To purchase a Montana bow-and-arrow license, a hunter must complete a certified bowhunter education course, or show any prior year's bowhunting license from any state or province.
Please note: we strongly encourage students to register for a class or field day as soon as possible as most classes and field days are complete by July 31.
In-person, Instructor-led Course (11 and older)
These free courses are offered throughout the year across the state for anyone 11 or older.
In-person courses are led by volunteer instructors who are passionate about preserving Montana’s hunting tradition, teaching hunting safety, ethics, and other outdoor skills.
Online-only Course (18 and older)
This self-paced course is available for students 18 years and older. Once certified, graduates may purchase or apply for licenses and hunt after August 15 of the current license year. No in-person field day is required, though FWP strongly encourages students to take a field day to practice hands-on safety skills.
This course is administered through a third-party vendor, Kalkomey. Please direct any program (online) specific questions to Kalkomey's customer service department (toll-free).
Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to midnight MDT and Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. MDT.
Phone: 1-800-830-2268
Online and Field Day Combination Course (age 12 to 17)
Students age 12 to 17 and students who will turn 12 by Jan. 16 of the current license year (March - Feb.) can take Bowhunter Education online, but must also pass a required four-hour, in-person field day to be certified. Students who take the course online and pass the written exam will receive a field day qualifier certificate that they must bring to the in-person field day. The online course is a pre-requisite for the field day and students cannot complete the two course elements in reverse.
The field day provides hands-on instruction and presents realistic scenarios in archery safety, hunting ethics, landowner relations, and more.
We strongly encourage students to register for a field day as soon as possible as opportunities are limited after Aug. 1 each year. Please note, if students take the online class later in the summer, there may not be another field day scheduled until spring the following year.
Field day participants will be required to demonstrate proficiency in the following areas:
Archery equipment – different types of bows, arrows, tips, etc.
Archery equipment and tree stand safety
Hunting ethics – e.g., personal effective shooting range, shot placement
Blood trailing, tagging an animal, land access, etc.
Instructors will closely evaluate students. Those who cannot demonstrate proficiency in the above topics will not pass and will not be certified. They will not be able to hunt until passing a field day.
Duplicate certificates of completion for the Montana hunter education and bowhunter education courses may be obtained online at MyFWP using the Hunter/Bowhunter Education Certificate Form.
If you are interested in the future of hunting, in improving sportsmanship and safety in the field, or teaching an appreciation for the vast hunting resources in Montana, then we need you to join us and “Pass it On!”