Field day location changes for those who took bowhunting course online

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BILLINGS — The Billings location of a July 19, 2008, bowhunting field day and test for those who took the course online has changed. The field day will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the FWP Region 5 headquarters at 2300 Lake Elmo Dr. in Billings. The outdoor portion of the day will take place in Lake Elmo State Park adjacent to the headquarters building.

The location was changed because of unanticipated scheduling conflicts at other venues.

Pre-registration, which closes at 5 p.m. Friday, July 11,   is required. Participants may register at the FWP Region 5 headquartersor by calling the office at (406) 247-2940 during normal business hours. Registration is open from June 2 through July 11.

Only those who have passed the online course and can present their printed proof of completion will be tested.

Participants also should pick up and study a copy of the 2008 Montana archery hunting regulations at their local license agent or FWP office. In addition to physical skills, participants will be tested during the field day on their knowledge of state laws and regulations.  

All prospective bowhunters born after Jan. 1, 1985, must take both hunter safety and bowhunter education courses before they can buy a Montana archery hunting license. All first-time bowhunters, regardless of age, must complete a bowhunter education course before they can hunt in an archery-only season. Montana law requires anyone buying an archery license to show either a previous year’s archery license or a certificate of completion from a bowhunter education course.

This year, Montana FWP allows hunters 18 and older to complete the classroom part of the bowhunter course online, then complete requirements for their certificate at a four-hour regional field course. All information needed to register, study and test for the online portion of the class is on the Internet at http://www.bowhunter-ed.com/mt/index.htm.

Montana accepts this independent-study method, completed on your own time and your own schedule, followed by a four-hour 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, and must also pass the Montana Bowhunter Education test. Participants must complete a field day within a year after they complete the online portion.

In Montana, bowhunters must complete their classwork and field days by July 31 to qualify for 2008 fall bowhunting licenses.

Anyone born after 17 and younter is required to take the conventional classroom-based course of instruction. Those classes are scheduled evenings at the Billings Rod and Gun Club during the weeks of April 14 and May 12. Special weekend courses are schedule for the weekends of June 20 and July 11.

 

 

-FWP-