Tennessee students may soon have the opportunity to earn academic credit for completing hunter safety education.
If approved, new legislation would enable schools to offer hunter education courses to students in grades 5 through 12, integrated within physical education, health, or safety curricula.
The proposed bills are pending final approval from Governor Bill Lee. Upon enactment, these courses, certified by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), would fulfill the state’s mandatory hunter safety requirements.
Advocates assert that this measure provides a systematic approach for educating students on firearm safety and conservation.
Backers also say the program could introduce more young people to the role hunting plays in conservation and wildlife management.
The legislation was backed by a coalition of conservation and sporting groups, including the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.
