I guess one thing we learn is that all states are different. When Indiana went to the hunter safety requirement I was grandfathered in. I never had a certificate and was never asked for one. I then went to a lifetime license so I don't worry about it now. So some states might require the sellers of the license to check for your certificate and some might make it the hunters responsibility. One thing I can tell you is that weather or not Wal Mart messed up you still violated the law as well (I know the OP knows this but some people are still blaming Wal Mart) so you will pay the fine and Wal Mart may or may not be punished. Kind of like the kid that buys beer at the liquor store before he is 21. The liquor store is in trouble but the kid has still broken the law.