Table of Contents

Montana Hunter Education Course Overview

• Today's Hunter in Montana
• About the Online Course
• Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks Information
• Hunter's Resource Directory

Chapter One: Hunting and Hunter Education

• The Ten Commandments of Firearm Safety
• Chapter One Learning Objectives
• What is the Purpose of Hunter Education?
  • Why is Hunter Education Important?
  • Who is Responsible for Administering Hunter Education Courses
    and Managing Wildlife in Montana?
• Why You Hunt
• Five Stages of the Hunter
• Chapter 1 Review Exercise

Chapter Two: Hunter Responsibility

• Chapter Two Learning Objectives
• What Makes a Hunter Responsible?
• What are Laws and Regulations?
• What are Ethics?
  • Turn In Poachers!
• Hunter Dilemmas
  • Violation of Hunting Law Dilemma
  • What Would You Do?
• A Hunter's Code
  • Hunting: Is it a Right or a Privilege?
• Chapter 2 Review Exercise

Chapter Three: Today's Firearms

• Chapter Three Learning Objectives
• Basic Parts of a Firearm
  • Parts of a Bolt-Action Rifle
  • Parts of a Bolt-Action Rifle FLASH Interactive Diagram
  • Parts of a Pump-Action Shotgun
  • Parts of a Pump-Action Shotgun FLASH Interactive Diagram
  • Parts of a Handgun
  • Parts of a Handgun FLASH Interactive Diagram
• How Do Firearms Work? including FLASH Animation
• Common Features of Firearms
  • Common Actions on Rifles and Shotguns
  • Bolt Action including FLASH Animation
  • Lever Action including FLASH Animation
  • Pump Action
  • Semi-Automatic (or Autoloading) Action including FLASH Animation
  • Break (or Hinge) Action including FLASH Animation
  • Revolving Action including FLASH Animation
  • Safety Mechanisms
  • Magazines
  • Sights
• Differences Between Rifles, Shotguns, and Handguns
  • Rifling in the Rifle or Handgun Bore
  • A Rifle's or Handgun's Caliber
  • A Shotgun's Gauge
• Chapter 3 Review Exercise

Chapter Four: Firearm Safety

• Chapter Four Learning Objectives
• Basic Firearm Safety Rules
  • Accepting a Firearm
• Loading and Unloading a Firearm
  • Unloading a Firearm Chart
• Transporting, Casing, and Uncasing Firearms
  • Transporting
  • Casing a Firearm
  • Uncasing a Firearm
• Field Carries
  • Firearm Safety in the Field
• Firearms in a Boat
• Crossing Obstacles
• When is a Shot Safe?
• Unsafe Shots
• Cleaning and Storing Your Firearm
  • Cleaning Your Firearm
  • Storing Your Firearm
• Alcohol and Drugs
• Chapter 4 Review Exercise

Chapter Five: Understanding Ammunition

• Chapter Five Learning Objectives
• Ammunition
  • Basic Components of Ammunition including FLASH Animation
  • Rifle and Handgun Cartridges
  • Centerfire and Rimfire Ammunition
  • Bullets
  • Shotgun Shells
  • Shot Sizes
  • Shotgun Choke and Shot Pattern
  • Pattern Spread at Various Distances
• Choosing the Right Ammunition for Your Firearm
  • Warning!
• Game, Bullet Weight & Rifle Caliber
• Know Your Firearm's Range
• Chapter 5 Review Exercise

Chapter Six: Shooting Skills

• Chapter Six Learning Objectives
• Why Do You Need Marksmanship?
• Your Dominant Eye
• Rifle Shooting Skills
  • Shooting Positions
  • Sight Alignment
  • Rifle Firing Techniques
• Shotgun Shooting Skills
  • Shotgun Firing Techniques
  • Leading the Target
• Sighting-In Your Rifle and Patterning Your Shotgun
  • Sighting-In a Rifle
  • Sighting-In Procedure with FLASH Animation
  • Patterning Your Shotgun
• Where Can You Go To Shoot?
• Safety Equipment and Clothing
• Chapter 6 Review Exercise

Chapter Seven: Preparing for the Hunt and Outdoor Safety

• Chapter Seven Learning Objectives
• Importance of Planning and Preparation
• What is Physical Fitness?
• Where Can You Hunt?
• Topographic Maps and Compasses
  • Topographic Maps
  • The Compass
  • Declination
  • Plot Your Progress
• Why Do you Need a Plan?
  • Sample Trip Plan
• What Should You Wear in the Field?
• Outdoor Essentials: The Rest of Your Gear
• First Aid
  • First Aid Emergency Measures
  • First Aid Kit
• Extreme Conditions
  • Hypothermia and Frostbite
  • Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
• Survival Skills
  • Oops, You're Lost!
  • Dealing with Fear
  • Starting a Fire
• Water Safety
• Chapter 7 Review Exercise

Chapter Eight: Making the Shot and Afterwards

• Chapter Eight Learning Objectives
• What Techniques Can You Use to Hunt Big Game?
  • Still Hunting
  • Stalking
  • Stand-Hunting
  • Game Drive
• Picking Your Shot
• Where Should You Aim?
• What to Do After the Shot
• Field Care and Transportation
  • Field Care Basics
  • Transporting Game
• Field Dressing
• A Game Warden's Field Dressing Tips for White-Tailed Deer
• Field Dressing Small Game
• Field Dressing Birds
• Chapter 8 Review Exercise

Chapter Nine: Special Hunting and Safety Concerns

• Chapter Nine Learning Objectives
• Tree Stand Hunting
  • Tree Stand Types
  • Tree Stand Safety Tips
• What About Using All-Terrain Vehicles While Hunting?
• Turkey Hunting
  • Stalking Stinks!
• Hunting in Bear Country
  • Be Bear Aware!
  • What Should You Do If Attacked?
  • Retrieving Game Meat Out of Bear Country
• Chapter 9 Review Exercise

Chapter Ten: Conservation, Wildlife Management, and Identification

• Chapter Ten Learning Objectives
• Respect for Wildlife
• What is Habitat and Why is It Important?
  • Habitat Management
  • Balancing Act
  • Carrying Capacity
• Wildlife Management and Conservation Principles
  • Wildlife Management Practices
• What is Conservation and How Do Hunters Help?
  • The Hunter's Role in Wildlife Conservation
  • Where Does the Money for Conservation Come From?
  • You Can Help!
• Wildlife Identification
  • Recovered Species: A Wildlife Management Success Story
• Chapter 10 Review Exercise