Frequently Asked Questions

The Maine Bowhunter Ed Course is free.

Any person (resident or non-resident) who applies for an archery license must show proof of having successfully completed an archery hunter education course or of having held an adult archery license in any year after 1979.

Typically it takes about 1–2 hours to go through the online course, excluding any quizzes and/or exams and re-studying that you may choose to do.

You may complete the course at your own pace. The course can be completed in one sitting or completed a little at a time over several days. All pay-up-front courses are available for 90 days from time of registration and payment.

You must be at least 10 years old to take this online course.

You must be a resident of Maine to take the online course.

The Maine Bowhunter Ed Course is approved and accepted by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife.

All U.S. states, provinces, and countries that have mandatory bowhunter education requirements will accept the Maine Bowhunter Education Certificate. Likewise, Maine will accept Bowhunter Education certifications that are issued by other jurisdictions that meet official IHEA-USA requirements. (This is known as “reciprocity.”)

If you fail a unit quiz, you can take it again until you pass. You must score at least 70% on the unit quizzes to pass.

The Field Day Qualifier Exam is the exam you take at the end of the online course. You must score at least 80% on the Field Day Qualifier Exam to pass. You have unlimited attempts to pass the Field Day Qualifier Exam. If you don’t complete the exam in one session, don’t worry. When you log in later, you will be taken to the first unanswered question of the exam.

1. Study and pass the online course.

Study and pass the free course. Throughout the Maine Bowhunter Ed Course, you’ll be tested on what you’ve learned.

2. Sign up for and attend the Bowhunter Skills and Exam Day. Also, create a Survival Kit and read Beyond Fair Chase.

You'll be able to immediately print out the Bowhunter Skills and Exam Day Voucher or you can request a PDF via email. You will need to bring this Bowhunter Skills and Exam Day Voucher with you to the Bowhunter Skills and Exam Day. You need to locate and sign up for the Bowhunter Skills and Exam Day. To sign up, go to https://www.maine.gov/ifw/programs-resources/safety-courses/archery-hunter-safety.html.

Remember: Passing the online course does not guarantee you a spot at the Bowhunter Skills and Exam Day.

3. Get your Bowhunter Education Certificate.

You’ll receive your permanent Bowhunter Education Certificate after successfully completing the Bowhunter Skills and Exam Day.

Once you have completed all 3 steps for certification, you’re ready to legally purchase a bowhunting license or permit where required.

Once you pass the online course, you will be able to immediately print out the Bowhunter Skills and Exam Day Voucher and/or request that a PDF be emailed to you. This is your proof of online course completion. Please bring proof of completion with you to the Bowhunter Skills and Exam Day.

The Bowhunter Education Certificate is proof that you have successfully completed all the education requirements. The Bowhunter Education Certificate will be mailed to you by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife after you complete all certification requirements.

To replace a lost or destroyed proof of course completion document, log in to the course and print a new one.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife keeps records of graduates from its safety courses. If you have lost your certificate, you may obtain a duplicate from the Safety Division at no cost.

In person: 8 Federal Street, Augusta, Maine
By mail: Safety Division, 284 State Street, Augusta, ME 04333
Fax: (207) 287-9037
E-mail: [email protected]

Please include the following information with your request:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Telephone number
• Current mailing address
• Address where you lived when you took the course
• Year you took the course (include month if possible)
• Location where you took the course (including Instructor's name if possible)

• A computer or mobile device with Internet access
• Cookies and JavaScript enabled in browser
• A soundcard and speakers or headphones
• A printer to print your course completion document

This course is designed to work on any mobile device, such as iPhones, iPads, and Android phones and tablets, as well as your computer.

If you need to update your profile information or change your password, click on your username in the navigation bar at the top of the web page in the course. Re-submit your revised information using the form provided.

If you forget your password, you can reset it from the Forgot Your Password page. You will need to enter your username and the email from your profile, and an email containing the link to reset your password will be sent. There is also a link to the Forgot Your Password? page on the Log In page for your convenience.

When you log out, your progress is recorded so that when you log in again, you can pick up where you left off. When logging back in, you will be taken to the Course Contents page where you can see the progress you have made. You can click on a link for the last page viewed to go back to that part of the course.

You may log in and out as many times as you wish. Your progress is monitored and saved.

Our course videos should play in all browsers. If a video is not showing up, your browser may require Adobe Flash to play them. You can download the Flash plugin for your browser at Adobe’s site.

If you are still having trouble, you might be able to find help at Vimeo’s FAQs. (Vimeo is the video player used in the course.)

If you have not been active within the course for more than 15 minutes, you will automatically be logged out of your session. A notice stating, “Your session has expired due to inactivity” will appear at the top of the course. Log back in, and you can continue interacting with the course. Your progress will have been recorded, and you should be able to continue where you left off in the course.

If you are disconnected from the Internet, simply log back in and pick up where you left off. Your progress will be saved.

You may call us at 1-800-830-2268 to speak with a customer service representative, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to midnight CST and Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST.