About Explore Bowhunting
Explore Bowhunting is a curriculum that teaches students about hunting in their classrooms. With more than 20 activities to choose from, students will learn a variety of skills that will not only help them become better hunters but develop an overall appreciation for wildlife and nature.
The Archery Trade Association created this curriculum with the educator in mind. Easy-to-follow lesson plans, an overflowing equipment kit, media packets and more make this curriculum fun for both the students and the teachers instructing. Review sample lesson plans below to see the fun that awaits you and your students and watch a short video clip on the curriculum.
Explore Bowhunting
Explore Bowhunting
Getting Started
The Pennsylvania Game Commission partnered with the Archery Trade Association to bring Explore Bowhunting to Pennsylvania. Explore Bowhunting is the perfect compliment to the Pennsylvania National Archery in the Schools Program and Pennsylvania's Basic Hunter-Trapper Education course. The Pennsylvania Game Commission will work with schools so that your students can learn all the skills necessary to become a hunter in Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission will host short workshops to introduce instructors to the curriculum and then, as funding allows, help schools to purchase equipment kits and curriculum books to fully implement the program in their classrooms. If you are from the:
Additional Bowhunting & Archery Safety Courses
Be a better bowhunter! Improve your skills, stay safe and increase your chance of success with one of our Bowhunting and Archery Safety courses.
These Bowhunting and Archery Safety courses do not replace the Basic Hunter-Trapper Education Course requirement for all first-time hunters and trappers before purchasing a general PA hunting or tapping license. Although a bowhunter education certificate is not required to hunt with archery equipment in Pennsylvania, bowhunters may need a certificate to hunt in other states. Both the in-person and online Successful Bowhunter courses provide a certificate of completion.
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Successful Bowhunting Course: In-person This classroom version of the Successful Bowhunting Course is offered to anyone age 11 and older. Successful Bowhunting Certificate Courses expand upon the National Bowhunter Education Foundation's International Bowhunter Education Program curriculum and provide students with a certificate accepted by states that require bowhunter education. There is a fee for this course. Curriculum covers safe, ethical, responsible bowhunting, big game anatomy and shot placement, distance estimation, treestand use and safety, shooting basics, and big game recovery and care. The course also includes a 3-D field exercise followed by an exam. The classroom session for this course is 8 hours. Before attending the classroom session, students must complete an independent study portion using the Today's Bowhunter student manual. To complete the independent study requirement, download a copy of the Today's Bowhunter student manual. To request a copy of the Today's Bowhunter student manual by mail, please contact the PGC Hunter Education and Outreach Division to request at: pgchuntereducation@pa.gov The fee for this course is $20 If there are no Successful Bowhunting Certificate Classroom Courses listed in your area, please contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission Region Office serving your county to inquire about upcoming courses.
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Successful Bowhunting Course: Online The online Successful Bowhunting Course is offered to anyone age 16 or older. Successful Bowhunting Certificate Courses expand upon the National Bowhunter Education Foundation's International Bowhunter Education Program curriculum and provide students with a certificate accepted by states that require bowhunter education. There is a fee for this course. This online course covers the same curriculum as the in-person course with the obvious exception of the 3-D field exercise. After successfully passing the course exam, students may print a temporary certificate of completion. A permanent bowhunter education certificate will be mailed to the student. The fee for this course is $30
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Pennsylvania Archery Safety Course Online The Pennsylvania Archery Safety Online Course is specifically designed for those new to archery hunting. This is a free, informational program. It does not meet certification standards for any state requiring specific archery/bowhunter certification. This course provides the student with safety information on the use and inspection of elevated stands, selecting a stand location, using fall-arrest systems and haul lines, essential crossbow safety, proper shot placement, practicing and perfecting your skills, and Pennsylvania specific laws and regulations for bowhunting. This online course is offered free of charge.