A combination firearm and bowhunter education course will be offered by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission volunteer instructors in Orchard, Oct. 17, 20 and 22. Class will meet from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 17 and 20 and 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 22.

The free course will be held at the community room behind the Orchard fire hall. The course will provide instruction in the areas of safe firearms use, safe bow use, tree stand safety, shooting and sighting techniques, hunter ethics, game identification and conservation management. Students must attend all the sessions to complete the course.

In Nebraska, hunters and bowhunters ages 12 through 29 must possess proof of successful completion of firearm hunter education when hunting with a firearm. Additionally, bowhunter education is required for all Nebraska hunters age 12 through 29 who hunt deer, elk, antelope or mountain sheep with bow and arrow or crossbow.

Participants must register for the course at http://www.huntsafenebraska.org.