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Pat McVay Named to Montana Outdoor Hall of Fame

Kalispell resident credited with being Montana’s first hunter education instructor

By Dillon Tabish
Pat McVay, pictured with his Winchester 300 H and H Magnum, Model 70, which he named Maggie, on Oct. 6, 2015. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon

Pat McVay, a Kalispell resident credited with being Montana’s first hunter education instructor, is being inducted into the Montana Outdoor Hall of Fame.

McVay, 96, is a lifelong hunter and has taught generations of outdoorsmen and women the ethics of fair chase and the proper steps to being a hunter. Every year since 1957, when Montana adopted a new law requiring all hunters under 18 to take a state-sanctioned educational course, he has volunteered to lead classes.

»»» Click here to read a profile of McVay from last fall.

He is among 13 inductees in this year’s Hall of Fame class, along with George Darrow of Bigfork. Darrow, a former state lawmaker who spearheaded the Montana Environmental Policy Act, passed away in February 2015.

“The inductees to the Hall of Fame cover a wide range of figures, some public historical figures and some who worked quietly for conservation in Montana,” said Thomas Baumeister, chair of the hall of fame executive committee.

The Montana Outdoor Hall of Fame was created to honor individuals, both living and posthumous, who made significant and lasting contributions to the restoration and conservation of Montana’s wildlife and wild places. The focus of the awards is not only to recognize Montana’s historical and contemporary conservation leaders, but also to capture the stories of these individuals in an effort to contribute to public awareness and education.

Hall of Fame inductees will be archived at the Montana Historical Society. The induction awards and ceremony will be held Dec. 3 in Helena.