Montana Offers Hunter Safety Courses For Kids And Adults

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - Yes, it’s only the first part of July, but Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is already promoting ongoing hunter safety classes.

I spoke with Communication and Education Program Manager Vivaca Crowser this week about hunter safety, primarily for Montana youth.

Hunter Safety Classes are Already Underway from Montana FWP

“It's really always the time to be getting ready for the next hunting season,” began Crowser. “So right now, if you have a new hunter or young hunter in the family, it is the time to make sure that you have taken care of that Hunter Ed, or maybe Bow Hunter Ed in the case of an archery requirement. So if you are a first-time hunter in Montana, if you're born after January 1 of 1985, you have to have that Hunter Ed certification, or you can get qualified as an apprentice hunter for a few seasons.”

‘Start them young and they’ll be safe hunters for life’ is the philosophy of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

You Must be 10 Years of Age or Older for Firearm Safety Classes

“For the regular Hunter Ed, the firearm safety class, you have to be at least 10 years old, so most of our students are 11 to 14, but we have a lot of adult students as well,” she said. “If you are over 18, you have the option to do your coursework online. We have field days that are kind of an addition if you want that extra training. If you are 10 to 12, then you have to take the class in person, and if you're 12 to 17, then there's a hybrid option where you can also do some online coursework, followed by a field day.”

Crowser said the first and most important rule in hunter safety is to assume that every weapon is loaded.

Firearm Safety is the Number One Priority with Youth for FWP

“Where we spend most of our time is safe firearms handling,” she said. “We have sets of inert guns that we use in classes where we practice all the safety, getting in and out of vehicles, crossing fences, just making sure that anytime you have a firearm in your hand, that you are handling it safely. So we spend a lot of time on that. We also go through survival ethics, conservation, and spending time on a lot of different topics, but the primary focus, again, is the core safety and especially with firearms.”

Crowser said FWP is Always Looking for Qualified Safety Instructors

Crowser said Montana FWP is always looking for qualified instructors to get young hunters trained up for safety.

“On the Fish, Wildlife and Parks website, in the same section that talks about all the different class options and schedules, there is a page right in there that talks about what you need to do if you are interested in volunteering to be an instructor, and there's a link to an application, which is really the starting point to becoming an instructor.”

Click here for the latest in hunter safety education from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.