I’ve Lost My Hunter Safety Certificate; What Do I Do?

November 13, 2008

Question: I took the hunter safety course in El Dorado County in 1984 but now can’t find my hunter safety certificate. Are there any records to show that I have completed the course so that I can get a new hunting license and not have to retake the course? (Brandon G.)

Answer: According to Hunter Education Coordinator Lt. James Kasper, you should first try to contact the hunter education instructor who issued your certificate so that they can issue you a duplicate certificate. If you cannot remember your hunter education instructor, we can check our databases, although the data going back that far may be limited. Your regional Department of Fish and Game (DFG) office should have access to the databases and be able to check for your name. If your name is found in the database, we can issue you a duplicate hunter education certificate for a small fee ($5). If your name is not found in the database, then you will need to take the hunter education course again. If you have an old California hunting license from a previous year, you may present it as proof of course completion to obtain a new hunting license.