Hunting seasons are almost here, so if you need a hunter education class, drop everything and sign up for one of the remaining classes available for 2013.

You can register online at HuntNH.com/Hunting/hunter_ed.htm. Just browse the calendar for the best date and location for you, then click on the course of your choice and complete the online registration form to officially join the class.

Most of the remaining classes are in September. Walk-ins are accepted on a space-available basis, but there are no guarantees; pre-registration is highly recommended.

If you have already completed the online course, please sign up for the required field day now. There are a limited number of field days available at the beginning of October. No field days will be offered from the end of October until the spring. Taking the online course does not guarantee you will find space in a field day.

Hunter education is required in New Hampshire before a new hunter can purchase his or her first hunting license. If you are age 16 or older, you need a license to hunt.

To meet this requirement, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department offers Hunter and Bowhunter Education classes around the state. Participants must be at least 12 years old to achieve certification in basic Hunter Education or Bowhunter Education.

Those hunters who purchased the Apprentice Hunting License last year must take Hunter Education before they can purchase a hunting license this year. The Apprentice Hunting License allows people to hunt under the guidance of an experienced hunter, without first taking a Hunter Education course. You can purchase the license once in your lifetime. It is available only through the Fish and Game office in Concord. Learn more at HuntNH.com/Hunting/apprentice.html. The new license was very popular in its first year, with a total of 1,666 apprentice licenses sold in 2012.

For more information on hunter education in New Hampshire, visit HuntNH.com/Hunting/hunter_ed.htm or call 271-3214.

Hunter Education in New Hampshire is funded by Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration, a user-pay, user-benefit program supported by an excise tax on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment. Learn more at WildNH.com/SFWR_program/sfwr_program.htm.