So far this year, COVID 19 has tossed a wrench in a bunch of my plans. One of those plans was to try and get a couple new people educated and licensed to go hunting with me this Spring/fall. Unfortunately the pandemic closed a bunch of the hunter education courses and cancelled any field courses needed to get proper certification. Thankfully the Montana Fish Wild Life and Parks has created online courses for people interested in getting certified.

According to the MT FWP

The online courses and mandatory field days have been available to adults for a tuition fee of $25 for hunter education and $30 for bowhunter education. The in-person courses have always been, and will remain, free. However, since the in-person options aren’t feasible under Phases 1 and 2 of Gov. Steve Bullock’s Reopening the Big Sky plan, FWP will cover the online tuition fees for all Montana residents until the state reaches Phase 3 of the plan and in-person hunter and bowhunter education courses are available once again.

The courses include reading text, watching videos and participating in interactive scenarios. And, of course, the test. But, until classes can resume in person, this is the quickest way to get your certification.

Now how about the field courses that are required to complete the certification? The Montana FWP says "In the absence of a requirement for a field course for the online courses in Phases 1 and 2, FWP encourages parents or hunting partners to work and practice safe firearm and archery equipment handling with new hunters and bowhunters. FWP has also added a new virtual field course component to the online curriculum for Hunter Education students."

If you are interested in taking advantage of the FREE online classes, simply visit the FWP website, or fwp.mt.gov. Or clink the link below to get where you need to go. And, happy hunting!

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