New Online Course Allows Hunters to Earn Lifetime Bonus Point
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has created an innovative online course — “Ethically Hunting Arizona” — that provides hunters 18 and older with an opportunity to earn a lifetime bonus point.
A bonus point is simply an accumulated credit (or point) that authorizes the department to issue additional computer-generated random numbers to a big game draw application, thus providing an applicant with an added chance of receiving a low random number in the draw and improving their draw odds.
Hunter Education Online Class for a Bonus Point
ethically hunting Arizona course
The Ethically Hunting Arizona course was developed primarily for those hunters who are looking to acquire their permanent Arizona Education Bonus Point without having to compete for limited seating in the classroom-style structure of the traditional Arizona Hunter Education course.
what you need to know
Ethically Hunting Arizona is geared primarily for experienced hunters, including those who are nonresidents, new residents to Arizona, and longtime state residents. Statistically, 9% of hunter education graduates are nonresidents. Of those 18 and older, 76% take the course for this bonus point, and only 20% identify as new hunters.
Ethically Hunting Arizona’s 10 hours of online coursework will cover the following topics:
- Responsibility, safety, skills.
- Conservation, Fair Chase, ethics, hunters’ image.
- Planning, preparation, survival skills.
- Firearm safety, handling, shot selection.
- Hunting strategies, vital shots, game care.
- Arizona hunting laws, regulations, licensing.
The course provides focused learning to hopefully help reduce hunting incidents through safety education, as well as the number of citations issued for violations that occur in the field.
The cost of the discretionary course is $150 for Arizona residents, $300 for nonresidents (who now benefit from not having to outlay travel expenses, such as gas, airfare, lodging and meals, to take the course in person in Arizona).
A student will have two opportunities to pass the course with a minimum score of 80%. The course must be passed 30 days prior to the draw deadline day for the bonus point to be valid for that particular draw.
**If a hunter already has earned an Arizona Education Bonus Point by completing Arizona Hunter Education, a second bonus point cannot be obtained through the taking of the Ethically Hunting Arizona course. In addition, completing the online course does not fulfill hunter education requirements to hunt in other states.
Hunter Education Courses
In Arizona you may take Hunter Education in three formats. Find the class that’s right for you.
all hunter education classes requirements and content
Classroom courses, online course field day and bonus point field test
Requirements: Preregistration is required for all Hunter Education class formats. While you must be 10 years of age to hunt big game you may complete Hunter Education at the age of 9 however, the Hunter Education completion card and certificate does not become valid until the child’s 10th birthday.
Customer ID – Students will need to provide a Customer ID number. Students should provide this number ONLY on their Hunter Education class registration. This number is required to complete any registration.
Purpose: The purpose of the hunter education program is about more than safety. It is also to develop responsible, knowledgeable and involved hunters who understand the importance of complying with hunting laws and behaving ethically.
Course Content: At a minimum your hunter education course will include the following topics:
- Responsibility, safety, skills
- Funding sources
- Conservation, fair chase, fair share, hunters’ ethics and hunters’ image
- Planning and preparation, maps and compasses, survival skills, coping with extreme weather and basic first aid
- Firearm safety, nomenclature, function, handling and shot-selection
- Wildlife conservation, management and identification
- Marksmanship, rifle and shotgun shooting, hunting strategies, vital shots and care of game
- Arizona hunting laws and regulations and licensing
If you can’t find a Hunter Education class: Our courses are conducted by volunteers. As volunteers are able to conduct courses in your area our website will be updated each Tuesday with new offerings.
Education through AZGFD
See resources for teachers, including lesson plans. Learn about hunter education, and classes to earn bonus points.
teacher resources
The goal of the AZGFD education program is to promote awareness, appreciation and stewardship of the state’s wildlife resources by using wildlife as a context for learning.
hunter education for bonus points
Classroom and online instruction, and field days for hunter education. Online “Ethically Hunting Arizona” class allows hunters to earn a lifetime bonus point.