I’m from Maryland and I was recently given the opportunity to go hunting with an experienced adult. I’ve always wanted to go hunting, but I need certification that I passed hunters education. In MD, you can take a virtual course and then attend a field day. I passed the virtual portion, but it seems that all of the in-person field days are booked out this fall. What are my options? Can I try passing the course in a nearby state? Does my first “hunting season” end here? I applied for a waitlisted spot but there’s like 40 other people in line before myself 

Maybe.  Maryland does have reciprocity agreements with other states.  I am not sure whether or not you can take the online test in one state and attend the field day in another state.  You may want to contact Pa, Va or WV to see if they allow that.

But Maryland now offers a new ‘Apprentice’ license that seems to waive the field day requirement.  Check out the link below.  There may be conditions, but it is worth checking out.

https://dnr.maryland.gov/nrp/Pages/hunter_education.aspx

On 11/11/2021 at 2:51 PM, Buzzbaiter said:

I’m from Maryland and I was recently given the opportunity to go hunting with an experienced adult. I’ve always wanted to go hunting, but I need certification that I passed hunters education. In MD, you can take a virtual course and then attend a field day. I passed the virtual portion, but it seems that all of the in-person field days are booked out this fall. What are my options? Can I try passing the course in a nearby state? Does my first “hunting season” end here? I applied for a waitlisted spot but there’s like 40 other people in line before myself 

If you are under 16(might be 17 now), here in Kansas as long as you’re hunting with someone over 21 that has their hunters safety and hunting license, all you need is a tag.  You might check and see if it is the same for Maryland. 

All I had to spend to shoot a buck was $13.

Minnesota has an apprentice license for one year too.  Anyone over 18 can purchase a hunting license and go as long as they are with someone over 18 who has firearms safety certification.

 

After the apprentice season is over, they require you to get firearms safety certification to continue going.  Basically it allows someone to try out hunting with a family member or trusted friend to see if its something they would like to do on their own.  I had a friend who went with me pheasant hunting under an apprentice license.  He eventually got his own firearms safety certificate and continued to hunt every season.