When Georgia children in grades six through 12 return to school this fall, they will have the option of taking hunter education as part of their curriculum.
State Representative Chas Cannon (R-Moultrie) introduced a bill in the Georgia House of Representatives (later incorporated into a Senate bill) that requires the State Board of Education to develop content standards for instruction in hunter safety education, which would give school boards the option to establish a hunting safety curriculum for the upcoming school year. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed it into law on May 5, 2026.
“I think it’s important that we have the opportunity to learn about hunting, what it means for managing our wildlife and wildlife habitat and what it means for us as a food source,” said Rep. Cannon. “I can’t think of a better way of doing that than to introduce it to our young people in an educational setting. Some of the most memorable times of my life have been on hunting trips with friends and family, and I hope the next generation gets that same opportunity.”
The hunter education course will be based on those currently offered by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and taught by an individual certified by the DNR as a hunter education instructor. Students across the state will have the opportunity to satisfy their hunter safety education requirement, while simultaneously earning classroom credit. The course will provide students with information needed to understand the purpose of hunting, general hunting practices and conservation ethics shared by all sportsmen and women, with the goal of gaining a more complete understanding and appreciation for Georgia’s wildlife.
Rep. Cannon, Sen. Bo Hatchett (R-Cornelia), who sponsored the Senate version of the bill, and Gov. Kemp are all members of the Sportsmen’s Caucus, a group of elected officials that support sporting traditions like hunting and fishing, and organized by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.
About Hunt 2 Conserve
Hunt 2 Conserve is a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Its mission is to advance a legacy of hunting and conservation by educating, activating and developing stewards and defenders of these fundamentally American ideals. For more information, go to hunt2conserve.org.
