Why It Matters: In a world where it seems to be increasingly easier for kids to be completely disconnected from nature and our time-honored traditions, efforts to bring awareness and hands-on training into schools would positively impact today’s youth on multiple fronts. Additionally, efforts specifically targeted at bringing hunter education programs to schools would play a pivotal role in recruiting the next generation of hunters to carry on our sporting heritage.
Highlights:
- On February 13, Georgia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) Co-Chair Representatives Chas Cannon and Matt Dubnik, among other Caucus members, introduced House Bill 451, which would allow public schools to offer hunter safety education courses in grades six through twelve.
- The curriculum for the course will be optional and based on hunter safety education courses currently offered by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and be taught by individuals who meet qualifications set by the DNR.
- House Bill 451 is currently awaiting committee assignment
America’s youth are faced with many challenges associated with sedentary behavior, like obesity. By bringing hunting, angling, and nature appreciation programs, like hunter safety education, into schools, students have the opportunity to be exposed to our time-honored traditions which could improve their quality of life while simultaneously recruiting the next generation of hunters that pay into the American System of Conservation Funding.
Advancing hunter education in the schools programs has been a long-standing priority for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF). Other states have explored similar efforts supported by CSF. In Michigan and Illinois, there is currently legislation proposed that would create a model program for firearm safety to be offered as an elective in schools that would also include instruction on hunter safety education.
Representatives Cannon and Dubnik’s bill focuses on the goal of providing young and beginning hunters with the information they need to understand the basics of hunting, general hunting practices, wildlife conservation, and conservation ethic shared by all sportsmen and women. The bill provides that hunting safety courses in public schools helps to recruit the next generation of sportsmen and women, which contributes to hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) efforts. House Bill 451 requires that the state Board of Education develop content standards for instruction in hunting safety no later than April 1, 2026. Local school boards will have the option to establish a curriculum in hunting safety beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.
CSF thanks Representatives Cannon and Dubnik for their initiative and leadership on this critical issue that would benefit Georgia’s youth. CSF looks forward to working with the Caucus, the DNR, and our partners on this initiative.
