How do I get hunter education in Alaska?
In Alaska, hunters born after January 1, 1986 need hunter education to hunt in Units 7, 13, 14, 15 and 20 and some special areas (it is not needed to buy a license): take the $19.95 online course, then a free 4 to 5 hour in-person field day with a live-fire shoot, with no minimum age though 10 and up do best.
Data updated October 27, 2026. Every answer below is from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's own pages, with the date each was checked.
Alaska hunter education at a glance
| Question | What the agency says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who has to take hunter education in Alaska? | Anyone born after January 1, 1986 who is 18 or older must be certified before hunting in Units 7, 13, 14, 15 and 20. Certification is also required regardless of age in several special areas, including the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge, Eagle River, Palmer/Wasilla, Eklutna Lake and Mendenhall Wetlands areas, on military installations, and for all Youth Hunts. It is not required to buy an Alaska hunting license. | Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, checked October 27, 2026 |
| How old do you have to be to take hunter education in Alaska? | There is no minimum age to enroll, but the curriculum is designed for ages 10 and up and students must be able to pass the written test and safely complete the live-fire shoot. Parents of students 12 and under are encouraged to attend the field day, and an instructor may require it. | Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Can you take Alaska hunter education online? | The course has two parts: a 6 to 8 hour online course with a written test, then an in-person field day booked with the Field Day Qualifier number emailed after passing. The field day must be finished within one year of the online portion or the whole course must be repeated. | Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Is there a field day in Alaska? | Every student attends a 4 to 5 hour field day with a regulations review, handling practice with non-functioning firearms, a field course and a live-fire proficiency shoot. After 15 practice shots, the student must put four of five shots in a 2 inch group with an air rifle at 33 feet, or a 3 or 4 inch group with a rimfire rifle at 50 feet indoors or 25 yards outdoors. Firearms and ammunition are provided and personal firearms are not allowed. | Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, checked October 27, 2026 |
| How much does Alaska hunter education cost? | The online hunter education course costs $19.95 and there is no additional fee for the field day. Separate weapon courses cost $30 (bowhunter), $30 (crossbow) and $34.50 (muzzleloader). | Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, checked October 27, 2026 |
| How do you replace a lost Alaska hunter education card? | Anyone who took a State of Alaska course can request a replacement card through ADF&G's online request form with name, date of birth and mailing address; a confirmation email follows within 72 hours, or call (907) 267-2187. | Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Does Alaska accept hunter education cards from other states? | Hunter and bowhunter education certifications from every state and province, and some foreign countries, meet Alaska's requirements; carry the card or a copy on your phone when hunting. Alaska's certification is recognized by all states, Canadian provinces and Mexico. | Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, checked October 27, 2026 |
| Can young hunters in Alaska hunt without the certificate? | In Units 7, 13, 14, 15 and 20, hunters under 18 who are not certified may hunt under the direct immediate supervision of a licensed hunter 18 or older who is certified or was born on or before January 1, 1986. In the Mendenhall Wetlands refuge, uncertified hunters under 10 may hunt under direct adult supervision. | Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, checked October 27, 2026 |
Who has to take hunter education in Alaska?
Anyone born after January 1, 1986 who is 18 or older must be certified before hunting in Units 7, 13, 14, 15 and 20. Certification is also required regardless of age in several special areas, including the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge, Eagle River, Palmer/Wasilla, Eklutna Lake and Mendenhall Wetlands areas, on military installations, and for all Youth Hunts. It is not required to buy an Alaska hunting license.
Source: Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, checked October 27, 2026.
How old do you have to be to take hunter education in Alaska?
There is no minimum age to enroll, but the curriculum is designed for ages 10 and up and students must be able to pass the written test and safely complete the live-fire shoot. Parents of students 12 and under are encouraged to attend the field day, and an instructor may require it.
Source: Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, checked October 27, 2026.
Can you take Alaska hunter education online?
The course has two parts: a 6 to 8 hour online course with a written test, then an in-person field day booked with the Field Day Qualifier number emailed after passing. The field day must be finished within one year of the online portion or the whole course must be repeated.
Source: Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, checked October 27, 2026.
Is there a field day in Alaska?
Every student attends a 4 to 5 hour field day with a regulations review, handling practice with non-functioning firearms, a field course and a live-fire proficiency shoot. After 15 practice shots, the student must put four of five shots in a 2 inch group with an air rifle at 33 feet, or a 3 or 4 inch group with a rimfire rifle at 50 feet indoors or 25 yards outdoors. Firearms and ammunition are provided and personal firearms are not allowed.
Source: Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, checked October 27, 2026.
How much does Alaska hunter education cost?
The online hunter education course costs $19.95 and there is no additional fee for the field day. Separate weapon courses cost $30 (bowhunter), $30 (crossbow) and $34.50 (muzzleloader).
Source: Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, checked October 27, 2026.
How do you replace a lost Alaska hunter education card?
Anyone who took a State of Alaska course can request a replacement card through ADF&G's online request form with name, date of birth and mailing address; a confirmation email follows within 72 hours, or call (907) 267-2187.
Source: Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, checked October 27, 2026.
Does Alaska accept hunter education cards from other states?
Hunter and bowhunter education certifications from every state and province, and some foreign countries, meet Alaska's requirements; carry the card or a copy on your phone when hunting. Alaska's certification is recognized by all states, Canadian provinces and Mexico.
Source: Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, checked October 27, 2026.
Can young hunters in Alaska hunt without the certificate?
In Units 7, 13, 14, 15 and 20, hunters under 18 who are not certified may hunt under the direct immediate supervision of a licensed hunter 18 or older who is certified or was born on or before January 1, 1986. In the Mendenhall Wetlands refuge, uncertified hunters under 10 may hunt under direct adult supervision.
Source: Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, checked October 27, 2026.
What this page leaves out
These could not be confirmed on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's pages when this page was checked, so they are left out rather than guessed:
- Apprentice or mentor license (none described on ADF&G hunter education pages). Check adfg.alaska.gov.
- Hunter education deferral (none described; the supervised under-18 rule is the only alternative shown). Check adfg.alaska.gov.
- Whether a replacement card has a fee (not stated). Check Alaska Department of Fish and Game, (907) 267-2187.
Hunting in Alaska by the numbers
In 2024, 87,159 people held a paid Alaska hunting license, down 7.4% from 94,142 in 2022, the 42nd most of the 50 states. They bought 539,375 licenses, tags, permits and stamps (452,224 resident, 87,151 nonresident) for a gross cost of $16,734,910, 69.7% of it paid by nonresidents. Against Alaska's 740,133 residents in 2024 that is 11.8 license holders per 100 people, though license holders include nonresidents.
| Licenses sold in | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid hunting license holders | 94,142 | 91,300 | 87,159 |
| Resident licenses, tags, permits and stamps | 483,068 | 422,562 | 452,224 |
| Nonresident licenses, tags, permits and stamps | 91,169 | 85,951 | 87,151 |
| All licenses, tags, permits and stamps | 574,237 | 508,513 | 539,375 |
| Gross cost paid by residents | $5,111,240 | $4,897,388 | $5,068,831 |
| Gross cost paid by nonresidents | $12,274,325 | $11,550,827 | $11,666,079 |
| Gross cost, all buyers | $17,385,564 | $16,448,214 | $16,734,910 |
| Rank among the 50 states by license holders | 42nd | 42nd | 42nd |
Source: USFWS license data, checked October 27, 2026. USFWS counts each license year in the apportionment year two years later (licenses sold in 2024 are apportionment year 2026). License holders are not a count of hunters: hunters exempt from buying a license are left out, and some hunters buy licenses in more than one state. Population: Census Bureau 2024 estimate.
How much Alaska land has public access?
PAD-US 4.0 lists 238,431,024 acres of Alaska with public access, 56.0% of the state's 426,089,162 acres: 106,955,665 acres open access and 131,475,359 acres restricted access (a permit, draw, season or other limit).
| Public access land, PAD-US 4.0 | Acres | Share of the state |
|---|---|---|
| Open access | 106,955,665 acres | 25.1% |
| Restricted access | 131,475,359 acres | 30.9% |
| Managed by federal agencies | 224,053,044 acres | 52.6% |
| Managed by state agencies | 14,357,151 acres | 3.4% |
| Managed by local, private, tribal and other managers | 20,829 acres | 0.0% |
| All public access land | 238,431,024 acres | 56.0% |
Source: PAD-US 4.0 (USGS), 2024 release, checked October 27, 2026. PAD-US does not record whether hunting is allowed: some of this land is closed to hunting, so check each property's rules with its manager.
What to do next
- Start the course on the agency's page: adfg.alaska.gov. Rules change each season, so read the current page before you buy a license.
- Getting ready for deer season? Hunt Ready's 8-week whitetail track puts the course in week 1, with fitness, shooting practice and field skills after it.
- Hunting data for the state: Alaska hunting.
- Hunter education in other states