Snowmobile Safety - WDNR

The Hortonville Polar Bear Riders Host a DNR approved Snowmobile safety class once a year in December, Hosted for three days at the Hortonville High School.

Attention All Wisconsin Recreational Safety Students

Information courtesy WDNR site - Click Here

New Requirement: All Wisconsin recreational safety students are required to obtain a WI DNR Customer ID Number before the completion of any recreational safety class and will also be required to provide that WI DNR Customer ID Number along with students personal information to the instructor. You can obtain a WI DNR Customer ID Number 7AM to 10PM by calling the WI DNR Customer Service at 1-888-936-7463 or you can visit a WI DNR Service Center during their regular scheduled hours. For WI DNR Service Center hours and locations:

Service Center Locations

Snowmobile Education

New! - Operators of snowmobiles now have a convenient online method to receive Snowmobile Safety Certification through an Internet web course recently introduced by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The internet course is available at www.snowmobile-ed.com/wi. Alternative Training at http://www.snowmobilecourse.com/usa/wisconsin/

Snowmobile Age Requirements

Who may operate a snowmobile? -- Any person who is born on or after January 1, 1985 and who has reached the age of 12, must have completed and received a snowmobile safety certificate in order to operate a snowmobile in Wisconsin. The certificate must be carried while operating the snowmobile, and displayed to a law enforcement officer upon demand.

Check class availability: Upcoming Courses

This does not apply to the operation of snowmobiles upon lands owned or leased by the operator's parent or guardian. As used in this section, "leased lands" does not include lands leased by an organization of which said operator or the operator's parent or guardian is a member.

No person under the age of 12 years may operate a snowmobile unless the person is accompanied either by a parent or guardian or by a person over 18 years of age. Accompanied means to be on the same snowmobile as the operator.

Other states and Provinces that issue a snowmobile safety certificate to snowmobilers will be honored in Wisconsin.

Snowmobile Education

Snowmobiling provides great opportunities for family recreation during the winter months in Wisconsin. Many people will be operating a snowmobile for the first time and along with that, new skills must be learned and new attitudes developed. The purpose of snowmobile safety training is to expose new users to basic snowmobile safety, responsibilities, ethics, laws and mechanical functions.

Course Objectives

To reduce the potential for snowmobile accidents, injuries and fatalities; to reduce the potential for conflict between snowmobilers, landowners, and other resource users; and to promote safe, responsible, and ethical use of the environment and our resources.

Course Content

1. History of snowmobiling; environmental impacts and concerns
2. Parts of the snowmobile, safety features, maintenance and repair
3. Preparation, operation and handling, terrain, fueling, safety tips, and transporting a snowmobile
4. Protective gear, clothing, equipment requirements, emergency situations, first aid, and survival techniques
5. Regulations, trail signs, alcohol, and registration
6. Courtesy and ethics

Course Information

Classroom Instruction: The snowmobile safety course consists of six hours of basic instruction in the principles of snowmobile safety. The course is comprised of six hours of classroom study and an optional two hours of hands-on snowmobile operation or optional snowmobile ride simulation.

Who is eligible to take a class

Classroom Instruction: Anyone is eligible to take the class and receive a safety education completion certificate. For children under 12 years of age, the certificate does not become valid until the child reaches 12 years of age. Go to the Snowmobiling in Wisconsin page for additional details. Class fee is $10.00. Students with special needs must contact the instructor at least two weeks in advance of the course to request special accommodations.

Internet Instruction: Internet students must be at least 16 years old in order to take the course online. Internet course fee is $24.50.

Length of Course

Minimum of 8 hours. May be longer depending on instructor and the student's learning ability.

Class Availability

Varies depending on area of the state and time of the year. There is at least one class per county per year. Go to the WDNR snowmobiling page to check latest availability.