My palms are sweating with anticipation as I pound away on the keyboard this morning.  We are only 5 days away from the beginning of deer season here in Area 2 of Northwest Louisiana.

Archery season will begin this Sunday, October 1, and it means that every red blooded southern boy will be dragging out all their camo and gear in the next couple of days to begin the pursuit of that elusive "Forty Point Buck."

It's become a joke at my house that it's time for "my annual divorce" as each weekend through the end of the year will include at least a couple of hours at the deer camp.

However, some hunters who've just become 16 years of age and are required to purchase a Louisiana Hunting License or hunters who've just moved here from elsewhere, will be required to pass the Hunter Education Course.

According to Louisiana law,

Every hunter is encouraged to take hunter education. However, Louisiana law requires all hunters born on or after September 1, 1969 receive Hunter Education Certification from an LDWF-approved course prior to hunting in Louisiana, unless they are under direct supervision of a qualified person.

If you need to squeeze in this course between now and when gun season opens on October 28, here's a quick listing of the classes I've been able to find that are FREE and open to the public.

  • Monday, October 2 through Thursday, October 5 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm nightly at the Lincoln Parish Public Safety Complex in Ruston, La.  To register just click HERE.
  • Tuesday, October 3, Thursday October 5 and Friday, October 6 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm nightly, at Saline High School in Saline, Louisiana.  To register just click HERE.
  • Monday, October 23 and Tuesday, October 24 from 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm nightly at the LDWF Region 1 Office in Minden, Louisiana.  To register just click HERE.

Each of these courses will also include one additional day for the "Hunter Education Field Day."

The classes can also be done online at hunter-ed.com but there is a charge for these classes and online students must still complete the Hunter Education Field Day.  For a complete list of the upcoming dates for those, just go HERE.

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