Do I need to take the hunting safety course before applying for my PAL

[blacksmithden]

BTW...in the title of your thread, you said "hunter safety course". We're all assuming you are talking about the "firearms safety course". At least I think that's what we're all thinking.

A hunter safety course is a totally different thing, and varies from province to province.

[Petamocto]

I took it to mean that he was asking if he had to take his hunter safety course before the firearms safety course (?)

Maybe because they're often advertised as a combo?

[Redman]

Well It was more should I take he hunting course before apply fory PAL. Wondering that if I didn't would I have to re apply again in the future to update my license should I choose to start hunting. People answered I do not have to. And then the conversation shifted because someine suggested the possibility of chanllenging the course and I didn't know what that meant. I will be taking the non restricted course since I paid for it already. And I will take the restricted course for since I've only had one day of shooting hand guns. I want to make sure I can learn more so as to be properly informed and safe. Thanks everyone this is my first post and has been good to read all the info shared.

[Petamocto]

Great idea and I commend you for not trying to fast forward through something that should be taken seriously.

You definitely do have to take an extra course at some point though if you ever want to hunt anything. That's called the hunter safety course, and even after that you have to go through extra hoops depending on the types of animals you'll be shooting.

[Redman]

Thanks I will also have to find a animal that I really like to eat. Wouldn't shoot it just for fun.

[Mad Hatter]

A hunter safety course is a totally different thing, and varies from province to province.

I just finished my AB Hunter's Ed Course. Learned a lot. Much better to take a class with real people and real instructors as you will learn more and learn better. I'm big on classroom. IMO just challenging a test doesn't give you everything you need to know. Would you want a 16 year old who has never been behind the wheel of a car to challenge the test, pass it and then go on the street without any practical instruction?

[Haywire1]

If the hunters ed course, or the cfsc had the same amount of useful info as the driver training course it would be amazing. While I will accept that the hunters ed course has useful info for those who have never hunted, or been outdoors, or taken a basic first aid course, the cfsc is full of errors, misinformation, as well as many factual errors.

And being in a classroom does not equal good training either. The instructor cabelas hired to teach the csfc course informed the class that using a pistol mag in a rifle was illegal, nr firearms need to be trigger locked at all times, and transported in a locked case, it was illegal to shokt on crown land without a hunting license, I spent more time going over the correct laws and regulations with my wife than she spent in the course

[Mad Hatter]

If the hunters ed course, or the cfsc had the same amount of useful info as the driver training course it would be amazing. While I will accept that the hunters ed course has useful info for those who have never hunted, or been outdoors, or taken a basic first aid course, the cfsc is full of errors, misinformation, as well as many factual errors.

And being in a classroom does not equal good training either. The instructor cabelas hired to teach the csfc course informed the class that using a pistol mag in a rifle was illegal, nr firearms need to be trigger locked at all times, and transported in a locked case, it was illegal to shokt on crown land without a hunting license, I spent more time going over the correct laws and regulations with my wife than she spent in the course

Point taken. But then there are the good cfsc instructors like I had; ex- Calgary cop and prison guard, currently a gun owner, raised in the NWT, hunted all his life... Guess I just had a good experience.

[Edward Teach]

I took the hunter course after getting my PAL and because I already had it, I didn't have to do the gun handling portion of the hunting exam. This was in BC.