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Bowhunter Education Courses Scheduled for Northwest Montana

By Beacon Staff

By state law, all first time bowhunters must pass the bowhunter education course in order to purchase an archery license in Montana. The following Bowhunter Education courses have been scheduled around northwest Montana.

Kalispell: All Bowhunter Education classes are held at the Flathead Valley Trap Club north of Kalispell. The first course will be held April 5 and 8 from 6:30-9 p.m.; the field course is held Saturday April 9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Course enrollment is limited to 40 students. Register in person beginning March 21 from 8-5 weekdays, at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Headquarters on North Meridian Road; pick up pre-course materials and schedule when you register. Course is limited to 40 students.

Other Kalispell area classes following a similar format will be held beginning April 28, May 5, and June 16. Registration opens about 2-weeks prior to each course. Adults have the option of taking the classroom portion online. Call FWP at 752-5501 for more information.

Kalispell Youth Bow Ed: A Bowhunter Education class for students 11-17 years of age will be held on April 19 and 22 (6:30-9 p.m.) and April 23 (Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Although the class is held in the Kalispell area, it is open to any student. Register by stopping in to the FWP office on North Meridian Road in Kalispell beginning April 4. For more information call FWP at 752-5501.

Kalispell South: Register online beginning May 1 (log on to FWP.mt.com and click Education); registration is limited to 50 students. Classes will be held at Spirit Quest Archery on May 31and June 2, 6:30-9 p.m. The field course will be held on Saturday, June 4, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.. This course is designed to pick up students from Somers/Lakeside/Bigfork and south. Call Spirit Quest Archery (Aaron Lasco) at 756-5455.

Whitefish: Register for the Whitefish area Bowhunter Education Course online beginning April 1 (log on to FWP.mt.com and click Education). Classes will be held at the Flathead Valley Trap Club, 6-9 p.m. on June 9 and 10; the field course is held Saturday, June 11, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Call Ron Nail (862-4509) or Ric Anderson (257-0590) with questions.

Columbia Falls: Register for the Columbia Falls Bowhunter Education Course by calling Dave Yeats at 892-4527. Classes will be held at the North Valley Community Center, 6:30-9:00 p.m. on June 14, 16, and 20; the field course is scheduled for Saturday, June 18 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Libby: Register Wednesday, March 9, 5-7 p.m. at Frontier Communications, 114 E. 4th Street in Libby. Classes held at the Libby Rod and Gun Club Willman Hall on Farm to Market Road on March 14,15,16,17, and 18 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Call Rich Hjort (293-7174) or Dan Place (293-8295) for more information.

Online Bowhunter Education Opportunity: Bowhunter Education students age 18 or older may take the bowhunter education course online. Log on to: http://www.bowhunter-ed.com/mt/index.htm. Montana accepts an independent study method that involves a two-part process—this online course, completed on your own time and your own schedule, followed by a field day exercise led by certified Montana bowhunter education volunteer instructors. During the field day, students must demonstrate that they possess the necessary knowledge and skills to become certified. Students must complete a field day within 365 days from the time they successfully complete the online portion. At the field day, students must present a certificate showing that they have passed the online portion of the course.
The online course is available to anyone 18 years old and older. Students under 18 are required to take the conventional classroom-based course of instruction. However, anyone may use the online program as a resource to learn about bowhunting.
At the present time, field day options are limited. You may register online for the Saturday, July 16 field day to be held at the Flathead Valley Trap Club in Kalispell. You may also register for a field day if one is available in your area by talking to a local instructor. Call FWP at 752-5501 for more information. Please note, in Montana all bow ed courses and field days have to be completed by July 31 of each year.

Bowhunter Education courses may be offered in other northwest Montana communities. These schedules and dates will be announced as soon as they are available.