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Montana Bowhunter Laws and Regulations

Passing this Bowhunter safety course will complete your online safety education for Montana.

Montana safety education card Lifetime Card

Do you need Montana Bowhunter education?

Montana

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.

If you are 12-17 years of age (or turning 12 by Jan 16 of the current license year), after passing the online course, you are required to attend the Field Day to complete your Bowhunter Education certification.

You must be age 12 or turning 12 by January 16 of the current license year (March – February) to take this online course.

You do not have to be a resident of Montana to take this online course.

Elsewhere

Hunter education is currently required in all 50 states, 10 Canadian provinces, three Northwest Territories, and Mexico. A separate bowhunter education course is required in many of the states, provinces, and other countries to comply with the bowhunting laws and regulations in those jurisdictions.

The states and provinces requiring an IBEP course are:

  • Alaska
  • Connecticut
  • Idaho
  • Maine
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • New Brunswick
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Nova Scotia
  • Quebec
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont

Why Bowhunter Safety Education Is Important

Bowhunting is a challenging sport! This type of hunting is done at a much closer range and requires a high degree of stealth, perseverance, patience, and effort. Bowhunters must become adept at scouting, tracking, and recovering game. Bowhunters must master new archery techniques and learn the anatomy and behavior of the game. Before attempting to use archery equipment as a hunting tool, each bowhunter should become a proficient archer. This requires dedication, practice, and good distance-judging ability.

Reciprocity

All U.S. states, provinces, and other countries that have mandatory bowhunter education requirements will accept the Montana Bowhunter Education Certificate. Likewise, Montana will accept Bowhunter Education certifications that are issued by other jurisdictions that meet official IHEA-USA requirements. (This is known as “reciprocity.”)

We’re people, not robots.

Your Bowhunter Ed course comes with a dedicated customer service team made up of real people, not robots. We’re here to provide assistance to you through all channels—phone, email, and chat.

We’re available to help you:

Mon-Fri 8am to 8pm CST
Sat-Sun 8am to 5pm CST
1-800-830-2268 (toll free)

Members of the Kalkomey Support Team