The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation Agricultural Division will host an Oklahoma Hunter Education Course from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, July 19, at the Southern Oklahoma Technology Center's auditorium, located at 2610 Sam Noble Parkway in Ardmore.

The Oklahoma Hunter Education Course is required for all Oklahoma hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1972, before they can purchase a hunting license, deer gun permit or deer primitive firearms permit. During the course, Noble Foundation wildlife consultants, Oklahoma game warden Jeremy Brothers and hunter education instructor Keith Morgan will detail topics ranging from firearms, hunter ethics and safety to specialty hunting, laws, and wildlife management and conservation.

"Most wildlife management is funded by hunters. We believe it is important to foster support for hunting and ethical conduct while hunting because it directly benefits wildlife management," said Mike Porter, wildlife consultant for the Noble Foundation. "We want to positively influence the public's perception of hunters by helping develop safe and ethical hunters."

This course is required for most hunters in the United States, and Oklahoma's hunter education certification is accepted in all 50 states. To receive a hunter education certificate, a person must attend the entire course, pass the written exam and demonstrate safe gun handling.

The course is open to the public and is offered at no cost, courtesy of the Noble Foundation and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. For additional information and to preregister for the event, please contact Tracy Cumbie at 580.224.6411.

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News Release Issued: June 30, 2008

For media inquiries concerning the Noble Foundation, please contact J. Adam Calaway, Director of Public Relations, at 580.224.6209 or by email at jacalaway@noble.org.

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. (www.noble.org), headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a nonprofit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement and plant biology research; assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs; and providing grants to nonprofit charitable, educational and health organizations.