MISSOURI HUNTER EDUCATION EXAM STUDY
GUIDE 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS || 100%
GUARANTEED PASS <RECENT VERSION>
Section 1: Firearm Safety & Handling (25 Questions)
1. What is the primary rule of firearm safety?
A. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
B. Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
C. Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
D. Point the muzzle in a safe direction.
Answer: C. This is the fundamental principle. If you always treat a firearm as
loaded, you will inherently follow all other safety rules.
2. What is the "zone-of-fire" for a single hunter?
A. A 90-degree arc in front of the hunter.
B. A 180-degree arc in front of the hunter.
C. A 45-degree arc directly in front of the hunter.
D. The entire area around the hunter.
Answer: C. This narrow zone ensures that when hunting in a group, no hunter
swings their firearm into another hunter's space.
3. Before crossing a fence, what should a hunter do first?
A. Check if the firearm is on safety.
B. Unload the firearm.
C. Hand the firearm to a companion.
D. Climb over quickly.
Answer: B. The safest practice is to unload the firearm completely before
attempting to cross an obstacle like a fence.
4. What is the correct way to carry a firearm while walking in a group?
A. Muzzle pointed forward.
B. Muzzle pointed upward or downward.
C. Muzzle pointed at the ground near your feet.
,D. Cradled in your arm with muzzle crossing others.
Answer: B. The "trail carry" or "shoulder carry" with the muzzle pointed in a safe
direction (up or down) prevents it from covering other people.
5. The action of a firearm should be open:
A. Only when you are ready to shoot.
B. At all times when not actively hunting.
C. Only when crossing a fence.
D. Only when in a vehicle.
Answer: B. An open action allows you and others to immediately see that the
firearm is safe and cannot be fired accidentally.
6. Which part of the firearm loads, fires, and ejects cartridges or shotshells?
A. Stock
B. Barrel
C. Muzzle
D. Action
Answer: D. The action is the working mechanism of the firearm.
7. What is the purpose of the trigger guard?
A. To make the trigger more sensitive.
B. To protect the trigger from damage.
C. To prevent the trigger from being accidentally pulled.
D. To lock the firearm.
Answer: C. The trigger guard is a simple but crucial safety feature.
8. Steel shot is required when hunting:
A. Doves and quail.
B. Waterfowl.
C. Turkeys.
D. Squirrels.
Answer: B. Federal law requires the use of non-toxic shot (like steel, bismuth, or
tungsten) for waterfowl hunting to prevent lead poisoning in the environment.
9. A "safety" on a firearm is:
A. A device that guarantees a firearm will not fire.
, B. A mechanical device that can fail.
C. A replacement for safe handling.
D. Always located behind the trigger.
Answer: B. The safety is a supplement to, not a substitute for, safe gun handling.
Never rely on it completely.
10. What is the first thing you should do when you pick up a firearm?
A. Point it in a safe direction.
B. Check to see if it is loaded.
C. Put the safety on.
D. Dry fire it to check the action.
Answer: B. Before you do anything else, you must verify whether the firearm is
loaded or unloaded.
11. To ensure a firearm is unloaded, you must:
A. Look at the safety.
B. Visually inspect the chamber and magazine.
C. Ask the person who handed it to you.
D. Shake it to hear if anything rattles.
Answer: B. Physical and visual inspection is the only safe method.
12. What is the most common cause of hunting-related firearm incidents?
A. Mechanical failure of the firearm.
B. Hunter Judgment Mistakes (like mistaking a person for game).
C. Faulty ammunition.
D. Tripping and falling.
Answer: B. Most incidents are preventable and result from human error, not
equipment failure.
13. When storing firearms, they should be:
A. Loaded and easily accessible.
B. Stored separately from ammunition and locked.
C. Placed in a soft case under the bed.
D. Leaned in a corner for quick access.
Answer: B. Secure storage prevents unauthorized access, especially by children.
GUIDE 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS || 100%
GUARANTEED PASS <RECENT VERSION>
Section 1: Firearm Safety & Handling (25 Questions)
1. What is the primary rule of firearm safety?
A. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
B. Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
C. Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
D. Point the muzzle in a safe direction.
Answer: C. This is the fundamental principle. If you always treat a firearm as
loaded, you will inherently follow all other safety rules.
2. What is the "zone-of-fire" for a single hunter?
A. A 90-degree arc in front of the hunter.
B. A 180-degree arc in front of the hunter.
C. A 45-degree arc directly in front of the hunter.
D. The entire area around the hunter.
Answer: C. This narrow zone ensures that when hunting in a group, no hunter
swings their firearm into another hunter's space.
3. Before crossing a fence, what should a hunter do first?
A. Check if the firearm is on safety.
B. Unload the firearm.
C. Hand the firearm to a companion.
D. Climb over quickly.
Answer: B. The safest practice is to unload the firearm completely before
attempting to cross an obstacle like a fence.
4. What is the correct way to carry a firearm while walking in a group?
A. Muzzle pointed forward.
B. Muzzle pointed upward or downward.
C. Muzzle pointed at the ground near your feet.
,D. Cradled in your arm with muzzle crossing others.
Answer: B. The "trail carry" or "shoulder carry" with the muzzle pointed in a safe
direction (up or down) prevents it from covering other people.
5. The action of a firearm should be open:
A. Only when you are ready to shoot.
B. At all times when not actively hunting.
C. Only when crossing a fence.
D. Only when in a vehicle.
Answer: B. An open action allows you and others to immediately see that the
firearm is safe and cannot be fired accidentally.
6. Which part of the firearm loads, fires, and ejects cartridges or shotshells?
A. Stock
B. Barrel
C. Muzzle
D. Action
Answer: D. The action is the working mechanism of the firearm.
7. What is the purpose of the trigger guard?
A. To make the trigger more sensitive.
B. To protect the trigger from damage.
C. To prevent the trigger from being accidentally pulled.
D. To lock the firearm.
Answer: C. The trigger guard is a simple but crucial safety feature.
8. Steel shot is required when hunting:
A. Doves and quail.
B. Waterfowl.
C. Turkeys.
D. Squirrels.
Answer: B. Federal law requires the use of non-toxic shot (like steel, bismuth, or
tungsten) for waterfowl hunting to prevent lead poisoning in the environment.
9. A "safety" on a firearm is:
A. A device that guarantees a firearm will not fire.
, B. A mechanical device that can fail.
C. A replacement for safe handling.
D. Always located behind the trigger.
Answer: B. The safety is a supplement to, not a substitute for, safe gun handling.
Never rely on it completely.
10. What is the first thing you should do when you pick up a firearm?
A. Point it in a safe direction.
B. Check to see if it is loaded.
C. Put the safety on.
D. Dry fire it to check the action.
Answer: B. Before you do anything else, you must verify whether the firearm is
loaded or unloaded.
11. To ensure a firearm is unloaded, you must:
A. Look at the safety.
B. Visually inspect the chamber and magazine.
C. Ask the person who handed it to you.
D. Shake it to hear if anything rattles.
Answer: B. Physical and visual inspection is the only safe method.
12. What is the most common cause of hunting-related firearm incidents?
A. Mechanical failure of the firearm.
B. Hunter Judgment Mistakes (like mistaking a person for game).
C. Faulty ammunition.
D. Tripping and falling.
Answer: B. Most incidents are preventable and result from human error, not
equipment failure.
13. When storing firearms, they should be:
A. Loaded and easily accessible.
B. Stored separately from ammunition and locked.
C. Placed in a soft case under the bed.
D. Leaned in a corner for quick access.
Answer: B. Secure storage prevents unauthorized access, especially by children.
