Conservation Education/Firearms Safety (CE/FS) courses are administered by the Department of Environmental Protection's Wildlife Division and are taught throughout the year by a dedicated corps of certified volunteer instructors.

It is recommended that you enroll early in the year and not wait until a month before the hunting seasons begin. Courses fill up quickly and you may have to wait or travel a longer distance to attend a course if none are available in your town.  Where courses are taught varies from town to town and includes such locations as sportsmen's clubs, community centers, schools and offices of the Department of Environmental Protection.   There are no fees for any of the courses and all materials are provided free of charge by the Conservation Education/Firearms Safety Program. Currently available courses are listed below.

History and Purpose

Since 1955, the State of Connecticut has provided instruction for new hunters. The Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection is required by law (CGS. Sec. 26-31) to:

• Formulate a course of instruction in safe hunting practices and the handling and use of hunting and trapping equipment.
• Require proof of successful completion of the necessary courses from any person twelve years of age of older seeking a hunting license for the first time.
• Require any youth twelve to sixteen years of age seeking to purchase a junior license to hunt with a licensed adult.
• Require all first time trappers, regardless of age, to obtain trapping certification before they can be licensed. As of 1982, a junior license is required for minors under sixteen years of age.
• Require that no license to hunt be issued to any person unless they have held a resident license to hunt with firearms in any state of country within five years from the date of application or possesses a certificate of completion from Connecticut or an equivalent from another state, province or country.

Who should take courses?

• All first time hunters at least 10 years old and trappers of any age.
• Those hunters who have not held a resident license within the past five years from another state or country.
• After January 1, 2002, all persons who wish to hunt with a bow and have not taken the CE/FS bowhunting course or its equivalent.
• Those individuals who have never taken the course and want to participate in a controlled hunt.
• Individuals who want to learn more about outdoor safety, hunting and wildlife management.

Description of the Basic Firearms Course

The basic Conservation Education/Firearms Safety Course (CE/FS) consists of at least 16 hours of instruction in the following topics:

In addition to the sixteen hours of instruction, students must pass a final examination of 100 questions with 80% correct. They must demonstrate their ability to handle firearms in actual field conditions such as live firing at a range, fence crossing and removal of firearms from vehicles. With all the time considered, the average course is about 20 hours long.

Bowhunting Courses

To meet the license requirements to bowhunt, applicants must successfully pass a specialized course. The course is approximately six hours long and consists of both classroom study and field work.   After January 1, 2002, all persons wishing to hunt with a bow must take the CE/FS bowhunting course or its equivalent.

Trapping Courses

To meet the license requirements to trap, applicants must successfully pass a basic trapping course. The basic trapping course is approximately six hours long and consists of both classroom study and field work. Anyone wishing to land trap for coyotes must also take the Coyote Land Trapping Course. This is a separate course from the basic trapping course. Anyone wishing to enroll in the Coyote Land Trapping Course, must have completed the basic trapping course or an equivalent course from another state or province. The Coyote Land Trapping Course teaches specific practical techniques that must be used for land trapping coyotes. Persons who pass this course and purchase a trapping license are authorized during a specific season to land trap coyotes on private property of at least 10 contiguous acres in size.