It's time for prospective hunters to sign up for safety instruction.

"Many people fail to consider enrolling in a course until the weather turns cool in late September. Unfortunately, most classes have either begun or are full by then, and the opportunity to hunt during the fall may be diminished," said Jon Paurus, in a news release that encouraged people to sign up for Minnesota hunter safety courses. Paurus is acting enforcement education program coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Classroom instruction includes 12 hours of study and a field day. There is an online course, too, which also includes a field day at its conclusion. Many current classroom options are full around the state, but check availability and learn more about online instruction at tinyurl.com/omvymja. By phone, get more information at 651-296-6157 or 1-888-646-6367.