PRATT -- The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, in cooperation with the National Bowhunter Education Foundation, has announced two separate bowhunter education student courses being held in conjunction with the Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Department.

The first course will be held Friday, Sept. 9, and Saturday, Sept. 10, in the Shawnee North Community Center at 300 NE 43rd St., Topeka. For more information and pre-registration, phone the Shawnee North Community Center at 785-286-0676.

The second course will be held Friday, Sept. 16, and Saturday, Sept. 17, in the Velma K. Paris Community Center, 6715 SW Westview Road (at the intersection of South Topeka Boulevard and University Avenue), Topeka. For more information and pre-registration, phone the Velma K. Paris Community Center at 785-862-1630.

Both courses will run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Each course will include treestand safety, bowhunter ethics, shot placement and shot selection, landowner relations, and other codes of proper outdoor behavior.

This course meets requirements for bowhunter education mandated by state law. Anyone younger than 14 must have a certified bowhunter education course to hunt big game with a bow. In addition, anyone younger than 16 must have a certified hunter education course to hunt, unless hunting under the direct supervision of an adult 18 years or older. The course also meets the requirements of those states and Canadian provinces that mandate bowhunter education for persons of all ages.
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