New hunter education policies not received well by local instructors

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) Hunter Education Instructors in Sanders County are very concerned about several new policies that could have an impact on how the Hunter Education program will be done. Several of the instructors have expressed their dissatisfaction at the new rules and at least ten of the instructors may not be returning to the program next year.

Wayne Crismore has over 15 year experience as a certified Hunter Education instructor. He spoke about what the FWP has in place that make being an instructor or a volunteer much more difficult for individuals.

“The new guy in Helena has really changed the program. We are being told we can no longer defend the program and say anything negative about the anti-hunting movement as a part of the ethics part of the class,” he said. “There can be no guns in the classroom anymore, which was part of what we taught; the safe handling of all guns. There can be no bows in the classroom either. The guy in Helena told all of us that we did not know what we were doing with the guns or bows. That was interesting, as one of the instructors here is a world-class gunsmith.”

There are also new requirements for becoming and maintaining the certified instructor status. Becoming a volunteer has new rules and procedures that could make it more difficult to do the program as it has been done for many decades.

“There is a new policy that tells us we can’t take a gun away from any student if they are waving it around during live fire unless we have the permission of both the parent and the student. We also have to take a new test and pass it in order to remain an instructor. There is also a mandatory background check for all of the volunteers. All of the instructors have to travel to Helena for a three-day class. Many people work and can’t take three days away from their job to take a mandatory class to continue being an instructor. We volunteer our time to make sure the kids are getting what they need and are safe hunters,” Crismore said.

John Fraley is the Information Officer for Region 1 of the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks and he was asked during the recent field course that was taking place at the Plains Trap Club about the new rules and how they may impact the program.

“There are certain policies that have to be followed,” he said. “I am not here to talk about any of the new policies. I am here to look at and focus on the field course here.”

Harold Hudson lives in Trout Creek and has 20 years of experience as a certified Hunter Education instructor. He had several concerns about the new policies being put into effect and expressed his thoughts about them.

“If I don’t feel comfortable teaching and I don’t feel they are getting enough to be safe, I may not continue being an instructor with the program,” Hudson said. “We can’t have any guns or rifles in the classroom. It has to be done during the last day, in the field course. That will be the very first time they will be able to hold a rifle or gun. They want all of us to retake a test in order to be a certified instructor. I was a DI (Drill Instructor) in the military. I know which end of a rifle the bullet comes out of. Tthe community needs to know what is going on with the program and instructors.”

Reporter Douglas Wilks can be reached at dwilks@vp-mi.com or 406-826-3402.