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Michigan Schools May Soon Teach Hunter and Firearm Safety
Michigan schools will soon have the option to offer a firearm and hunter safety course to students in grades 6 through 12 under a new law signed this week by Gretchen Whitmer.
The legislation, House Bill 4285, allows local school districts to add an elective course focused on safe firearm handling, hunting ethics, and conservation. Participation is voluntary for both schools and students, and no district is required to offer the class.
Under the law, the course must be taught by instructors certified through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and follow established hunter education standards. Firearms and live ammunition are prohibited on school property, with instruction relying on inert or simulated firearms for hands-on training.
Students who successfully complete the course will receive credit for Michigan’s mandatory hunter safety requirement, which is needed to purchase a hunting license in the state. The program is designed to be offered either during school hours as part of physical education or as an extracurricular option.
State Rep. Curt VanderWall, who sponsored the bill, said the goal is to promote responsible firearm use while addressing a long-term decline in hunting participation across the state.
“In Michigan, hunting isn’t just a pastime, it’s a tradition,” VanderWall said. He added that making hunter education more accessible through schools could help introduce younger generations to outdoor activities while reinforcing safety and respect for firearms.
The bill passed the Michigan House by a 101-7 vote and received unanimous approval in the Senate, reflecting broad bipartisan support. It is also backed by several outdoor and hunting organizations, along with state agencies.
The Michigan Department of Education will work with the DNR to develop the curriculum, which must be available to school districts no later than September 2025. Required topics include proper firearm handling, safe cleaning and maintenance, different types of firearms, and ethical hunting practices.
Districts that choose not to offer the course may still allow students to enroll through cooperative education programs with neighboring schools.
Supporters say the program could help connect students with outdoor traditions while emphasizing safety and conservation. VanderWall also noted that Michigan’s deer hunter numbers peaked in the mid-1990s and have declined nationally as older hunters age out and fewer young people enter the sport.
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