Learner Professional Hunting

Our learner professional hunter curriculum is geared toward guides, outfitters, or solo hunters. It covers essential knowledge and skills for a professional-level hunter—someone who may work as a guide, manage land, or hunt for commercial or conservation purposes.

The Curriculum includes:

1. Foundations of Hunting

  • History of hunting (cultural and conservation context)
  • Types of hunting (rifle, bow, trapping, etc.)
  • Hunting ethics & fair chase principles
  • Conservation and wildlife management
  • Game laws and licensing (regional focus)

2. Wildlife Biology & Identification

  • Animal behavior and tracking
  • Game species identification (regional)
  • Seasonal patterns and migration
  • Non-game species awareness
  • Field aging and sexing of game

3. Field Skills & Survival

  • Orienteering (map, compass, GPS)
  • Bushcraft & wilderness survival
  • Emergency medical training (WFA/WFR)
  • Tracking and stalking
  • Camping and remote operations

4. Firearms & Archery

  • Rifle, shotgun, and handgun safety
  • Ballistics and caliber selection
  • Firearm maintenance and cleaning
  • Bow hunting fundamentals (recurve, compound, crossbow)
  • Practice and marksmanship drills

5. Hunting Techniques

  • Spot-and-stalk
  • Still hunting
  • Stand and blind setup
  • Calling and decoying
  • Predator vs prey dynamics

6. Field Dressing & Processing

  • Field dressing and skinning
  • Butchering techniques
  • Meat care in the field
  • Trophy preparation (e.g., caping, taxidermy prep)
  • Safe transport and storage

7. Gear, Technology & Logistics

  • Clothing and layering systems
  • Optics (binoculars, spotting scopes, rangefinders)
  • Trail cams and scouting tools
  • Radios, sat phones, and safety beacons
  • Pack systems and load carriage

8. Guiding & Outfitting (Optional/Advanced)

  • Client management and expectations
  • Business and outfitter licensing
  • Liability and insurance
  • Multi-day trip logistics
  • Communication and storytelling

9. Land & Habitat Management

  • Habitat improvement techniques
  • Game plots and feeding systems
  • Predator control and management
  • Private vs public land dynamics
  • Environmental stewardship

10. Capstone Project / Field Assessment

Written & practical exams

Multi-day mock hunt

Tracking and harvesting game

Field dressing and processing

Safety drills and emergency scenario