How to Get Your 2025 Mississippi Hunter Education Course in 3 Easy Steps
Hunting in Mississippi is all about getting out into wild, beautiful country and enjoying the kind of mornings you just can’t find anywhere else. From deer slipping through the hardwoods to ducks dropping into flooded timber, the state offers plenty of chances to chase the game you love.
All Mississippi hunters (from new to seasoned hunters) have the responsibility of practicing good hunter safety, including wearing blaze orange for visibility, proper firearm handling, and understanding the hunting laws for the state.
To help you excel at this responsibility, the State of Mississippi requires all hunters born after January 1, 1972, to pass a hunter safety course.
So, if you're planning a hunt in 2025 (and looking ahead to 2026), keep reading to learn how to take your Mississippi hunter education course and get your hunting license.
How Do I Get My Hunter Education Card in Mississippi?
All hunters born after January 1, 1972, must complete a hunter safety course to earn a hunter education card in Mississippi.
You must have this certification to purchase a hunting license. The state offers two options to get certified.
1. Take a Hunter Education Course In-Person
Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks (MWFP) offers free in-person hunter education courses in various locations throughout the state. Courses typically run from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm for a full day of instruction. You must follow all instructions and attend the full day to receive your hunter education certification.
Plan your timing wisely to sign up for an available course and complete it ahead of the hunting season, with plenty of time to get your hunting license before your hunt.
2. Take a Hunter Education Course Online
Mississippi residents 12 years old and older can take the online hunter education course through Hunter-Ed. This is the only online course approved by MWFP and meets the state's requirements for hunter safety education.
This course is only available to residents and can be completed at home at a most convenient time.
3 Easy Steps to Get Your 2025 Mississippi Hunting License
With your hunter certification, you're ready to get your license and hunt! Here are three easy steps to get your Mississippi hunting license.
- Meet the Requirements (and Complete a Hunter Education Course)
Remember: all hunters born after January 1, 1972, must complete a hunter education course before hunting in Mississippi.
Hunter-Ed makes it easy to do that with our online course, approved by the Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks (MWFP). Hunters can also take an in-person course offered through the state. - Choose the Right License Type and Purchase It
Determine which license you need. Choose from resident, nonresident, sportsman, youth, apprentice, archery, lifetime, and other types of licenses. Then, purchase your license online via the MWFP website or from an approved license agent (e.g., Wal-Mart stores, supply stores, pawn or gun stores, and other designated locations). - Carry Proof of Your License When Hunting
Always carry your license when hunting. Additionally, if tags are required for the animal you plan to hunt, don't forget those when you pack your gear and head out into the field.
Let's look at these steps in more detail.
Take the Mississippi Hunter Education Course Online!
Step 1: How to Take the MS Hunter Education Course
The easiest way to get your hunter safety certification is to take the Hunter-Ed Online course!
Our course:
- Can be taken from anywhere you can connect to the internet using a computer, tablet, or phone.
- Includes animations, videos, illustrations, games, and quizzes to help you learn the required material.
- Allows unlimited attempts to pass the final exam. You'll need to score at least 70% on the exam to pass.
- Can be completed in about 3 hours.
- Is approved by the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) and MWFP.
- Saves your progress! Start and stop as needed to fit your schedule and work at your own pace.
- Provides free access to the course study guide to help you learn the material and pass the final exam.
- Gives you free access to Hunter Perks!
Hunter-Ed delivers everything you need to meet Mississippi's requirements for hunter education, plus a lifetime of ongoing support and educational opportunities to help you become a better hunter.
Step 2: Get Your Hunter Education Certification Card
After completing the course through Hunter-Ed and passing your final exam, you can immediately print out your Hunter Education Completion Card. This proves you completed your course and also serves as your permanent card to carry with you when hunting.
Your Hunter Education Card is Your Proof of Certification
Your card is an important document! Always carry it when you hunt as proof that you completed the hunter education course Mississippi requires. When you're in the field, wildlife officials can ask you to show your hunting license and safety certification.
But don't worry if you lose your card. You can log in to your Hunter-Ed student dashboard and print a new one.
Step 3: Where to Get Your MS Hunting License in 2025
Your Mississippi hunter safety course is now behind you. You're ready to get your hunting license and hunt!
Remember that you'll need a new hunting license every year. Last year's Mississippi hunt license isn't valid for the current or upcoming hunting seasons. Research carefully and purchase the correct license to hunt legally this season.
Buy Online
The easiest way to get your license is to buy it online. This can be especially convenient if you don't live close to an in-person agent location or you plan to hunt in Mississippi as a resident of another state
Buy from a License Agent
If you prefer to pick up a license in person, the state of Mississippi offers plenty of locations that offer hunting licenses.
Use the Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks website to find a location near you. In general, many Wal-Mart stores, supply stores, convenience stores, park offices, pawn shops, and other locations offer hunting licenses in Mississippi.
Why Hunter Education Is Important
Hunter education is a crucial part of responsible hunting (for new hunters and seasoned hunters). What you learn in one of these courses can save lives.
Hunter safety courses help ensure that hunters know and follow the law, often serving as a requirement for getting a license. It reduces accidents by teaching firearm safety and responsible field practices.
These courses also build practical skills (like navigation, first aid, and survival) and encourage respect for landowners, other hunters, and wildlife. Above all, they promote ethical, sustainable hunting that protects game for the future.
Take the Mississippi Hunter Education Course Online!
Why are a State-Specific Hunter Education Courses Important?
Mississippi requires residents to take a Mississippi-specific hunting safety course, and for good reason.
Hunter education courses are not one-size-fits-all. State-specific information can include important rules and regulations that can be critical to hunting safely and legally in that state.
So, before you assume a course from another state prepares you for hunting in any state, take a few hours to complete the Hunter-Ed hunter safety course for Mississippi and get certified!
Why Choose Hunter-Ed
When you choose Hunter-Ed, you get more.
Not only do you get a learn-at-your-pace online course that covers everything you need to know and meets your state's requirements, you get access to Hunter Perks.
Hunter Perks is an exclusive, free offering from the team at Hunter-Ed. No other hunter education provider offers this kind of ongoing support for hunters!
As soon as you purchase your course, you will have full access to:
- Hunting Tools: Hunter-tested resources (like apps) to help you hunt more confidently and successfully.
- Easy Access to Hunting Regulations: With just a few clicks, you can learn about the hunting regs for your state each year.
- Curated Blog and Video Content: Informational blogs and videos to help you keep learning and exploring how to be a better hunter.
- Ongoing Education Opportunities: Additional course options to help you learn more skills, like archery and saddle hunting. These are available to you at a discount.
Plus, Hunter Perks include contests to win free stuff and gear discounts to gather what you need for great hunts (while saving money).
These Perks never expire. You'll always have access to your Hunter-Ed dashboard and Hunter Perks to support you through your lifelong pursuit of hunting!
Get Hunter Safety Certified in Mississippi with Hunter-Ed
Don't wait for the hunting season to get here before you take the Mississippi hunter safety course. You won't be able to hunt without it!
It's easy to sign up for the Mississippi Hunter-Ed course, finish every unit and quiz, then pass the final exam so you're ready to hunt safely and legally in MS.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We have answers to your questions about taking the Mississippi hunter education course!
Q: Do I need a hunter education course to hunt in Mississippi?
Yes! All hunters born after January 1, 1972, must complete a hunter education course to hunt legally in Mississippi.
Q: Can you take the Mississippi Hunter Safety course online?
Yes, you can take the Mississippi hunter safety course online. Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks has approved Hunter-Ed as the only online course that you can complete to meet the requirements.
Q: How Soon Should I Sign Up for a Hunter Education Course?
We recommend signing up and completing your course at least a few weeks before the season begins.
Q: Do I Need a Certification for Every Season?
No, you don't need to recertify every season. Your MS hunter education course covers the only certification you'll need to hunt in Mississippi after completing the course and passing the final exam. Your certification is good for life!
Q: How Much Does it Cost to Get My Hunter Education Certification?
When taking the course through Hunter-Ed, the course fee is $34.95. This cost includes the course, study guide, unlimited tries to pass the final exam, your hunter education card, and Hunter Perks.
Q: What happens if you hunt without hunter ed?
Hunting without the required Hunter Education certification can result in fines. Your hunting license may also be invalid until you complete the course.
