Before you head out to your blind in the coming weeks, you have some homework to do with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The department is reminding prospective hunters that if they are born on or after January 1st, 1973, they must complete a hunter education course and have a hunter education certificate on file to purchase any hunting license. The only exception is if you are hunting under the mentored hunting law, which allows an unlicensed hunter to participate with a licensed hunter if they promise to follow the state’s rules and stay within arm’s reach. Those interested in participating in a hunter safety course can click on this link. They can attend virtually, in person, or in a hybrid format, where they take classes online before attending a field day. Hunting season for migratory birds such as snipes, mourning dove, rail, early goose, and early teal begins on September 1st. Bear hunting season starts on September 7th. September 17th is the first day you can begin hunting for wild turkeys, cottontail rabbits, squirrels, crows, and deer with a bow or crossbow.