No one is born knowing how to surveil animals and shoot straight. Like other outdoor pursuits, learning works best with a mentor.
As millions explore hunting for the first time, the state Game Commission hopes to fill that role by hosting free webinars to provide new and veteran hunters of all ages the information and resources needed to be successful in the fall. The courses cover topics such as finding places to hunt, selecting a firearm, making heads or tails of regulations, basic biology of game species, hunting tactics, useful tips and preparing wild game for the table.
Each Learn to Hunt webinar is about an hour long, hosted by a Game Commission staff member and ends with a live Q&A session.
"Recruiting new hunters while retaining existing ones is a priority for the Game Commission," said Steve Smith, the commission's director of information and education, in a statement.
"Over the past two years, the number of individuals who purchase a hunting license has increased in Pennsylvania. These webinars will allow us to provide resources to those new hunters, as well as those who are interested in hunting but haven't yet given it a try, to prepare them for the seasons ahead."
The series began Thursday with "Squirrel Hunting 101." Additional live webinars start at 7 p.m. Sept. 9 and Sept. 21. Learn to Hunt continues with a "Pheasant Hunting 101" webinar at 7 p.m. on Oct. 7 and again on Oct. 26.
Advanced registration to view the webinars live is required at the Learn to Hunt page on the agency's website. Can't view a webinar live? Each will be recorded and available to view at the Learn to Hunt page. It is not necessary to have completed a Hunter-Trapper Education course, or to have purchased a hunting license to view the webinars.
Learn more about these courses and other Game Commission education programs at the commission's Hunter-Trapper Education page.
