Students age 12 to 17 and students who will turn 12 by Jan. 16 of the current license year (March – Feb.) can take Hunter Education online, but must also pass an in-person field day to be certified. Students who take the course online and pass the written exam will receive a field day qualifier certificate that they must bring to the in-person field day. The online course is a pre-requisite for the field day and students cannot complete the two course elements in reverse.

The Hunter Education in-person field day will require students to practice and demonstrate key safety skills related to firearm handling. Students will demonstrate how to safely cross a fence with a firearm, hand off a firearm, and remove a firearm from a vehicle, among other practical safety skills. In addition, students will discuss hunting ethics, landowner relations, and land ownership and access. Volunteer instructors will closely observe and evaluate students during the field day. Students who cannot demonstrate proficiency in the above topics will not pass and will not be able to purchase a hunting license until passing a field day.

Montana law requires everyone born after Jan. 1, 1985, to complete a Hunter Education course before purchasing or applying for Montana hunting licenses. Instructor-led in-person courses are an excellent way to provide new hunters with a hands-on learning experience and can be particularly beneficial for people who have minimal experience in the field or handling firearms. These courses are taught by dedicated volunteer instructors.

Contact Chrissy Webb at 406-594-1186 or chrislin.webb@mt.gov for more information. To register for this Hunter Education online field day, visit: register-ed.com/events/view/209303.

For more information on Hunter Education in Montana, visit: fwp.mt.gov/hunt/education/hunter.

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