Montana’s hunter education manual is a good resource for anyone interested in hunting or in learning to be more confident and competent in handling firearms. That may be anyone from a long-time hunter looking to brush up on their skills to the spouse of a hunter who wants to become more confident living around and handling a rifle.

About 1,800 volunteer hunter education instructors use the manual in teaching Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Hunter Education Program. FWP annually trains about 6,500 prospective hunters. But you don’t have to be a hunter education student to benefit from this handy resource, it stands on it’s own as a training manual.

It is also a quick and convenient read since it was written primarily for those 12 years of age and older. Busy adults will appreciate the simple, straightforward language and illustrations that make firearm safety and hunting easily understood.

Other sections of the manual cover how to tell when a firearm is loaded, how to handle a loaded gun, how to accept a firearm from someone else to hold it, and how to transport a firearm.

The manual also talks about hunting ethics, first aid, hypothermia and orienting yourself in the woods.

While the recommended way for the uninitiated to gain hands-on experience with firearms is by working with a certified instructor or an experienced adult, the FWP hunter education manual is a convenient way for interested adults to begin.

Here are four basic fire-arm safety rules that the manual states should be followed at all times: 1.             Always point the muzzle of a firearm in a safe direction. Never point the firearm at yourself or others, even if you are certain it isn’t loaded. Determine the safest available muzzle direction (at the ground or in the air) and keep your firearm pointed in that direction.   2.    Always treat every firearm as if it were loaded. Even if you are certain a firearm is unloaded, act as if it were loaded. Consider any firearm that you have not unloaded yourself to be loaded and treat it accordingly. Even double-check yourself.   3.    Always be sure of your target and beyond. Never point your firearm at something you do not intend to shoot. You must positively identify what you are shooting at and know what lies in front of and beyond it.   4.    Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire. The natural instinct when picking up a firearm is to put your finger in the trigger guard. Don’t! This could cause an accidental discharge if the firearm is loaded.  

To obtain a copy of Montana’s hunter education manual, contact Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Helena by email to: lkarwaski@mt.gov , by phone: 406-444-3188, or read it on the FWP web site at fwp.mt.gov under Education then Hunter Education. (http://fwp.mt.gov/education/huntereducation/manual.html )