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CE/FS Bowhunting Courses

Conservation Education/Firearms Safety (CE/FS) courses are administered by the Department of Energy and 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 Energy and 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.

Pre-registration is Mandatory

All bowhunting courses are 6 hours or longer. You must attend all scheduled class times.

Register for Available Bowhunting Courses

Description of the Basic Bowhunting Course

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.

The Connecticut CE/FS Program receives 75% of its funds from the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program. The remaining 25% state match is derived by using the value of the services provided by the volunteer instructors. The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program is funded by the excise tax paid by sportsmen on rifles, shotgun, ammunition, handguns, and archery equipment.

Partnering to fund conservation and connect people with nature.

CE/FS Main Page

Hunting and Trapping Main Page

Content last updated on October 4, 2019.