ST. PAUL (AP) — Sign up is now open for Minnesota’s firearms safety and hunter education classes.

The classes are offered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Anyone born after Dec. 31, 1979, must take a DNR safety training course and receive a certificate of completion before purchasing a license for big or small game.

Capt. Mike Hammer, the DNR’s hunter education coordinator, says there are a few hopeful hunters every year who find out they can’t hunt because they haven’t taken the class in time.

Spring classes are currently available around the state but fill up fast.

More information is available online at http://www.mndnr.gov or by calling 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367.