Official Online Muzzleloader Course

About the Muzzleloader Education Course

Who Needs the Course?

Alaska requires hunters to complete a muzzleloader education course for those wanting to apply for any "Muzzleloader Only" permit hunt. All licenses, fees, and stamps must be carried on you while hunting.

All "Muzzleloader Only" hunts in Alaska require that the hunter be fully certified prior to applying for any drawing permit hunt or to hunt in any "muzzleloader only" area or season. Having only earned a Field Day Qualifier Certificate, does not qualify one as being "fully certified." You must complete the course by attending a mandatory field day.

For Non-Residents: After you have successfully completed the online portion of the course, Alaska will allow a "certified proctor" in your state to conduct the shooting proficiency test for the required Field Day. A "certified proctor" will include any current NRA Instructor, NMLRA Instructor (National Muzzleloader Rifle Association), RSO (Range Safety Officer), or any active IHEA Volunteer Instructor (International Hunter Education Association). The proctor will be required to provide their current certification number to be valid. It will be your responsibility to locate a proctor in your area. You will also receive a copy of the current Alaska Game Regulations and required field day material that applies directly to hunting in Alaska with a muzzleloader. You must read and understand this material. Once you have completed the online portion of the course, please contact Kirk Lingofelt (907-267-2373) or by email, [email protected] to receive the required packet for your Field Day.

For Alaska Residents: A number of muzzleloader field days will be offered in every region of the state of Alaska throughout the year. As the need arises, additional field days can be added to the schedule, based on volunteer instructor availability and location of requests. You can view the statewide schedule of Muzzleloader Field Days at www.huntereducation.alaska.gov. Utilizing a "certified proctor" will only be approved on a case-by-case basis for students living in areas where a field day has not been offered. A "certified proctor" in Alaska would included any current NRA or NMLRA Instructor, Range Safety Officer, IHEA Volunteer Instructor, ADF&G employee, Wildlife Trooper, Village Public Safety Officer, or Wildlife Refuge Officer. Please contact Kirk Lingofelt (907-267-2373) or by email, [email protected] for more information.

How Much Does it Cost?

You may register for the course and study the online material for free. After you pass the Final Exam, you'll pay a one-time fee of $34.50 for your Muzzleloader Education Course Completion Certificate. (Payment is required only after you pass. If you fail, you may repeat the final exam at no cost.)

What Does the Course Cover?

The Muzzleloader Certification Course provides information and hands-on training when working with black powder, black powder substitutes, and muzzleloaders at the range and in the field. This course is required for all hunters wanting to apply for any "Muzzleloader Only" permit hunt.

The Muzzleloader Course also covers the following areas: firearms safety, wildlife conservation, being a responsible/ethical hunter, shot placement, and ballistic information on hunting with a muzzleloader.

Completing the Course

Unit Quizzes

As you progress through the course, you'll be given the opportunity to demonstrate how well you're understanding the hunter safety topics by taking a quiz at the end of each unit (chapter). You'll need to score 80% or greater on the unit quiz before moving on to the next unit. If you don't pass a unit quiz, that's no problem. You will study the material again until you are ready to take the quiz again.

Online Exam

After completing all units, you'll take the Online Exam. You must score 80% or greater on the Online Exam to pass. If you fail the Online Exam, there is no penalty. You can retake the exam as many times as you like until you pass.

After Passing the Course

Upon passing the Online Exam, you can print out your Course Completion Certificate. After a one to three day waiting period, you will receive an email informing you that you can sign up online for a Field Day event in your area. You must wait to receive this notification email before you can sign up.

Important Each student must fill out a Student Consent Form (pdf) and present it to the instructor at your selected Field Day. If you are under 18, a parent or guardian should fill it out and must sign it. Every student must also present their Course Completion Certificate to the instructor.

Field Day

At the Field Day, you must successfully complete the remaining course requirements, which include:

• A one hour discussion of "muzzleloader only" hunts in Alaska and specific regulations discussion
• Shooting proficiency exercise (your firearm, powder in original factory container, and bullets)
• Your firearm may not be equipped with a scope or use smokeless powder.
• A written test (required at the discretion of the instructor)

Once all requirements have been met, you will receive your Alaska Muzzleloader Certification Card.