Also, I have heard that if you just show up at an archery course, sit down and act you should be there....they'll let you stay. Hope that helps.
Ace's Link
Please don't feel as if we are trying to keep people from being able to take the course. Actually every single Instructor I know wishes we had bigger rooms and could teach more often. It's a much bigger commitment that most people know to be a Firearm or Archery Instructor. We volunteer a lot of our time, we pay for our own gas, and of course we miss doing things with our friends and family so we can certify new Hunters. Not complaining, I get a lot of satisfaction from it, but you'd be surprised at the complaints we hear.
There is a new policy that classes get posted to the website (at the link) 30 days before the class. So KEEP CHECKING is the best advice I can give you. And when you see one up there, register right away because the fill up very fast.
Most people wait until just before the hunting season to look for a class, obviously there is much more demand at that time, so consider taking one in the Spring or Summer. Also, kids can hunt in CT when they are 12 (on a Jr license) but they can take the classes as young as 10. Getting it done early reducing the stress of trying to find a class right before the hunting seasons open. You be surprised at the calls I get, such as: "can you get my kid into a class this month?".
Oh yeah, we can always use more dedicated Instructors, so consider volunteering some of your time.
I check every day, and even if a new class fills up, call and see if they can sqeeze one more in.
I'm also an instructor and with hunting season underway you won't catch me in a class room teaching, no way no how. Saturdays are for hunting and Sunday's are for getting stuff done I didn't get done during the week or on Saturday.
As far as just showing up, Ace laid it out pretty good. If we list the course for 30, then that is usually what we have for materials. So if people just show up and it's more then 30, people are SOL nothing we can do. Many times there are no shows, I know I had 7 in my last class back in August. If you do show up for a class you are not registered for please, please be honest with the instructor and don't put us volunteers in a bad position where someone who registered can take it because people walked in without registering.
I always get the registration list and check off people as they come in just in case.
As ace said check the DEEP class schedule every single morning and sign up for the first class you see and get there. Good luck with getting a class.