I took advantage of the COVID restrictions and just did my Ontario Hunter Education Program online. If you're considering it, DO IT! Here's the link to get you started https://www.ohep.net/courses/online-huntered/
Note: This course does NOT include the PAL/RPAL course.
Here's what to expect along the way:
1) Saskatchewan Online Hunter Education course ($28.50 + GST): A virtual slideshow type course that takes you through everything hunter safety, with a heavy focus on firearm safety. You can do it at your own pace, but if you power through it would probably take half a day. You cannot skip the narrations, so it drags on a bit. There's quizzes at the end of each module, and an exam at the end. I found none of it very difficult if you pay attention. Pass that and move onto step 2.
2) Review Ontario Specific Course Content (free): Download the recommended PDF's and study as much or as little as you want. The OHEP book is mostly a re-hash of the Sask course, but there is some info specific to Ontario in there. If anything your big focus should be on the Regulations Summary since this is specific to Ontario regulations and what will be discussed in your virtual exam.
3) Register for a Virtual Exam ($100 cash): Send OHEP an email and they'll hook you up with an Ontario examiner. Schedule the date/time with the examiner. I did my exam over Zoom, but I've heard of others using Facetime, or Facebook Messenger. The exam was 70 questions long, all 4-answer multiple choice. My examiner held the question/answers up to the webcam and I gave him my answer. The exam has a mix of questions including firearm safety, hunter safety, survival, equipment knowledge, wildlife identification & regulations. You are allowed to reference the Regulations Summary at any time, and I found a lot of my answers in the Regulations Summary>General Regulations. Do the exam at your own pace, and skip questions to return back later if you'd like. The whole thing took me 45 mins and was relatively painless. At the end I paid my examiner via EMT and he emailed me a copy of my exam report.
4) Email your Exam Report (free): Create an account and purchase an Outdoors Card if you don't already have one ($10~). If you do, call up the NRISC (1-800-387-7011) and tell them you need to send them a copy of your exam report to add hunting privileges to your Outdoors Card. You'll email it to them while you're on the phone, once they receive it they'll add hunting privileges to your account and you're all set.
5) Purchase licenses & tags ($~)
6) Go hunting!
All in all, I found the process fairly easy and straight forward. I've been putting this off for years because I didn't want to spend one of my rare weekends off in a classroom. For $130 this was a great opportunity, and it may not be around for long! If you're motivated to do it, and pay attention to the course material you will have zero problems. If you're a little apprehensive going into the exam there is a $2 app you can download from the App Store called 'Ontario Hunter One Stop'. It has a bank of 200 questions in the style of the exam. I didn't download it, but I've heard it's alright.
Good Luck!
Note: This course does NOT include the PAL/RPAL course.
Here's what to expect along the way:
1) Saskatchewan Online Hunter Education course ($28.50 + GST): A virtual slideshow type course that takes you through everything hunter safety, with a heavy focus on firearm safety. You can do it at your own pace, but if you power through it would probably take half a day. You cannot skip the narrations, so it drags on a bit. There's quizzes at the end of each module, and an exam at the end. I found none of it very difficult if you pay attention. Pass that and move onto step 2.
2) Review Ontario Specific Course Content (free): Download the recommended PDF's and study as much or as little as you want. The OHEP book is mostly a re-hash of the Sask course, but there is some info specific to Ontario in there. If anything your big focus should be on the Regulations Summary since this is specific to Ontario regulations and what will be discussed in your virtual exam.
3) Register for a Virtual Exam ($100 cash): Send OHEP an email and they'll hook you up with an Ontario examiner. Schedule the date/time with the examiner. I did my exam over Zoom, but I've heard of others using Facetime, or Facebook Messenger. The exam was 70 questions long, all 4-answer multiple choice. My examiner held the question/answers up to the webcam and I gave him my answer. The exam has a mix of questions including firearm safety, hunter safety, survival, equipment knowledge, wildlife identification & regulations. You are allowed to reference the Regulations Summary at any time, and I found a lot of my answers in the Regulations Summary>General Regulations. Do the exam at your own pace, and skip questions to return back later if you'd like. The whole thing took me 45 mins and was relatively painless. At the end I paid my examiner via EMT and he emailed me a copy of my exam report.
4) Email your Exam Report (free): Create an account and purchase an Outdoors Card if you don't already have one ($10~). If you do, call up the NRISC (1-800-387-7011) and tell them you need to send them a copy of your exam report to add hunting privileges to your Outdoors Card. You'll email it to them while you're on the phone, once they receive it they'll add hunting privileges to your account and you're all set.
5) Purchase licenses & tags ($~)
6) Go hunting!
All in all, I found the process fairly easy and straight forward. I've been putting this off for years because I didn't want to spend one of my rare weekends off in a classroom. For $130 this was a great opportunity, and it may not be around for long! If you're motivated to do it, and pay attention to the course material you will have zero problems. If you're a little apprehensive going into the exam there is a $2 app you can download from the App Store called 'Ontario Hunter One Stop'. It has a bank of 200 questions in the style of the exam. I didn't download it, but I've heard it's alright.
Good Luck!
