Trapper education field day, virtual wolf trapper classes coming up
A gray wolf photograph provided by the Montana Dept. of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
KALISPELL - Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is hosting an upcoming trapper education field day in Kalispell and a virtual wolf trapper certification course.
Students must register for both free events in advance: https://fwp.mt.gov/hunt/education/trapping.
The trapper education field day is scheduled for Oct. 7 at the FWP office in Kalispell. The virtual wolf trapper certification course is scheduled for Oct. 25.
To purchase a Montana resident Class C trapping license, residents 12 and older must complete a Montana trapper education course or have purchased a trapping license in at least three prior years in Montana or another state. The trapper education course also satisfies the requirement for wolf trapping.
Montana resident trappers who have taken a wolf trapper education course but haven’t been a licensed trapper for three years will need to complete the full trapper education course to be able to trap wolves in 2023 and beyond.
Montana’s trapper education program includes online coursework and a mandatory in-person field day taught by volunteer instructors, where students can learn from experienced trappers about trapping ethics, avoidance of non-target species, fur management and safety. Students must complete the free online education course prior to the in-person field day.
Wolf trapper education is required for anyone who wants to trap wolves in Montana. Residents who wish to purchase a trapping license to use to trap wolves are required to either complete the general trapper education course (which integrates wolf trapper education into the curriculum), or complete the stand-alone wolf trapper certification course if they have also purchased trapping licenses for three seasons prior to 2022 (and are therefore exempt from the general trapper education requirement).
Non-residents must complete a one-time Montana or Idaho wolf trapper education course. All Montana wolf trapper education courses are free, virtual-only courses and open to residents and non-residents.
Idaho trappers can present a certificate of completion/certification for the Idaho course issued by Idaho Fish and Game.