Bowhunter Education

Requirements

South Dakota requires that residents and nonresidents must complete the National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) safety course in the following cases:

  • Youth age 12 (or will turn 12 by Dec. 31 of current year) through age 15 who will be purchasing a big game archery license (in addition, must have a valid hunter safety certificate)
  • Any first time big game archery licensee regardless of age (If you are a previous big game archery licensee, you are exempt from this requirement)
  • Any resident who receives an archery elk license

If you possess a valid certificate of completion from a bowhunter education course approved by any state or provincial government, you are exempt from the requirement to have a South Dakota Bowhunter Education certificate.

BowEd Courses

Classes are usually scheduled January - October by volunteer instructors. Information is updated on this page as classes are schedule.

All Classes - Alphabetical Order
Burke
  • Bowhunter Ed Certification Class
    July 14, 2012
    8am-5pm
    Burke Community Room
    Contact Tim at 605.830.0220
Chamberlain
  • For Instructors Only
    April 14, 2012
    8am-noon
    Location to be announced
    Must pre-register at 605.940.9678 or jltmotors@hotmail.com
Hudson
  • Advanced Classes
    (must previously be NBEF certified)
    These classes are for education only, no certification will be given.
    Must pre-register
    Contact kam.archery@yahoo.com (Include NBEF in the subject line)
    Dates:
    May 26, 2012
    June 16, 2012
    July 21, 2012
    August 25, 2012
Mission
  • Bowhunter Ed Certification Class
    August 18, 2012
    8am-5pm
    Old Bowling Alley
    Contact Tim at 605.830.0220 to register
Mitchell
  • Bowhunter Ed Certification Class
    May 19, 2012
    Cabela's
    8pm-5pm
    Limited to 40 students, must pre-register with archery department by calling 605.996.0337
Pierre
  • Bowhunter Ed Certificate Class
    March 31, 2012
    8am - 5pm
    Contact Dan McCormick at 605.222.8322 after 7pm.
  • Distance Learning Class
    August 4, 2012
    2pm-6pm
    Izaak Walton Leage Clubhouse
    Contact Dan McCormick at 605.222.8322 after 7pm.
Rapid City
  • Bowhunter Ed Certification Class
    Outdoor Campus West
    8am-5pm
    Must pre-register at hglobstad@rushmore.com or 605.394.6072
    DATES:
    March 24, 2012
    May 12, 2012
    September 8, 2012
  • Bowhunter Ed Certification Class
    Best Western Ramkota
    March 19-20, 2012
    6-10pm both nights
    Contact Al with Black Hills Archery to register, 605.394.9663
  • Online Course Field Day
    This 4 hour field day must be taken in conjunction with the bowhunter ed online class.
    July 21, 2012
    8-AM-Noon
    Outdoor Campus West
    Must pre-register at hglobstad@rushmore.com or 605.394.6072
Sioux Falls
  • Bowhunter Ed Certification Class
    8am-4:30pm
    Archers Addiction
    47219 Schweigers Circle
    Pre-registration required
    Call Wayne for more information or to register at 605.941.1296
    DATES:
    June 30, 2012
    July 21, 2012
    August 18, 2012
Watertown
  • Bowhunter Ed Certification Class
    July 28, 2012
    7:30am-4pm
    Watertown 4H Extension Bldg.
    Contact Skip at 605.886.5891 to register
Winner
  • Bowhunter Ed Certification Class
    March 24, 2012
    8am-5pm
    Rosebud Arrow, Rod and Gun Club
    Contact Tim at 605.830.0220 to register
  • Distance Learning Class
    Must take online course first
    July 14, 2012
    3pm-7pm
    Rosebud Arrow, Rod and Gun Club
    Contact Tim at 605.830.0220 to register
Yankton
  • Bowhunter Ed Certification Class
    Times: Saturdays 8am-6pm
    Registration and classes held at the NFAA Yankton Archery Complex,
    800 Archery Lane
    www.fieldarchery.com, 605.260.9279
    DATES:
    March 25, 2012
    June 24, 2012
    July 15, 2012
    August 26, 2012
    September 16, 2012
Burke
Classes
  • Bowhunter Ed Certification Class
    July 14, 2012
    8am-5pm
    Burke Community Room
    Contact Tim at 605.830.0220
Chamberlain
Classes
  • For Instructors Only
    April 14, 2012
    8am-noon
    Location to be announced
    Must pre-register at 605.940.9678 or jltmotors@hotmail.com
Hudson
Classes
  • Advanced Classes
    (must previously be NBEF certified)
    These classes are for education only, no certification will be given.
    Must pre-register
    Contact kam.archery@yahoo.com (Include NBEF in the subject line)
    Dates:
    May 26, 2012
    June 16, 2012
    July 21, 2012
    August 25, 2012
Mission
Classes
  • Bowhunter Ed Certification Class
    August 18, 2012
    8am-5pm
    Old Bowling Alley
    Contact Tim at 605.830.0220 to register
Mitchell
Classes
  • Bowhunter Ed Certification Class
    May 19, 2012
    Cabela's
    8pm-5pm
    Limited to 40 students, must pre-register with archery department by calling 605.996.0337
Pierre
Classes
  • Distance Learning Class
    August 4, 2012
    2pm-6pm
    Izaak Walton Leage Clubhouse
    Contact Dan McCormick at 605.222.8322 after 7pm.
Rapid City
Classes
  • Bowhunter Ed Certification Class
    Outdoor Campus West
    8am-5pm
    Must pre-register at hglobstad@rushmore.com or 605.394.6072
    DATES:
    May 12, 2012
    September 8, 2012
  • Online Course Field Day
    This 4 hour field day must be taken in conjunction with the bowhunter ed online class.
    July 21, 2012
    8-AM-Noon
    Outdoor Campus West
    Must pre-register at hglobstad@rushmore.com or 605.394.6072
Sioux Falls
Classes
  • Bowhunter Ed Certification Class
    8am-4:30pm
    Archers Addiction
    47219 Schweigers Circle
    Pre-registration required
    Call Wayne for more information or to register at 605.941.1296
    DATES:
    June 30, 2012
    July 21, 2012
    August 18, 2012
Watertown
Classes
  • Bowhunter Ed Certification Class
    July 28, 2012
    7:30am-4pm
    Watertown 4H Extension Bldg.
    Contact Skip at 605.886.5891 to register
Winner
Classes
  • Distance Learning Class
    Must take online course first
    July 14, 2012
    3pm-7pm
    Rosebud Arrow, Rod and Gun Club
    Contact Tim at 605.830.0220 to register
Yankton
Classes
  • Bowhunter Ed Certification Class
    Times: Saturdays 8am-6pm
    Registration and classes held at the NFAA Yankton Archery Complex,
    800 Archery Lane
    www.fieldarchery.com, 605.260.9279
    DATES:
    June 24, 2012
    July 15, 2012
    August 26, 2012
    September 16, 2012

Bowhunter ID Card

Individuals who complete the South Dakota course receive an identification card containing your name, date of certification, certificate number, and the signature of your instructor.

The National Bowhunter Education Foundation has been in existence for over 25 years. This course was developed by archery leaders around the country to improve safety, reduce wounding loss and raise awareness about the sport of archery hunting.

Bowhunter Education online

On-line Bowhunter education classes are available. You must complete an in-person field day along with your on-line course work to receive your bowhunter ed. Certificate. Make sure that a field day is available that you can attend before completing the online portion. Attending part of a regular class does not fulfill the needed requirements to receive your certificate. You must attend a specially designed on-line field day. Field days are listed below and are also available on the drop down course list. There is a cost for the on-line portion.

The Bowhunter Education on-line course can be found at www.nbef.org

Field days:

  • Rapid City, July 21, 8-AM-Noon, Outdoor Campus West, Must pre-register at laura.ambrose@state.sd.us
    or call 320-279-2829
  • Parker, July 28, Noon-5 PM (5 student minimum)
    Must pre-register at 605-940-9678 or jltmotors@hotmail.com

contact

If you have questions about courses or your certification card, please contact us.

GFP-Bowhunter Education
20641 SD Hwy 1806
Fort Pierre, SD 57532

605.223.7700 E-mail: Wildinfo@state.sd.us