Participant FAQ

No. You do not need to have a FOID card to attend the workshop. However, if you plan on continuing to hunt in the future, we advise you obtain your FOID card. You can obtain your FOID card HERE.

No. You do not need to have your Hunter Education certification to attend. However, if you plan to hunt in the future and were born on or after January 1, 1980, you will need to complete Hunters Ed. For more information click HERE.

No. Unfortunately this event does not satisfy the hunter safety requirement. This workshop is designed to teach new hunters: why, how, and where to hunt in Illinois. However, if you plan to hunt in the future and were born on or after January 1, 1980, you will need to complete Hunters Ed. For more information click HERE.

No. Due to liability issues we cannot allow you to use personal firearms or archery tackle at the workshop. We will have equipment for you to use.

No. At this time, this program is designed for individuals over the age of 18. There are numerous youth oriented programs across the state and we would be happy to discuss these events with you and how you can get youth involved in hunting.

If there are no open events near you, we recommend staying up to date on all program events by signing up for our newsletter or following our program Facebook page, here: FACEBOOK. 

If you would like to request an event in your area please click HERE. We look forward to hearing from you!


  • Please bring your lunch. There may not be sufficient time for you to leave to get lunch and come back.
  • Please also bring a folding or camp chair if you have one. We will have tables, tents, and buckets set up but no real chairs.
  • Dress appropriately for hiking through uneven, potentially wet, wooded terrain and variable weather conditions.
  • We will provide all the safety gear you need to properly shoot firearms and archery equipment. Please DO NOT bring any personal firearms or archery equipment with you.

If you have registered for an event but can no longer attend, please email us at hunt-trap@illinois.edu. We always have a waiting list for these events so please let us know as early as possible if you no longer plan on attending.

If an event is full but you would like to attend, please email us at hunt-trap@illinois.edu to be placed on the waiting list. We will let you know as soon as a spot opens up.

Yes! We have several different types of events and participants are allowed to take multiple events provided that they cover different species.

We have several different types of events. Currently we break these various events into two categories: Learn to Hunt workshops & our Seminar Series.

Learn to Hunt Workshops

  • Learn to Hunt: Deer
  • Learn to Hunt: Turkey
  • Learn to Hunt: Waterfowl
  • Learn to Hunt: Small Game

Seminar Series (Subject to change)

We are always planning new ideas, check out upcoming events for more information.

  • Remote Scouting Techniques
  • Equipment Purchasing
  • Archery Equipment Overview and Target Shooting

After attending a Learn to Hunt workshop, we hope that you have the necessary skills to begin your pathway to becoming a hunter.

  • If you have not taken Hunter Safety and are born on or after January 1, 1980, you are required to obtain Hunter Safety certification. To learn more visit: IDNR 
  • The Illinois Learn to Hunt program also recommends taking an IDNR wing-shooting clinic. These clinics are designed to increase your competency and accuracy wingshooting. For the full schedule of IDNR wingshooting clinics, click HERE.
  • Joining a conservation organization can be a great benefit to new hunters. Visit our program partners page more information into these various organizations.
  • Attending our Seminar Series can be a great benefit to new and existing hunters. This series is designed to provide a more in-depth discussion into various techniques to aid in your pathway to becoming a hunter. Visit our upcoming events page for more information.

 


General FAQ

We are always looking for mentors and volunteers to assist with program events. This program relies heavily on volunteers and our success would not be possible without them. If you are interested in assisting with a program event, please email us at: hunt-trap@illinois.edu

Other programs focus on recruiting youth hunters and do a great job in their recruitment efforts. On the other hand, there are no resources for adults who did not learn as kids until now.

  • Adults have and control their disposable income, which makes them able to buy necessary equipment.
  • Adults who participate have chosen to take the time to learn a new skill of their own volition, so may be more likely to stay in the hunting population.
  • A hunter is a hunter, recruiting adults is just as important as recruiting youths.
  • Recruiting adult hunters may also increase the number of youth hunters, as younger adults may hunt with their own children when they begin families.
  • Creating new adult hunters automatically adds to the pool of mentors for youth and adult hunting events.
  • Adults can support hunting in opposing anti-hunting legislation and other efforts that seek to curtail hunting and shooting sports.

The easiest way to stay up to date on all program events, hunting news, and important hunting dates is to sign up for to receive our monthly newsletter. You can view past newsletters and sign up to receive future newsletter by visiting this link: NEWSLETTER. 

Yes, we encourage your feedback! We are always looking and planning for event topics/ideas that can help new or existing hunters. To submit ideas, please CLICK HERE. We look forward to hearing from you!