The article states that as of July 1st of 2016, ALL hunters carrying a bow & arrow on ANY hunt in Alaska must be Bowhunter Education certified & must carry their card with them in the field. No exceptions & no "born before this date" exemptions. I had heard that this was possibly in the works, but wasn't sure of it's status.
I know there are lots of guys planning future hunts in Alaska, myself included, & I thought I would give a "heads up" if anyone was unaware of this. I took the Iowa course online last night & got certified but many states evidently don't offer an online course.
If any of the Alaska guys, or anyone else for that matter, know more info on this, please feel free to do so. It would be a MAJOR bummer if someone plans/books a hunt, gets there, & is not able to hunt because they were unaware of this.
KJC's Link
Rocky D's Link
I have been trying to get mine for the last couple years in Oklahoma and have been very frustrated with the offerings/availability. I have signed up multiple times only to have the class canceled. The only ones I can find (in neighboring states) in the next several months are on average a 10 hr drive for me!
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks, --Jim
Jim, I know they offer it frequently in Denver and COSpgs,
KJC's Link
Aaron
Thanks for the point in the right direction.
--Jim
I took mine several years back in Kentucky. Everyone should take it if your state offers it regardless of your immediate future plans. Never hurts to have it.
NOTE: You will not receive a card or certificate for simply completing the online study portion of IBEP.
Ive been certified in Mich as a kid and certified here in Arizona. Not specifically for archery but the whole coarse. Id like to know if it applies to Alaska. If not and it requires a field day I guess I wont be making plans to hunt there.
TEmbry-that was my understanding as well, if it wasn't the 2 part course it was not IBEP. However, it says on the SD site that it will reciprocate to any other state, that was my hang up. I guess don't believe everything you read on the internet ;)
--Jim
Rocky D's Link
Bowhunting classes certify more than 800 Alaskan hunters each year. An NBEF/IBEP bowhunter certificate is required in Alaska to hunt in "Bowhunting Only" areas of the state. Many drawing permit hunts near urban areas are for bowhunting only and hunters may not apply for the permit unless they have successfully completed a bowhunting certification course approved by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
The Alaska Bowhunter education program meets the National Bowhunter Education Foundation, (NBEF) and International Bowhunter Education Program, (IBEP) certification requirements. Bowhunter education classes are taught by dedicated volunteer instructors who commit valuable time and offer years of experience. Be sure to thank your volunteer instructor(s).
Bowhunter Education covers many of the same topics as the Basic Hunter Education course but with a treatment specific to bowhunting. In addition, the Alaska course contains a field section in which students must pass a shooting proficiency test before becoming certified. New Bowhunter Requirement
Bowhunters in hunts restricted to archery only must carry their IBEP or equivalent department approved certification card on them while archery hunting in the field, and must show their card to peace officers and department employees upon request.
Beginning July 1, 2016, all big game hunters using archery will be required to have successfully completed a department approved certification course. Currently, this is required if the hunt is restricted to archery only.
Non-Resident Hunters
All bowhunters must have a Bowhunter Education Certification Card on their person while bow hunting in all "archery only" areas of Alaska. Alaska accepts the NBEF or IBEP Certification Cards from any State/Province sponsored "bowhunter education specific" courses (not combination classes). Other state's bowhunting licenses, tags, stamps, age exemptions, etc. are not adequate to fulfill Alaska's requirements.
If you need a course before coming to Alaska please visit the National Bowhunter Education Foundation website for classes near you. Alaska courses fill quickly and you should not expect to be able to attend one without early registration.
Please feel free to contact us if you need more assistance. Bowhunter Education Course Options:
There are two ways to take a Bowhunter Education Course:
Traditional Course — 8 hours; includes classroom, field portion and proficiency shoot Online Course — 2 parts; online study and test, 3 hour field day with proficiency shoot
NOTE: YOU MAY NOT MIX AND MATCH TRADITIONAL COURSES WITH ONLINE COURSES. THEY ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE.
KJC's Link
Here's a link to the states that already require the IBEP course.
--Jim
I'll bet there are a lot of archery hunters in the same boat as I, however they may not be on Bowsite or see this information out there and book hunts or save for hunts they cant go on. Or worse yet, get there like t-roy mentioned and spent on airfair etc.etc..
Anybody have a contact number for someone to call to find out about trying set up a course that will be recognized by Alaska? I keep running into dead ends.
For the folks who cannot find a class, here's a great opportunity to join your state archery/bowhunter program and get a few classes set up...
Big differance for those of us who live in suck archery states!
--Jim
There is a huge thread on this over on the Alaska Outdoors Forum. Overall consensus is about the same as what I'm reading here. I'd guess it'll be much harder to get certified for those living in remote villages here in AK than in the L48, not sure how they plan to deal with that.
There are a few states that have the online course but don't require the field day, they claim to issue a certified NBEF/IBEP card. But most require you to be a resident of that state to take the class.
Years ago in ID I showed them a HI axis archery hunt permit and an old MT license with the archery permit, they didn't bat an eye.
To get the archery permit in MT years before that, the Wally World I was buying the permit at called in a warden and I had to show him pictures of me, my bow, and a bunch of dead animals to prove I was a bowhunter. (a friend had told me to make sure I had pictures, any proof I could dig up I'd hunted and taken game with a bow) He looked them over, shook my hand, signed off on it and wished us luck. Pretty cool he had the authority to grant permission right on the spot.
Such a thing would never happen in HI. Even if they had the authority, no one the works for the state would accept the individual responsibility.....
Im with Bou also.
From the IBEP site they make it sound like a field day is required, SD site certainly does not, but their wording led me to believe the card would allow you to purchase any lisc in SD.
Now is IBEP certification all equal? I don't see how it could not be, but it certainly seems that is the case to my understanding. I am leery to spend my $ and time on the SD course when I feel it will not be accepted by AK. Thats the bottom line for me. It doesn't seem anyone can answer that with any confidence...
--Jim
The on-line course is designed to represent 1/2 the course, with a separate fee charged. Once you successfully complete the on-line portion you're given a sheet/certificate that reads 'on line course completion' BUT it's not a full certification. After completing the on-line session you'll still need to take the 'field session' (and pay a second fee). The trick is finding an active course.
Once completed you'll receive a 'temporary completion card - which is simply the 'tear off' section of you registration form. It will have your DOB, name, address, signature and the Instructor's 'ID Number', name and signature date.
The temporary card is accepted everywhere the course is required. The 'formal' completion card will be sent to you from your State's Fish and Wildlife organization.
This is a 1-time event, meaning you only need to take IBEP once in your lifetime. If you lose your card, simply contact the State that issued the card, give them your name, date of birth and you'll get another sent to you.
For what it's worth, you don't have to take the course in the state you live in, you can go out of state to get it. I say that because it was not uncommon for us to have people attend the course from OK, LA and NM.
For those of you who enjoy helping others learn our sport and who want to pass it on, I'd encourage you to contact your State's Hunter Ed team and see about getting an IBEP course going in your region. It takes a lot of effort to put a course together - especially setting up field day courses, but the rewards outweigh the effort. We set a goal to certify 1000 bowhunters, and our total was just North of 1200 when we stepped away from it.
Sorry to be a pain, but it just doesn't make any since to me.
--Jim
The top of the certificate says "Iowa Online Bowhunter Education Certificate"
It states at the bottom of the certificate: "This Iowa Bowhunter Education Certificate is recognized & approved by the NBEF & Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources as proof of online course study."
Then it states: " This certificate is your permanent certificate and allows you to legally purchase a bowhunting license or permit where required. Hunter education is a separate online course that if successfully completed will allow you to legally purchase a hunting license. For more info, see hunter-ed.com/iowa."
What is the difference between IBEP & NBEF & which one is AK. going to recognize!!???
Alaska requires a course with the field day offered.
With money not being an issue, I don't get the reasoning behind the legislation either.
My thoughts are, I don't believe a new hunter would even fathom heading to Alaska to hunt in general, much less, thinking, hey, I've never hunted anything in my life, but I think I will start with Alaska,,,, for moose,,, and,,, I think I want to do it with one of those bow and arrow things.
Point being, if a nonresident is going to hunt in Alaska, I would think that some experience was under his belt, and, if so, why the redundant style of class to legally allow that.
I guess it has came with age, but I quit asking why things are the way they are, because if I did that in reference to every idiotic, stupid law, or idea that makes no sense, I would spend the entirety of each and every day, pondering one thing or another.
At least all my ducks are in a row for September and the future.
Alaska's regs state that they accept NBEF or IBEP Certification Cards from any State/Province sponsored "bowhunter education specific" courses (not combination classes).
I spoke with an Iowa DNR Recreational Safety Officer & he told me they haven't put on any courses for quite a while because they couldn't get anyone to show up for the course. He said the reason was because Iowa doesn't require you to have it except for a few of the urban bow hunts. I explained the situation to him & he told me to get him some info on what Alaska requires & he would look into possibly putting one on.
I told him that I could probably get several guys to take the course & he said that would help a bunch. I think he said if he does one, it would be held in Boone which is basically close to the center of the state.
IF ANYONE IN IOWA IS INTERESTED IN TAKING THIS COURSE, PM ME & I WILL KEEP ON THIS TO TRY & MAKE IT HAPPEN. THE MORE GUYS I CAN GET, THE BETTER CHANCE WE WILL HAVE TO GET IT SET UP!!
When I served on the AK Board of Game, I had a bumper sticker on my brief case that read: "Simplify Game Regulations." I tried and in some cases prevailed. Generally I was outvoted!
Such was the case when F&G wanted to pass a regulation stating that if you "wounded" a bear, it was the same as killing (taking) one. You had to stop hunting. A NR would be required to punch his tag. They had no earthly idea on how to equitably enforce this reg, but they knew they wanted it. Interestingly, a few guides wanted it too. I sucessfully kept it at bay as long as I was on the Board. Soon after I left, the regulation passed.
The bottom line however is that if government workers actually SOLVED problems, they would be out of a job!
The definition of "bureaucrat:" Government official who is sitting in his/her office and is convinced that you are out there doing something he/she did not give you permission to do!
This IBEP card requirement is not needed, but it is now law.
Pete
I spoke with both Lee Rogers (Statewide Coordinator) & Bob Hunter (Northern Region Coordinator--Fairbanks) They are with the Hunter Education & Firearm Safety Department, but this is where it took me to when I clicked on the "contact us" site on the Bowhunter Education page. They deal with the Bowhunter ed. stuff too. They both told me basically exactly the same thing. They also told me that if anyone had any questions regarding this, that they would be happy to answer questions you may have. Lee's # is (907) 267-2373. Bob's # is (907) 459-7375.
They both told me that the state of Alaska would honor any other state's bowhunter ed. course, ONLINE ONLY OR NOT, as long as it was IBEP or NBEF. You do need to have the certification card on your person while hunting. I gave them both explicit details about my Iowa Bowhunter Education Card (NBEF) that I was awarded, was online only (no field day) & they both told me that IS still acceptable.
I hope that this clears things up some, but I would also recommend that maybe you should contact them for yourselves as well for your own piece of mind.
Finding a place that certified online would be a great help to those of us with little to no access to a physical class.
Pete.... thanks for fighting the good fight. If you ever run for office let me know!
I have a hard time believing there were really any issues with the bowhunters in AK that this class will solve. Well, other than discouraging bowhunters from hunting AK. Curious to see if it has that effect.
IMO yet another solution running around looking for a problem....
Read above. South Dakota I believe.
It sounds like this is available online through South Dakota.
Sounds like IBEP does not require a field day as I was led to believe, but more importantly... you do not need a field day to be eligible for Alaska as I was told by a Trooper up there. Happy that both are inaccurate as it will help alleviate the pain of many guys trying to get certified to hunt up North.