Local Montana Hunter Education Program starts Oct. 1

Fall is approaching and hunting is on the minds of many. I have been getting inquiries from folks on Hunter Education Classes.

At this time, we have a class scheduled to start Oct. 1 for students in Lake County at Salish Kootenai College in Pablo. These classes are free, and everyone is welcome to attend. 

As in the past, students take the class for non-hunting reasons, including to gain skills related to safe handling of firearms as well as basic instruction in wildlife management, game identification, landowner/hunter relations, hunter ethics and Montana hunting laws and regulations. Bear safety, survival training, and more are part of the program. Families are encouraged to attend with their children.

Completion of Hunter Education is required for anyone born after Jan. 1, 1985, before they can purchase a Montana hunter license. There is no charge for the Hunter Education Classroom course.

Recently FWP has required students under the age of 18 to take an in-person Field Day. I believe we will see an increase in in-person participation due to the desire of parents to get a better learning experience for the children.

After years of being involved with Hunter Education as lead instructor for Lake County, I saw an opportunity to pass the torch.

Steve Hoffman, who now resides in Ronan, has accepted the lead position, and has been approved by FWP. Steve has already been working with SKC to schedule classrooms for our upcoming class this fall.

I believe that Steve will carry on the great relationship that was established and promoted with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Salish Kootenai College. Their support over the years has been vital to our program here and very much appreciated.

Here in Lake County, we have a very good core group of instructors teaching classes in Arlee, St Ignatius, Charlo, and in Pablo covering the north end of the valley.

One thing I’ve learned is that no leader is any better than the people working with him.

I have many regrets about stepping down as a lead but plan to assist as long as I am able. Nothing is more rewarding than have a young person or parent, come up to me somewhere and say hi and thanks for being in our classes. Seeing them share their pride and hunting stories make it all worthwhile.

Another blessing was working with very supportive FWP personnel over the years. From Helena to our local regional offices, every person went out of their way to make sure we had all the support needed. I look forward to a bright future for the program and am glad to have been a part of it.

To register for the Pablo class or search for other classes in the area, log into register-ed.com/events/view/217544 on the FWP website.