Bowhunters: Adult Education Class Online

By Keriann Lynch, 6-23-09

This from John Fraley, communication director with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks:

Bowhunter education students age 18 or older may take the bowhunter education course online (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 4-hour field day exercise led by certified Montana bowhunter education volunteer instructors. Students must present their online certificate of completion when they arrive at field day, and during the field day, must demonstrate that they possess the necessary knowledge and skills to become certified. The field day must be completed within 365 days from the time students successfully complete the online portion of the course.

The online course is available to anyone 18 years old and older. Anyone 17 years and younger is required to take the conventional classroom-based course of instruction. However, anyone may use the online program as a resource to learn about bowhunting. The cost to take the certification test is $20.

Field day options are limited. You must register seven days in advance for a field day as prompted on line, after the completion of the online test. This is the only way to ensure that you can become certified in time. You will not be able to simply show up at a field day and expect to participate; you must register ahead of time. For 2009, a special field day for online students is scheduled for Saturday, July 18 in the Kalispell area. Call FWP at 752-5501 for more information.

Please note, in Montana all bowhunter education courses and field days have to be completed by July 31 of each year.

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