Hunter education assists Montanans to be safe and responsible hunters. The program is mandated by the Montana Legislature, administered by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and taught by volunteer instructors.
Any Montana youth 12-17, who completes hunter education, is eligible to receive their FIRST hunting license absolutely free. The Resident Youth Combination Sports License includes: a conservation license, fishing license, upland game bird license, elk license, and deer A license. After completing hunter education, stop by any FWP office and get your first hunting license for free!
You must have a hunting license to hunt any of Montana's game animals. To purchase a Montana hunting license, any person born after January 1, 1985 must show a certificate of completing a hunter education course issued by:
This law became effective October 1, 2003 ( MCA 87-2-105). Hunter education is NOT required if you were born on or prior to January 1, 1985.
Montana's program follows the standards established by the International Hunter Education Association . 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 become certified in hunter education. This minimum age requirement ensures that the student is mature enough to understand the course material and physically strong enough to handle hunting equipment during class. There is no maximum age limit. Anyone is welcome to take the course, especially parents who want to accompany their child.
Classes are a minimum of 12 hours in length. You must attend all of the sessions and pass a final exam to become certified and a field course typically completes the program.
The future of the sport depends on each hunter's behavior and ethics. Therefore, as a hunter, I pledge to:
By following these principles each time I go afield, I will give my best to the sport, the public, the environment and myself. The responsibility to hunt ethically is mine; the future of hunting depends on me.
Pledge courtesy of the Izaak Walton League
A Montana bow and arrow license, plus the proper Montana hunting license, is required if you want to bowhunt during the special archery season. To purchase a bow and arrow license, you must:
Note: All bowhunters born after January 1, 1985 must also show proof of completing a hunter education program, see above.
The Today’s Bowhunter is the official online bowhunter education course of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the National Bowhunter Education Foundation, and is offered for the first time beginning in April of 2007. Montana honors proof of completion of an online bowhunter education course issued by another state or province.
Begin your bowhunter education certification by studying at home on your computer. 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 is necessary to obtain entrance into the final portion of your bowhunter education course, which takes place with certified Montana instructors in the field. After completing the field day portion, you will then receive your official proof of course completion.
Anyone interested in purchasing a black bear license must first pass a bear identification test. There are two ways to take the test:
