A Program of One Montana and Common Ground
montanamasterhunter.com
The Montana Hunter Advancement Program (MHAP) is now accepting applications for our 2019 courses from qualified hunters. In 2018, the MHAP successfully graduated 25 certified hunters who were able to hunt on 13 ranches this past fall. Building from last year’s success, we are offering three courses in 2019 in Billings, Bozeman and Missoula.
The Montana Hunter Advancement Program is a 50-hour course which generally takes place over a six-week period. The program is landowner-driven and is supported by major landowner associations and major conservation nonprofit organizations such as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Boone & Crockett Club, Montana Stockgrowers Association and Montana Grain Growers Association. This deep partnership with Montana’s landowner community is what makes our program unique. This program offers applicants skills mastery combined with agriculture, conservation and stewardship education, and specialized ballistics and marksmanship training. Instructors include ranchers, farmers, landowners, university faculty, professional shooting instructors, private land wildlife managers, wildlife biologists, first aid personnel, as well as backcountry survival and equipment experts. Each curriculum element includes either written, oral or field tests that assess student competence.
The cost of the program is $200 per participant and need-based scholarships are available upon request. Program fees partially off-set facility use fees and other similar costs. Each participant has the opportunity to become a certified “Master Hunter”, receiving a Montana Master Hunter Certificate upon successful completion of the course that is valid for five years. Certificate renewal will be available through additional in-person and online coursework, and testing.
The class schedules are as follows, and more detail is provided on our website:
Missoula: one evening each week on successive weeks beginning in March 2019 and one Saturday to be scheduled during April 2019.
Bozeman: five successive Saturdays beginning the first week of April 2019.
Billings: five successive Saturdays beginning the first week of May 2019.
All classes will attend an end of session two-day rendezvous in June where shooting instruction and qualification will occur along with field work with OnX Maps and GPS.
2018-2019 Sponsors
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Sitka, Wild Sheep Foundation, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Montana Stockgrowers Foundation, Schnee’s, Mystery Ranch, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Boone & Crockett Club, 2% for Conservation, Brickhouse Creative, Huntable, Access Granted, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Mule Deer Foundation, Montana Grain Growers, Montana Stockgrowers, Robert Miller
Common Ground Members
Montana Stockgrowers Association, Montana Grain Growers Association, Montana Wildlife Federation, Montana Bowhunters Association, Montana’s Outdoor Legacy Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Western Landowners Alliance, Montana Land Reliance, and several individual outfitters, sportsmen, and ranchers.
