It's no accident that hunting is a safe activity. That's because today's hunters are better educated than ever before. They're going into the field knowing how to hunt safely and responsibly. A knowledge provided by Hunter Education Courses. Sgt. Brian Albert, with Maryland Natural Resources Police, says you must be licensed to hunt in the state. "Unless you are a private landowner, and you still have to abide by the regulations and the bag limits, even if you are a landowner," said Albert.

The goals of Maryland's Hunter Education Programs include the reduction of hunting accidents and violations; promotion of safe, responsible and knowledgeable hunting activities and to continue the traditions of the hunting experience. "Many people are injured while hunting when their own weapon discharges. Some of them are just trigger blocks. That just keeps the trigger from being pulled. But that would still allow for, if the gun was jolted very hard, it could still go off, if it was dropped," continued Albert. A Mount Airy man accidentally shot himself in the lower leg, on November 30th, while hunting on private property with his family.

Maryland’s online Hunter Safety Course, provided through hunter-ed.com, now features professional narration in Spanish.

Over 8,000 people take the Maryland Hunter Education Course every year.