Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Bowhunter Education course dates have been set for the first courses in the Havre area for this year. There will be a regular youth classroom course starting April 24, and an adult online “field day” course on April 29.

Starting in 2017, the purchase of a Montana bow and arrow license will be required prior to applying for any archery-only permit. To purchase a bow and arrow license, an individual must meet one of the following requirements:

• show completion of a bowhunter education course

• show proof of purchase of a previous year’s bow and arrow license from Montana or another state

• sign an affidavit that they have previously purchased a bow and arrow license in Montana or another state.

First time archers need to plan ahead so that they have the prerequisite bowhunter education certificate in order to apply for 2017 archery only drawings. The first drawing deadline is March 15 each year.

For the adult online field course, adults must pass the online bowhunter education course and receive a Field Day Qualifier Certificate. This Field Day Qualifier Certificate and a picture ID are necessary to obtain entrance into the field course.

All registrants for the classroom course must be 11 years of age by April 24. To hunt during the archery only season, youth need to be at least 12-years old by January 16, 2018.

Classroom students need to pick up the “Today’s Bowhunter” manual from the FWP office in Havre.

To register and learn more about the bowhunter education classes offered, please go to the FWP website at http://www.fwp.mt.gov and look under the “Education” tab. If there are any questions, please call the Havre FWP office at 265-6177.