Are Online Follow-Up Classes Becoming the New Normal?

Have you noticed the shift? I certainly have.

Around my area, Online Follow-Up classes are filling up much faster than traditional Hunter Education classes. I can have a traditional class posted for weeks before it reaches capacity, while an Online Follow-Up class often fills within just a few days of appearing on the DFW website.

When I first started teaching Hunter Education about 17 years ago, Online Follow-Up classes didn't even exist. Like many instructors, I taught only the traditional 10-hour classroom course. Eventually, the instructor I teamed up with suggested we give the Follow-Up format a try. We started offering one class each month.

At the time, my classroom space was limited, so I capped enrollment at 15 students. Every class filled. But back then, our traditional classes were just as popular. In the larger classroom, we regularly welcomed 45 to 50 students every month.

Those days have changed.

Neither of us has the time to teach 24 classes a year anymore, but we're both still committed to Hunter Education. These days I teach a traditional class about once every three months, while my teaching partner alternates with Online Follow-Up classes.

The difference in attendance has been eye-opening. My traditional classes average about 15 students, while his Online Follow-Up classes average around 23.

The reality is that many people today simply aren't willing—or able—to spend 10 hours in a classroom. Busy schedules, work, family commitments, and countless other demands have changed the way people learn.

I'll admit that I still believe students gain more from the traditional classroom experience. There's simply more time for discussion, interaction, and hands-on learning. But there's another side to that coin: Online Follow-Up classes are allowing us to reach more future hunters than ever before.

And ultimately, that's what matters.

If you've been hesitant to teach an Online Follow-Up class, consider giving one a try. It might be a welcome change of pace, and you may find it fits both your schedule and the needs of today's students.

As fall hunting seasons approach, now is the perfect time to get your classes posted. Hunters are eager to complete their education and get into the field, and every class we offer helps make that happen.

Thank you for everything you do to support Hunter Education. Your time, dedication, and willingness to teach are making a lasting difference for the next generation of safe, ethical hunters. Keep up the great work!