Mega Thanks and Kudos to the DNR

Yes, that’s right! Kudos.

I just called the Minnesota DNR on what I thought was a one in a million desperation shot.

Back in the early 1980s (I wasn’t even sure of the exact year, I just couldn’t remember), I took the DNR’s firearms safety training course. I remember it was taught by a rather stern CO, looked like an ex Marine from the Korean War and he’s probably dead by now. At the time, this course was NOT required to hunt, it was strictly an option and at the end of it, the conservation officer gave us a signed piece of paper. It hung on the board above my desk for years and then I think when I turned 16 or so and saw no point anymore, I probably threw it away.

Well, fast forward 30 or so years and guess what? Yeah, this firearms safety certificate is required in many states for non-residents to even apply for a hunting license. Sure, I could take the class all over again, but that’s a huge hassle because you have to attend an in-person field day and those fill up within seconds of them being announced, so not a chance for this year.

So I called the DNR this morning on the 1 in a million chance that records would have actually been kept AND that they would have been computerized so that they could actually look it up.

So after going through the press 1 press 2, I got to a nice man and he tapped in my name and holy freaking cow! They had it on file!!!!!!!! Completed in 1982!

I almost fell out of my chair. Way to go Minnesota DNR for the diligence and keeping great records. It’s things like this that make me say OK when fees need to go up and such.

Kudos DNR.

Grouse

Thanks for the post.. It’s a good reminder that some things within the organization are still….umm..organized

I recently needed mine and as you, had taken the course over 37 years ago.
I simply went on line at WI DNR site and was able to download and print a certifited copy.
Cost me $3.00
It also got me CCW.
37 Years and was in there system. Easy as it could get!

thanks for the post!! I have the same issue.. I should give them a call. I took mine back in 1984!!

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Thanks for the post.. It’s a good reminder that some things within the organization are still….umm..organized

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Exactly right and it’s this organization that gives me a very positive view of the DNR and the service they provide us.

I can’t believe that originally the records of that 12 or so kids who took that firearms safety course back in Cyrus Minnesota (population 352), in Pope County, in 1982 would have been entered into a computer. But evidently the DNR at some point got it done.

Way to go DNR.

Grouse

Yeah not too bad, I took mine back in middle school, so like 1990-1992 and it magically showed up as an endorsement on the back of my driver’s license one day, I thought that was kind of nice.

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thanks for the post!! I have the same issue.. I should give them a call. I took mine back in 1984!!

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I would totally get-r-done and get a duplicate card.

At some point, you can bet that some anti-non-resident hunter state will start to require it even for a small game license. It’d be a great way to ruin a duck or pheasant trip, suddenly being asked for your hunter safety card when you didn’t think it was required.

Grouse

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Yeah not too bad, I took mine back in middle school, so like 1990-1992 and it magically showed up as an endorsement on the back of my driver’s license one day, I thought that was kind of nice.

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Me too. All I have to do is send a copy of my license front and back. They have never asked for anything above and beyond when hunting out of the state.

You might want to check your DL next time you renew. It didn’t show up on my DL until I sent in for a new card years after the class. I am guessing but maybe contacting them for a new card triggers the info on your DL.

I took the firearms course probably around the late 70’s or early 80’s…. I wonder why my drivers license does not list it ? Just curious, what state is requiring evidence of firearms safety training ?

i’m not really into one-up-man-ship, but have to get teh kudos to the DNR:

1964…

yup, in the computer records.

i retook it in WI in ’96 and that was in WI data base
and then i retook it with my then wife in 2001.
when i applied for CCW, i asked and they said that all three showed up in their records.
kinda scarey actually, unless it makes me a good guy…

when yuo renew your licence ask them to have the endorsment put on the back, just have to show your certificate at renewal time.

G,

SD and most western states require proof now days. However, once you’ve held a license in that particular state, it supersedes the need for proof of hunters safety.

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Yeah not too bad, I took mine back in middle school, so like 1990-1992 and it magically showed up as an endorsement on the back of my driver’s license one day, I thought that was kind of nice.

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Me too. All I have to do is send a copy of my license front and back. They have never asked for anything above and beyond when hunting out of the state.

You might want to check your DL next time you renew. It didn’t show up on my DL until I sent in for a new card years after the class. I am guessing but maybe contacting them for a new card triggers the info on your DL.

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in mn, when you renew or apply for your dl, theres a check box on the yellow paper to select it be on there, like selecting organ donor or motorcycle endorsement, once you do it the first time, its on there for good

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G,

SD and most western states require proof now days. However, once you’ve held a license in that particular state, it supersedes the need for proof of hunters safety.

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Huh.. Montana knows you need it in MN to hunt legally, so there requirement is either show your firearm safety cert, or you can show you had a hunting license in MN with-in the last year & that was good enough for them

Sorry, I typed that wrong. You are correct, if you have held a license within the last year, that supersedes the need for the safety card. Not just in the state you are applying for.

I took Advanced Hunter Education and AHE-Bowhunter. Both were great classes! Not sure if they still do them or not.

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I recently needed mine and as you, had taken the course over 37 years ago.
I simply went on line at WI DNR site and was able to download and print a certifited copy.
Cost me $3.00
It also got me CCW.
37 Years and was in there system. Easy as it could get!

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Mike:

Can you post the link where you found yours. I think I took the class all those years ago too and am wondering where to look.

Mark

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Just curious, what state is requiring evidence of firearms safety training ?

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I’ve had to use it when hunting in North Dakota.

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HUNTER SAFETY EDUCATION: ATTENTION! If you were born after December 31, 1961, you must fill in your hunter education certificate number, and the state or province in which you received it. Required hunter education certification must be completed prior to application being submitted. ATTENTION: Compliance is enforced by verification with state enforcement agencies. If your certificate is unnumbered, write “none” and the year and state in which you were certified. If you have a change in last name since completing the course, attach a note to the application.

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You have to put your number on the application. And it looks like they check up on you too.

I’m with you Tuck. Took both the Advanced Ed classes. Met some good people and was good learning experience. Didn’t have hunters Ed when I was a kid.

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Way to go Minnesota DNR for the diligence and keeping great records. It’s things like this that make me say OK when fees need to go up and such.

Kudos DNR.

Grouse

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You’ve GOT to be kidding.

This is June 1st, not April 1st.