Alaska Crossbow Education Course

The crossbow education course will provide instruction on crossbow techniques and safety, wildlife conservation, and outdoor preparedness. The course will be composed of two parts, the online course and a field day.

If you were born on or after January 1, 1986 you must have successfully completed a department approved crossbow education certification course to hunt big game with a crossbow and the certification card must be carried in the field when hunting.

Man demonstrating crossbow to two other people

Alaska Crossbow Education Course

The course is composed of two parts, the online course and an in-person field day. You will study the course material and take practice tests on the internet. You can take multiple chapter review tests online until the material is adequately covered. After successfully passing the online test, you must attend a Field Day where you will complete a short classroom session and a proficiency shoot. It is only after successfully completing both parts of the course that you will receive your crossbow education certification.

  1. There is a $30.00 charge for the online course. This fee is collected after you pass. A score of 80% is required for passing the test.
  2. Upon passing the online written test, you will receive your official Crossbow Education Field Day Qualifier Certificate, which contains your Field Day Qualifier number. You will be required to present a printed copy or an electronic copy of this when you attend your class After a 1-3 day waiting period, you will receive an email informing you that you can sign up to attend a Field Day. You must wait to receive this notification email before you can sign up. You will need your Field Day Qualifier Number to sign up for the Field Day. The Field Day will be administered by certified volunteer instructors and will include a short review of key safety issues, Alaska specific regulations, and a shooting proficiency.
  3. The student must successfully complete the online test, attend the field day, and complete the shooting proficiency to be certified. Students who fail the proficiency shoot and the reshoots must re-register online to attend a field day on another date. Students completing the online course do not need to re-take the online course and repay as their field day qualifier certificate is valid for 365 days after their initial online course completion date.

Proficiency Shoot

All crossbow education students must successfully complete a standardized proficiency shoot. All students must provide their own crossbow equipment. It is recommended the student use the crossbow they intend to hunt with during the proficiency shoot. The crossbow must be shoulder-mounted, but there is no minimum draw weight required to take the proficiency shoot, however, students must be knowledgeable about the current regulations to hunt big game in Alaska.

During the required proficiency shoot, a course will be set up with eight different shooting stations (two stations at each of four 3-D targets). The shooting proficiency will also require a student to estimate range and identify the vital zones of various big game animals. Students will use field tips only, NO BROADHEADS. Students will be allowed to use a rangefinder during the proficiency shoot as it's a legal piece of equipment and can be a valuable aid to any hunter, however they cannot share this information with any other student. Students will also be allowed to use a bipod or monopod during the proficiency shoot. Shooting proficiency shall be demonstrated by the student taking eight shots at four 3-D targets. The student must make five out of the eight shots in the vitals (heart, lung, liver). The student must make at least one vital shot on each of the four target animals and a double kill shot on one. The proficiency shoot yardages are based on realistic distances that all hunters would encounter in the field. The course also serves as a learning experience for all hunters and hopefully will have an impact on their choice of equipment, amount of practice required, and shots taken while in the field.

Click here to enroll in the Online Crossbow Education course

View the Online Crossbow Education Course Field Day schedule

Non-Resident Hunters

Alaska accepts the crossbow certification from any State/Province-sponsored crossbow education course. Other state's crossbow hunting licenses, tags, stamps, age exemptions, etc. are not adequate to fulfill Alaska's requirements.

If you need a crossbow education course before coming to Alaska to hunt with a crossbow, visit the National Bowhunter Education Foundation website and complete their crossbow education certification course.

Please feel free to contact us if you need additional assistance or have questions about the crossbow education requirement to hunt with a crossbow in Alaska.

Important Crossbow Regulations

A crossbow MAY NOT be used in any hunt or area specifically restricted to bow and arrow only, as a crossbow is not recognized as legal archery equipment.

To hunt big game in Alaska with a crossbow, the crossbow MUST:

  • have at least a 100-pound peak draw weight.
  • use a bolt that is at least 16-inches in overall length, be tipped with a broadhead, and at least 300 grains in total weight.
  • use a broadhead that is a fixed, replaceable, or mechanical/retractable blade type that is not barbed.
  • not use electronic devices that are attached to the crossbow, except scopes or electronic sights that do not project light externally.
  • be shoulder-mounted.

Disabled hunters may be eligible to use a crossbow in an archery-only area. Prior to applying for a Methods and Means Exemption, you will need to complete the crossbow education certification course. The crossbow education certification number can be used to apply for archery-only permits, and if awarded a permit you must apply for a Methods and Means Exemption. For more information, visit the Hunting Methods and Means Disability Exemption webpage.

For questions relating to the Alaska crossbow education course, contact (907) 267-2196 or ginamaria.smith@alaska.gov.