DOVER — With Delaware’s spring wild turkey hunting season fast approaching, DNREC’s Hunter Education Program reminds both resident and non-resident hunters that they must pass a Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife-approved course on turkey hunting before they can legally hunt turkeys in the First State.

For hunters who choose to take the one-day Wild Turkey Hunter Education Course offered by the Division of Fish and Wildlife to fulfill their mandatory course requirement, registration is now open for course dates in Kent and Sussex counties.

Sussex County course dates  have not been set yet.

New Castle and Kent courses will be offered from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

•Kent County: Saturday, Jan. 28, Sunday, Jan. 29, and Saturday, March 11  at the Little Creek Hunter Education Training Center, 3018 Bayside Drive, Dover;

•New Castle County: Saturday, Feb. 11 and Sunday, Feb. 12 at Ommelanden Hunter/Trapper Education Training Center and Range, 1205 River Road, New Castle.

“Delaware’s turkey hunter education course teaches students age 10 and older important turkey hunting safety information as well as current laws and regulations pertaining to wild turkey hunting in the state,” said Delaware Hunter Education Coordinator Mark Ostroski. “Students also learn the biology and behavior of the wild turkey, the wild turkey’s history in Delaware and turkey calling.”

All students planning on attending one of the courses must register in advance. To register for the one-day course, click Hunter Education Online Access and after logging in, click “Sign me up” and select “Mandatory Turkey Ed.” Students may also contact the Hunter Education Office at 302-735-3600, ext. 1.

Delaware’s 2017 spring wild turkey season will run from April 8 to May 6, with a youth/non-ambulatory disabled turkey hunt on April 1.