CONCORD, N.H. -- Hunter and Bowhunter Education courses are underway around the state, so get set for the 2014 spring gobbler season and more by logging onto the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department website to sign up for a class.

New this year, the Hunter Education class also covers bowhunting. If you took hunter education prior to January 1, 2014, you must take the separate bowhunter education course - OR the new combined course - in order to purchase an archery license. This applies to anyone with a salmon-colored hunter education certification card. Bowhunter-only education courses will continue to be offered only for the 2014 calendar year.

"We urge people to try to get your course in early in the year, especially if you want to go turkey hunting in May," said Hunter Education Coordinator Josh Mackay. "Don't delay, because spring classes and online field days are filling up fast. We are constantly adding courses to the schedule. If you don't see one in your area check back often."

To sign up for a class, visit http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/hunter_ed.htm. Under "Find a Class," click on the link for traditional hunter/bowhunter education, online hunter education or traditional bowhunter education courses. Scroll down and use the handy calendar search engine to find classes. Once you find a class, simply click on the event to preview all the details about the course and register. After you sign up, you will receive a confirmation email. If you need help using the online system, call the Hunter Education office at 603-271-3214.

To accommodate the increasing number of people taking the online Hunter Education course -- approximately 1,800 people completed the online course in 2013 - the program will offer additional field days this year. Those taking Hunter Education online must complete their testing and hands-on requirements at a structured field day event.

Who should sign up for hunter education? New hunters applying for a license, and hunters without a previous hunting license, must first take a hunter education course. (An exception is those purchasing an apprentice hunting license; learn more at http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/apprentice.html.) If you're age 16 or older, you need a license to hunt in New Hampshire; youth are encouraged to take hunter education between the age of 12 and their 16th birthday.

To meet this requirement, Fish and Game offers Hunter and Bowhunter Education classes around the state, as well as Trapper Education. To receive a certificate of completion, participants in these programs must be 12 years old by the end of the course. Courses are available from February through October, but they fill up fast, so don't wait until fall, or you could miss out!

Last year (2013), trained volunteer Hunter Education instructors presented 71 traditional Hunter Education courses, with 1,970 students certified; 48 Bowhunter Education courses, with 1,444 students certified; and 48 online Hunter Education course field days, with 1,099 students certified. Overall, the program certified 4,443 new hunters in 2013!

Find out more about Fish and Game's Hunter Education Program, made possible by federal Wildlife Restoration Funds, a user-pay, user-benefit program, at http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/hunter_ed.htm.