PIERRE, S.D. – Hunters who need to complete a South Dakota hunter safety certification course can now study the online portion at http://www.hunter-ed.com/southdakota/. The online component of the course was approved by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) this week.
“While an online component of South Dakota’s HuntSAFE program has been available for a few years now, we want parents and students to know we have switched vendors and that this new course continues to allow students the flexibility of completing half of their certification process online,” said Jason Kool, GFP program specialist. “After passing the online portion of the course, students are equipped and eligible to participate in the required, in-person HuntSAFE field day. Overall, the HuntSAFE course does a quality job of teaching the information and skills to students, to ensure that they will be safe, legal and responsible in the field.”
The online portion of the South Dakota hunter education course costs $15 and is an alternative to the free in-person classroom instruction. The online portion allows students greater flexibility and time to complete their course. The traditional in-person classroom instruction will continue across different communities in South Dakota and are typically offered March through October.
To become certified, hunter education students can complete the online portion at http://www.hunter-ed.com/southdakota/. Once complete, students will register and participate in an in-person Independent Study Field Day (about 4-6 hours) where they will review the knowledge and skills learned online and take a written HuntSAFE final exam. After paying the $15 fee, students will receive their field day qualifier voucher. The student will take this voucher to the Independent Study Field Day they are registered for.
Also featured online are award-winning hunter safety videos designed to be fun to watch while presenting essential safety information. These short videos cover topics such as how to transport firearms, the importance of blaze orange and correctly matching ammunition. In addition, the course is made lively and entertaining through interactive animations and learning modules. Courses are made to fit the learner’s schedule, with progress automatically saved so students can learn at their own pace. Students are able to take the course at any time from their computer, smartphone, tablet, e-reader or Internet TV.
While hunter education is a great idea for any hunter, South Dakota law requires all aspiring hunters under 16 complete a hunter education course. Students must be at least 11 years old to take the course. For more information, start here: http://gfp.sd.gov/outdoor-learning/hunter-education/hunt-safe.aspx.
About Kalkomey
Kalkomey, which produces hunter-ed.com, is an official provider of recreational safety education materials for all 50 states. An American company based in Dallas, Texas, Kalkomey produces print and Internet courses that have provided official safety certification since 1995. Kalkomey offers safety courses in boating, hunting, bowhunting, and off-road vehicle and snowmobile operation. For more information, visit http://www.kalkomey.com/.
