Kids in Montana can now hunt without taking hunter education classes. State lawmakers passed a new law allowing that this year.
The Apprentice Hunter Program allows kids age 10 to 17 to get some Montana hunting licenses without the education previously required.
Apprentice Hunters, however, are required to be accompanied by an adult mentor.
Mentors need to be 21 or older, have a current Montana hunting license and be related to the apprentice or be appointed by the apprentice’s legal guardian.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks License Bureau Chief Hank Worsech says before this law kids would have to wait until they were 12 years old to hunt.
“What this is for is to allow people to bring their kids that 10 years old or older to hunt earlier on, to get them exposed to it.
The apprentice-hunter certification is good for two years. After that time the apprentice hunter must complete a hunter safety and education course.
More than 600 of the $5 apprentice certifications have been sold since they became available August 10.
The archery big game season opened last week. You can find Montana's general season hunting opening dates here.