New Legislation Would Grow Pennsylvania’s Hunter Heritage
EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The Pennsylvania State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation joined a coalition of partners in submitting a letter of support for the passing of Pennsylvania House Bill 2460, which would give school districts the ability to offer students in grades 6 to 12 the opportunity to complete the state’s hunter safety education curriculum during or after school hours. The legislation has been approved by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Now it must pass through the Senate to get across the finish line.
“By making voluntary hunter and trapper education available in our public schools, House Bill 2460 represents an important opportunity to connect Pennsylvania’s youth with our outdoor heritage, while providing them with valuable education in safety, conservation and responsible wildlife stewardship,” said Cody Chapman, Pennsylvania NWTF State Chapter president. “House Bill 2460 is in perfect alignment with the National Wild Turkey Federation’s mission, which is the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage. The Pennsylvania State Chapter of the NWTF is excited to support this legislation.”
The legislation will allow the Pennsylvania Game Commission to develop a Hunter-Trapper Education (HTE) Program, including firearm safety instruction, as an extracurricular class, or as part of an existing course for the purpose of outdoor recreation activity for students. If completed, the program will satisfy the required hunter safety education requirement hunters needed to legally hunt, and successful students will be able to obtain a hunting or trapping license.
Throughout the program, enrolled students will learn firearms safety, basic shooting skills, wildlife management, outdoor preparedness and the basics of trapping. Firearms and ammunition would not be brought into a school building as part of the instruction.
“House Bill 2460 is a step in the right direction for introducing the next generation into hunting,” said Mitch Blake, NWTF district biologist. “The NWTF’s Forests and Flocks Initiative focuses on boosting support for hunting through positive advocacy work and recruiting the next generation of hunters by breaking down barriers of entry. Offering hunter education through the school system allows students to learn and be trained on safe hunting practices and wildlife conservation and potentially expose more students to hunting that may not otherwise get that exposure.”
According to the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Pennsylvania would be joining several other states including Colorado, Louisiana, Michigan, West Virginia, Illinois, Tennessee, New Mexico, and most recently Georgia, whose governor signed similar legislation into law on May 5, 2026.
Read the full bill here: https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/text/PDF/2025/0/HB2460/PN3723
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 25 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. Since 2022, the NWTF has also invested over $2.3 million in critical wild turkey research that, when leveraged with partner contributions, has resulted in more than $22 million to guide the management of the wild turkey and to ensure sustainable populations. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale to deliver healthy forests and wildlife habitats, clean and abundant water, resilient communities and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues to unite a nation through the life-changing power of the outdoors.