Bowhunter Education

The Ohio Bowhunters Association in conjunction with the International Bowhunter Education Foundation and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources offers free Bowhunters Education Classes to all Bowhunters from Ohio and abroad. These courses offer the new as well as the seasoned bowhunter a wealth of knowledge that will challenge and educate today’s bowhunter.

The OBA has been on the forefront of bowhunter education since the mid-1970’s when we started our own Bowhunter Education Program. Now that the OBA is involved in the International Bowhunter Educational Program we have access to a network of volunteer instructors and a variety of materials the OBA developed or helped develope. We are also able to expand our educational base across the country and world-wide. Some states require this course before you can legally obtain a valid bowhunting license. If you are planning on hunting in the future in any of the states listed below, you will need to take this course to obtain a license.

THE NATIONAL BOWHUNTER EDUCATION FOUNDATION’S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE BOWHUNTING THROUGH EDUCATION

The OBA sponsors these courses and they are free or a small fee and open to the public. All materials needed as well as lunch and drinks are provided.  If you are a young or new bowhunter you will learn basic and advanced skills that will put you ahead of the learning curve. If you are a seasoned bowhunter you will build on what you currently know and gain skills that you will pass on to others.  Here is a short list of knowledge and skills you will gain from the Bowhunter Education Course.

• You will learn of the history and development of modern bowhunting and the challenges of hunting with the bow and arrow.
• Wildlife conservation and the bowhunters role in conservation.
• Wildlife identification.
• Archery and bowhunting safety.
• Bowhunting ethics and the responsibility of today’s bowhunter.
• How to select the proper hunting bow and equipment for you.
• How to make arrows and match them to your bow.
• The proper way to sharpen broadheads for maximum penetration and humane bow kills.
• How to prepare for bowhunting by choosing camouflage, dressing for the elements, proper archery practice, and scouting your hunting area.
• Hunting techniques and strategies such as still hunting, stalking, and glassing. Ground and blind hunting as well as treestand hunting, treestand location selection and treestand safety are covered.
• How to use scents, lures, decoys, and game calls in your hunt.
• Bowfishing, bowfishing equipment and challenges.
• Shot placement, shot strategy, and setting up the perfect shot.
• How to recover and care for big game such as blood trailing and field dressing.
• Basic First Aid in the field and preparedness for injury or hazards.
• How to read topographical maps and compass use.
• Survivor skills and how to deal with hypothermia, heat stroke, and exhaustion.

The International Bowhunter Education Program (IBEP) is offered in all 50 states, all Canadian Provinces, and 13 foreign countries. 17 States and Canadian Provinces require you to take an IBEP course before legally obtaining a bowhunting license. Always check local laws as regulations may change or special regulations may exist in some areas.The states and provinces requiring an IBEP course are:

• Alaska
• Connecticut
• Idaho
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Montana
• Nebraska
• New Brunswick
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• Nova Scotia
• Quebec
• Rhode Island
• South Dakota
• Vermont

Bowhunter Education is also offered in these countries:

• Australia
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Mexico
• Norway
• South Africa
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom