Pennsylvania’s House Game and Fisheries Committee resoundingly approved an effort to make Hunter-Trapper Education more accessible to students across the state with courses to be taught in public schools.

According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission House Bill 2460 (180-22) calls for the PGC to develop an age appropriate Hunter-Trapper Education Program, including firearm safety instruction, for students in grades 6-12. Schools, says the PGC, could opt to incorporate this as an extracurricular class, or as part of an existing course for the purpose of outdoor recreation activity. Responsibility for this task will reside solely with the Game Commission, as to not add any burden to the Department of Education.

“Students are our future, and they represent the next generation of Pennsylvania sportsmen,” said PGC Executive Director Steve Smith. The reality is, kids have so many things competing for their time and attention.” “The agency applauds the committee and this legislative effort to provide hunter education in schools because it’s a great way to expose more students to the lessons of wildlife conservation and potentially pique their interest in wanting to participate in hunting themselves.”

Under state law, all new hunters must successfully complete the PGC’s basic Hunter-Trapper-Education course before obtaining a hunting license. Students who would take the course in school would be eligible to purchase a license after they successfully complete the course in school.

“I believe it is imperative that hunter and trapper education be provided in our schools, to help ensure that current and future generations have an opportunity to learn safe gun and hunting/trapping practices,” said Rep. Anita Kulik (D-Allegheny), who sponsored the bill. “This is especially important for our youth, who are interested, but may not otherwise have an opportunity.”

Throughout the course, students are taught the ethics of responsible hunting behavior, basic firearms safety, basic shooting skills, basic firearm and archery hunting techniques, wildlife management, outdoor preparedness, and the basics of fur-taking (trapping). Firearms and ammunition would not be brought into a school building as part of the instruction.

Pennsylvania isn’t the only state looking to make Hunter-Trapper Education opportunities more accessible in our schools through legislation. According to the Congressional Sportsman’s Foundation, Pennsylvania would be joining several other states including Colorado, Louisiana, Michigan, West Virginia, Illinois, Tennessee, New Mexico, and most recently Georgia whose Governor signed similar legislation into law on May 5, 2026.

I wish this would have been offered back when I was in that age group. I learned safe gun handling and small game hunting around the fields of Ironton from my uncle and grandfather (my mother’s brother and father). And back then, I initially carried my Red Ryder BB gun. After learning the basics, my grandfather let me hunt with his single shot 16-gauge shotgun. The most memorable times afield.