Help teach new hunters the basics of hunting and safety as a volunteer instructor or mentor.
Hunting and shooting sports are about quality time spent with family and friends in the outdoors. Each year, thousands of hunters offer their time and talents to change the lives of family and friends. They also ensure that the tradition of hunting remains strong and vibrant. Mentoring will change your life forever, too.
Experienced hunters who are passionate about safety and sharing their love of the sport are invited to apply to become hunter education instructors. Please contact the Hunter Education Coordinator at 402-471-6134 for additional information.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has established the Operational Policy and Procedures Manual for Hunter Education Programs to govern the Hunter Education Programs.
The following five steps are mandatory and all must be completed. The first four steps may be completed in any order.
Only the Hunter Education Coordinator can issue certification. This will be done once the applicant has completed the five steps for becoming an instructor.
An instructor going through the five steps is considered to be an apprentice instructor. This term also applies to those instructors whose certification has lapsed and wish to regain certification. By policy, any person who has not taught for 36 months has lost their certification and may be required to repeat the five steps to become a new certified instructor.
At no point in the process may apprentice instructors issue certificates of completion or file instructor reports. Only certified instructors are permitted to issue certificates of completion and file instructor reports.
Volunteer instructors are extremely important to the success of Nebraska’s Hunter Education Programs. It is imperative that our volunteer instructors effectively teach students the hunting principles related to ethical behavior, responsibility, safety and wildlife management.
Volunteer instructors are representatives of the Commission when teaching students, and are vital in meeting the obligation to provide the mandatory Hunter and Bowhunter Education training on a state wide basis.
View the instructor management system, videos, forms and other resources for certified volunteer hunter and bowhunter education instructors.
The Nebraska Mentor Network is a group of like-minded individuals who are interested in mentoring new hunters and shooters. This online community provides a place for mentors to ask questions about helping others, learn about upcoming events, and find tips for getting more people into the outdoors. It is easy to join, we welcome anyone with a passion for hunting, shooting sports and helping others learn how to enjoy the great outdoors.
The Learn Hunting network pairs beginning hunters with experienced hunters in their area. You will be offered additional educational training in the program. Your safety and privacy are important. Each student using this platform has undergone a safety screening and you decide if you want to work with them.
In order to run a club, county, or multi-county 4-H shooting sports program, instructors must be certified by Nebraska 4-H. Nebraska 4-H has opportunities for those passionate about shooting sports to become both Adult Leaders (21 year of age or older) and Apprentice Leaders (age 14-20).
The Nebraska Mentor Network is a group of like-minded individuals who are interested in mentoring new hunters and shooters. This online community provides a place for mentors to ask questions about helping others, learn about upcoming events, and find tips for getting more people into the outdoors. It is easy to join, we welcome anyone with a passion for hunting, shooting sports and helping others learn how to enjoy the great outdoors.
Get involved with one of the partner organizations below to meet others passionate about conservation. Ensure that access and opportunity are available for generations to come.
Nebraska Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail, and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and program.
Ducks Unlimited is the world’s leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation. Its mission is habitat conservation, including the conservation, restoration, and management of wetlands and associated habitats for North American’s waterfowl. Ducks Unlimited plans to achieve its mission through diverse public and private partnerships to address the full range of factors that continue to erode waterfowl habitat across North America.
The National Wild Turkey Federation partners with government wildlife agencies of all levels to improve the health of a variety of critical habitats, including grasslands, forests, and streamside areas. NTWF also works to increase hunter education and access opportunities, as well as to improve public hunting access by acquiring new lands and supporting current state wildlife agency access programs.
The Big Game Conservation Association is a group of local people dedicated to the protection and management of Nebraska’s big game species. This is in order to ensure the future of all Nebraska big game. They are non-profit grassroots organizations that will relentlessly preserve the big game species of Nebraska. Not only do they have a commitment to preserve these species but also to preserve their habitat and our hunting heritage.
Hunting permits
Purchase hunting, big game and turkey permits, as well as supertags and combo lotteries.
