Certainly, no one signed up to be a volunteer for the pay, the evenings or weekends off, and never missing a family activity, or thought, “Hey, if I volunteer hundreds of hours for the next thirty years I will get a free gun.” We are here because of the passion we have for our safety and education programs, the commitment to Montana’s Hunting Heritage, and teaching generations of youth about Safety (gun), Responsibility, Respect, and Ethics.

For many, there is no greater reward than seeing a former student running toward them with a look of admiration while enthusiastically exclaiming their name then asking whether they remember them; only to be cutoff before answering by the excited story of the deer, elk, or antelope they got this year or last. Then there are those who have been around long enough that parents, and, in some cases, grandparents, approach and introduce their son, daughter, or grandchild and reminisce of when “you taught them hunter safety.”

• Submission of the Hunter/Bowhunter Instructor Application Form (see below).

• Have completed a hunter and/or bowhunter education course.

• Adult instructors must be at least 18-years-old.

• Junior instructors must be at least 14-years-old.

• Successfully pass a background investigation. (Juniors are not subject to the background.) Typically, results take 3-4 weeks to be returned, at which time you will be notified in writing of your results by our Helena office.

• Verification that the applicant has reviewed the Hunter & Bowhunter Education Program Policy and Procedures Manual.

• Completion of an online training course designed for new instructors. This course typically takes 3-5 hours and can be completed incrementally at your own pace. The online course is intended as a method to establish a base of knowledge upon which you can build your instructional skills. Each Instructor will develop a personal teaching style, and we encourage you to do so, while incorporating the skills and methods learned from the online training.

• Applicants have one year to complete the online training; however, we recommend that you complete this course as soon as possible after receiving your initial acceptance letter.

• Team-teach with another instructor for at least 5 hours.

• Once certified and in order to remain so, an instructor must teach, or assist in, at least one class during any consecutive two-year time period.

• Attend the annual spring workshop held in your area.

• The lives of the students and parents that you touch

• Teaching generations of youth about safety [gun], responsibility, respect, and ethics

• Passing on Montana’s hunting heritage

• Subscription to Montana Outdoors magazine

• Scheduled awards based on years of service:

• The Challenge Coin Program

• Establish and administer the hunter and bowhunter education programs in accordance with the law.

• Recruit, train and administer a cadre of volunteer instructors to teach the education programs.

• Maintain databases of instructors and successful participants.

• Monitor and evaluate instructor performance.

• Provide appropriate instructional materials and teaching aids.

• Provide a clear statement of FWP policies, procedures and standards.

• Conduct in-service workshops and publish a newsletter to keep instructors informed.

• Report program performance to state and federal authorities.

• Compile information on hunting accidents and use it to refine curricula.

• Consider constructive input from instructors on program improvements.

• Download FAQs 

• Volunteer Instructor Application

• Hunter/Bowhunter Education Associate Instructor Application

• Shelly Anderson — (406) 444-9948 or by email

• Wayde Cooperider — (406) 444-9947 or by email