The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks is inviting aspiring young sportsmen and women to apply to the Hunter Apprenticeship Program.

Region One Information and Program Manager Dillon Tabish has details.

“This is called the FWP apprentice hunter program,” said Tabish. “This was actually enacted by the legislature a few years ago and it's intended as a way to get young hunters, specifically ages 10 and 11, however anyone who is 10 or older can participate in it, who may have not taken hunter education yet, but they still want to maybe start easing their way into becoming a hunter.”

Tabish explains how the young hunters can gain the experience they need to be safe and successful in the field.

This was actually enacted by the legislature a few years ago and it's intended as a way to get young hunters, specifically ages 10 and 11, however anyone who is 10 or older can participate in it, who may have not taken hunter education yet, but they still want to maybe start easing their way into becoming a hunter.

“So this program is really intended to pair up mentors with these apprentices,” he said. “If you are 10 or older and you're new to hunting, meaning you haven't taken hunter education to get certified, you can still go out and hunt, as long as you fill out this form and you follow the rules of the apprenticeship program.”

Tabish said the apprenticeship program is the ideal way to introduce youngsters in the family to the hunting tradition.

“It's just a really neat way specifically for families,” he said. “You know, if you have a Mom or Dad who's been a longtime hunter and they have a youngster that they'd like to start teaching and mentoring into becoming a sportsman, this program really offers them a way to do that. And it's geared around getting them familiar with some of the safety and ethics and regulations it takes to be a good sportsman.”

Tabish said it’s very important that parents fill out the form linked here and mail it along with the registration fee to the Missoula Division of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, at 3201 Spurgin Road, Missoula, Mt. 59804.

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