The new "Apprentice Hunter" law was enacted by the 2015 state Legislature creating the opportunity for youth 10-17 years of age to hunt without completing hunter education. Learn more

A student must be at least 10 years old to register for a hunter education class. There is no maximum age limit. Classroom courses are free and anyone is welcome to take the course, especially parents who want to accompany their child.

Classes are at least two days and a minimum total 12 hours in length. Class days and total hours vary by area. You must attend all of the classroom sessions, field course, and pass a final exam to become certified.

Montana's program follows the standards established by the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA). By meeting these standards, the Montana hunter education certificate is recognized and honored in all of North America.

A student must be at least 11 years old to register for a bowhunter education course. There is no maximum age limit. Classroom courses are free and anyone is welcome to take the course, especially parents who want to accompany their child. You may take the bowhunter course before the hunter education course.

Classes are at least 2 days and a minimum total 12 hours in length. Class days and total hours vary by area. You must attend all of the classroom sessions, field course, and pass a final exam to become certified.

Montana's program follows the standards established by the National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF). By meeting these standards, the Montana bowhunter education certificate is recognized and honored in all of North America.

A Montana bow and arrow license, plus the proper Montana hunting license, is required if you want to bowhunt during any special archery season. To purchase a bow and arrow license, you must:

• Show a certificate of completing the national bowhunter education course from Montana or any other state or province; or
• Show any prior year's bowhunting/archery stamp, tag, permit, or license from any state or province. If you cannot produce this license, you may sign an affidavit, at any FWP license provider, stating that you previously purchased such a license. This allows you then to purchase a current year's Montana bow and arrow license.

The Online Adult Hunter Education Course allows you to complete the classroom equivalent of the Montana Hunter Education Course online; you must still attend a practical field course to become certified. You must be 18 years old or older to take the online course.

Upon successful completion of the online hunter education course, which is confirmed by taking an exam online, you will be issued a Field Day Qualifier Certificate. This Field Day Qualifier Certificate and a picture ID are necessary to obtain entrance into the field day portion of your hunter education course, which takes place with certified Montana instructors. After completing the field day portion, you will then receive your official state issued hunter education certificate.

To obtain a copy of your Field Day Qualifier Certificate please contact the course provider’s customer service at 1-800-830-2268 (toll-free).

The Online Adult Bowhunter Education Course allows you to complete the classroom equivalent of the Montana Bowhunter Education Course online; you must still attend a practical field course to become certified regardless of your date of birth. You must be 18 years old or older to take the online course.

Upon successful completion of the online bowhunter education course, which is confirmed by taking an exam online, you will be issued a Field Day Qualifier Certificate. This Field Day Qualifier Certificate and a picture ID are necessary to obtain entrance into the field day portion of your bowhunter education course, which takes place with certified Montana instructors. After completing the field day portion, you will then receive your official state issued bowhunter education certificate.

Before You Trap

Before setting a wolf trap in Montana, a person must successfully complete either a Montana FWP or Idaho offered trapper education and certification course.

One-time Course

Trappers who successfully completed a wolf trapping education and certification course in Montana or Idaho do not need to retake the course. Idaho trappers must present a certificate of completion/certification for the Idaho course issued by Idaho Fish and Game.

Course Locations

Some FWP regional offices will offer wolf trapper education and certification courses. Contact the regional office near you for more information. Contact Regional Offices

Sign up for the Course

Hunting is a privilege and the Remeidal Hunter Education Program is designed to help make that point. The program consists of a series of exercises that illuminate Montana's rich hunting legacy and how important legal and responsible behavior is to the future of hunting in Montana.

The Remedial Hunter Education Program looks at the history of hunting in Montana (Montana Hunting Story), explores a hunter's reasons and motivations for hunting (Why I Hunt), and tests an individual's values by presenting various dilemmas and asking the hunter what they would do (Choose a Path For Hunting). If you are taking this program optionally, disregard the instructions for defendants and skip ahead to begin the exercises.

The heart of Montana's Hunter and Bowhunter Education programs is the corps of dedicated volunteer instructors. They stand as examples of how each hunter should demonstrate ethics, behavior and responsibility to themselves, landowners, other hunters and the resource.

If you are interested in the future of hunting, in improving sportsmanship and safety in the field, or teaching an appreciation for the vast hunting resources in Montana, THEN WE NEED YOU to join us and "Pass it On!"

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