A Montana warden had a scoped rifle pointed at him twice in one day on opening day. Here’s what happened and why every hunter needs to see it.

To enjoy a fall weekend of hunting in Great Falls, you need a hunter education certification. An in-person course is now open for registration, featuring experienced instructors. Classes run in September, culminating in a field day on September 26. Enrollment is open to those aged 10 and up, with limited spots available.

To hunt in Montana if born after January 1, 1985, certification is required to ensure safety and compliance with local laws. Adults can complete the Hunter-Ed course online, while those aged 12-17 must attend a field day. After certification, hunters can purchase tags, ensuring readiness for the season.

Montana hunter ed classes are filling fast. Here's where to find 2026 spring/summer sessions before fall draw deadlines close the door.

Ready to hunt in Montana? Montana FWP is listing in-person hunter education classes and online-student field days across central and eastern Montana this spring and summer. Seats can fill fast, and students must be registered before class begins—here’s how to sign up plus the full schedule of dates and towns.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is expanding hunter education support by hiring seven regional education technicians, even as youth participation faces headwinds from overscheduled kids, two-income parents, and volunteer instructors. The technicians will help backstop the required firearm safety program for anyone born after Jan. 1, 1985.

More than 15 hunter and bowhunter education courses across north-central Montana are open or about to open for registration. Spring is the easiest time to secure a spot, with both classroom and online options available. Don’t wait until late summer or fall, when seats get competitive and classes fill up fast.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks offers various hunter education options this spring, including in-person classes and online courses, required for hunters born after January 1, 1985. Classes fill quickly.