BILLS – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks volunteer instructors have scheduled a bowhunter education course in Roundup from June 20-23 and a field day for online bowhunter education students in Billings on June 29. Registration is open for both events.

To obtain a bow and arrow license in Montana, a hunter must complete a certified bowhunter education course or have a bowhunting license from another state or province from a previous year. There are several ways to complete bowhunter education, depending on the age of the student.

Personal, teacher-led course

In-person courses are taught by certified volunteer instructors who are passionate about preserving Montana's hunting traditions and teaching safety, ethics, and other outdoor skills when using archery equipment. Students must be at least 11 years old for in-person bowhunter training. In-person courses are free.

Registration is currently open for an in-person Bowhunter Education course in Roundup. The course will be held on Thursday evening, June 20, Friday evening, June 21, and Sunday evening, June 23. For more information and to register for this course, visit: register-ed.com/events/view/213930.

Combination course of online and field day course

Students ages 12-17 and students who will turn 12 by January 16 of the current license year (March – February) can complete bowhunter education online, but must also attend an in-person field day to become certified. Field day participants must demonstrate proficiency in areas such as archery equipment and tree stand safety, hunting ethics, and blood tracking to pass field day. Field days are free and led by certified volunteer instructors.

Registration is currently open for a Bowhunter Education field day for online students in Billings on Saturday, June 29. For more information and to register for this field day, visit: register-ed.com/events/view/214541.

Online course only

The self-paced online bowhunter education course is available to students ages 18 and older. After certification, graduates can earn or apply for licenses. No in-person field day is required, but FWP strongly recommends attending an in-person field day. The online bowhunter education course costs $30 and is available here: bowhunter-ed.com/montana/.

For more information about hunter and bowhunter education in Montana, visit: fwp.mt.gov/hunt/education. This webpage will be updated as more hunter and bowhunter education courses are scheduled in the state.

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