YOU MUST COORDINATE YOUR OWN EXAM HERE
What is the CORE course all about?
Give this course as a gift certificate
Vancouver’s friendly, fun and informative CORE course. Learn to hunt with EatWild. In order to become a hunter, BC residents must complete the Conservation Outdoor Recreation Education Program (CORE). The CORE program provides an overview of the hunting laws, ethics, animal identification, and firearm safety.
The EatWild CORE class is delivered over seventeen hours of mandatory course requirements and testing. This includes twelve hours of classroom, one hour of testing, and four hours of video lessons that you can watch on your schedule. EatWild offers an additional four hours of how-to-hunt video podcast lessons free of charge.
You must review these videos and podcasts in addition to attending the scheduled classroom time:
- Orienteering- getting back to the truck or camp
- EatWild – Lost in the woods
- EatWild – Where do I aim at a deer? – shot placement
- EatWild – How to Field Dress a Deer (Gutting a Deer) V2
- EatWild – How to hang and skin a deer on the meat pole
- EatWild – How to Find Game After the Shot – Elk Hunt in the Rockies
- EatWild – Picking up the blood trail
- EatWild – Skinning and Boning Out a Deer – How to Backpack an Animal Out from the Field
- Meat Care – Packing, Hanging, and Transporting Game
- EatWild – Sheep Hunting Country – Camp, Food Cache, Hiking and Spotting Sheep
- EatWild – What Rifle Should I Buy? – Part 1 Caliber
- EatWild – What Rifle Should I Buy? Part 2 – Choosing a Gun
- EatWild Podcast 15 – Safety in the mountains
- EatWild – Still Hunting Techniques
- EatWild – Spot and Stalk – AliasCinema
- EatWild – Alpine Hunting Camp Setup
- EatWild – Towing or Dragging a Deer Back to the Truck
- Preparing for a Backpack Hunt – What’s in my pack
Additional how-to-hunt content:
- EatWild – Packing a Backpack
- Storm is coming – How to set up a tarp
- EatWild – Climbing Up the Mountain – Route Finding and Terrain Assessment in the Alpine
- EatWild – How to Butcher a Deer at Home – Cut and Wrap for the Freezer
- Listen to the EatWild Podcast
Eatwild offers much more than just your hunting license certification in our Core class. Unlike other core classes, Eatwild introduces you to how to be a successful hunter. We discuss where and how to find game in British Columbia. We introduce you to effective hunting techniques. Join us, and become part Eatwild community of ethical hunters.
You need the Conservation Outdoor Recreation Education (CORE) course to get a hunting licence in BC. Once you finish the curriculum successfully you will apply to the BC Wildlife Federation who will issue you a CORE Certificate. Once you have your CORE Certificate, you can then apply to the Provincial Government for your BC Resident Hunter Number. Once you have been issued your Hunter Number, you can now buy BC Hunting Licenses. You will have your hunter number for life, and you will never have to go through this process again.
What folks are saying about CORE with EatWild
I just wanted to thank you for being a great instructor during the CORE course. It was inspiring to hear not only your stories, but those of your amazing team as well. The extremely high level of passion and dedication you have for hunting was intoxicating. Thank you again.
Let me wrap up with a sincere Thank You for a great CORE course. I actually signed up for the online version of the CORE course almost a year ago, but I couldn't get into it. It wasn't until I saw one of your YouTube videos that I decided to take the course in person, and I'm glad I did! Your stories, and the depth of your experience made the material so much easier to absorb. Much appreciated.
“It’s always best to learn from an experienced hunter, rather than a textbook.”
“The EatWild CORE course is essential for anyone who wants to take up hunting, but doesn't know where to start or have anyone to mentor them. Also there are cookies.”
“Hunting is a new journey for me and my family. The clear delivery of information as well as relation of experiences and anecdotes by Dylan, Celina and Rob were invaluable to mine and my son's retention of the material. Can't wait for the different skills workshops.”
Upcoming CORE Dates
CORE FAQ
Below you will find common questions regarding the CORE course.
The tests is 75 multiple choice questions. It takes an average of 60 minutes for students to complete the test. If you take notes during class and complete the assigned readings you will do well on the exam. Less than 1% of the EatWild students have failed the exam. You can arrange with the instructor to rewrite the exam if you fall short of a passing grade.
Yes! If you have done the online course but need to sit the official test to get your Residential Hunter Card we provide testing sessions. For more information, schedule and registration click here.
Step 1: Complete the CORE class. After completing the exam, you will receive a signed Registration Form from your CORE instructor.
Step 2: Get your CORE Certificate. You must send or drop off the Registration Form at the BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF) office. The BCWF office will issue you a CORE certificate. There is a $30 processing fee that is paid to BCWF for this service.
Step 3: BC Resident Hunter Number Card (RHNC). Once you have received your CORE certificate you will then need to take your CORE Certificate to the local service BC Service Center and request a RHNC. There is no cost for the RHNC. Before a RHNC is issued, you will have to prove that you are a BC resident and that you meet the minimum age requirements.
Step 4: Buy a hunting license. Show your RHNC at vender that sell hunting licenses. They will issue you a hunting license and any required tags. To find a vender: click here
BCWF Office
101-9706 188th Street, Surrey, BC V4N 3M2
BC Service Center
175 – 22470 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge
The fastest way to get your hunting license after you completed the CORE course is to drop off your CORE completion paperwork in Surrey at the BCWF office. They will issue your CORE certificate while you wait. Then you’ll need to drive from Surrey over to the Service BC Center in Maple Ridge and they will issue you a hunter number (RHNC) and hunting license right away.
NO, if you sign up for the three-day CORE course it includes all guidebooks, testing and paperwork required to get your RHN (Residential Hunter Number).
CORE is the British Columbia hunter safety and certification course. All new hunters are required to complete a hunter safety course in order to qualify for a hunting license. The Conservation Outdoor Recreation Education course covers hunting ethics, habitat conservation, hunter safety, wildlife identification, firearms safety and hunting laws and regulations.
The class will write the CORE exam on the last schedule day of the class. You will be issued a CORE Registration Form signed by the instructor after successfully completing the exam.
You must purchase a hunting license every year if you plan to hunt. Your hunting license will expire March 31st of each year. You will need a new license on April 1st if you plan to hunt in the Spring. I purchase my license prior to deer hunting season in September. I don’t typically hunt in the Spring so I don’t purchase a license until the Fall.
CORE Vancouver – Registration and Costs
See schedule above for upcoming dates. Click register and fill out the form to reserve a spot. Pay attention to the structure of the course. We run courses over three consecutive weekdays or over a weekend in Vancouver, BC.
See individual course sessions for cost (includes a CORE manual).
Minimum Age Requirement: 10 years and older
