Bowhunter courses scheduled

Bowhunter education courses have been scheduled in Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Libby.

By state law, all first time bowhunters must pass the bowhunter education course in order to purchase an archery license in Montana.

Registration for each class can be done online at fwp.mt.gov, at the following address: http://my.register-ed.com/event/studentchooseevent. Follow instructions on the website for registration and picking up course materials. For more information call FWP at 752-5501.

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

Kalispell

All bowhunter education classes are held at the Flathead Valley Trap Club north of Kalispell. The first course will be held April 2 and April 5 from 6:30-9 p.m. The field course will be held Saturday, April 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Course enrollment is limited to 40 students and available to anyone 11 years of age or older.

Other Kalispell area classes following a similar format will be held beginning April 25, May 2, and July 11.

Youth

A bowhunter education class for students 11-17 years of age only will be held at the Flathead Valley Trap Club north of Kalispell on April 11 and April 12 from 6:30-9 p.m. and April 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Although the class is held in the Kalispell area, it is open to any student.

Kalispell South

Bowhunter classes will be held at Spirit Quest Archery on May 7 and May 9 from 6:30-9 p.m. The field course will be held on Saturday, May 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This course is designed to pick up students from Somers/Lakeside/Bigfork and south. For more information, call Aaron Lasco at Spirit Quest Archery at 756-5455.

Whitefish

Bowhunter classes will be held at the Flathead Valley Trap Club, on June 13 and June 14 from 6-9 p.m. The field course will be held Saturday, June 15, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Call Ron Nail at 862-4509 for more information.

Columbia Falls

Classes will be held at the North Valley Community Center on June 11 and June 13 6:30-9 p.m. The field course is scheduled for Saturday, June 15, from 9 a.m. to noon. Test night is scheduled for Monday, Jun 17, from 6:30-9 p.m. For more information, call Dave Yeats at 892-4527.

Libby

Register on line at fwp.mt.gov., click on “education” for class details. Orientation will be Wednesday, March 6 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Frontier, 114 E 4th Street, Libby. Bring signed forms to complete registration. Study materials will be handed out at this time. Manuals must be read prior to the first night of class.

Classes will be held on March 11-14. For additional information, contact Rich Hjort at 293-7174 or Bill Swagger at 293-5256.

Online

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 the student’s own time and 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. 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.