirements). Plus, you also get access to Hunter Perks.
Hunter Perks is an exclusive offering from Hunter-Ed. It's entirely free for students!
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Plus, your Hunter Perks include contests to win free stuff and discounts on gear! This free program from Hunter-Ed gives you everything you need for great hunts (and helps you save money while gearing up).
Get Hunter Safety Certified in Wyoming with Hunter-Ed
Don't wait for the hunting season to get here before you take the Wyoming hunter education course. Hunt safely with your hunter safety certification!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We have answers to your questions about the Wyoming hunter safety certification!
Q: Do I need a hunter education course to hunt in Wyoming?
A: In most cases, yes. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1966, must complete a hunter education course to hunt with a firearm in Wyoming and must carry proof of that certification in the field. Those born before January 1, 1966, are generally exempt, except for hunting in Teton National Park and the Elk National Forest. A limited exemption exists through the Hunter Education Temporary Exception (HETE), which allows uncertified hunters to hunt for one year while accompanied by a certified mentor.
Q: Can you take the Wyoming hunter safety course online?
A: Yes. Wyoming offers a hybrid option where Part 1 is a self-led online course (like Hunter-Ed) and Part 2 is the required Internet Completion Course (ICC), a 4-hour in-person, instructor-led class. If you take the Wyoming online course, you must also take the Wyoming Internet Completion Course. However, individuals who completed an online course from a different state will not be allowed to take Wyoming's ICC.
Q: How soon should I sign up for a hunter education course?
A: You should sign up for a hunter education course as early as possible, well before hunting seasons open. Hunter education courses are mostly offered in Wyoming from January through September, with the majority of classes in March, April, August, and September.
Q: Do I need a certification for every season?
A: No. Hunter education certification in Wyoming is a one-time requirement, not something you renew each year. If you took Hunter Education in Wyoming, your hunter education certificate number will be printed on all of your Wyoming hunting licenses, which serves as adequate proof in the field.
Q: How much does it cost to get my hunter education certification?
A: The cost varies depending on the format you choose. The online Wyoming Hunter Ed course fee is $24.95, and an additional $10 fee is charged at the in-person Internet Completion Course. Some traditional in-person courses charge $10 cash per person, payable on the first night of class, plus a separate $5 registration fee.
Q: What happens if you hunt without hunter ed?
A: Hunting without the required certification is a legal violation in Wyoming. Proof of certification is required at all times in the field, and violators are subject to citations. Beyond the legal consequences, you also risk being unable to purchase a hunting license in the first place, since Wyoming requires hunters born on or after January 1, 1966, to complete a certified course before buying a license.
