Hunter-Landowner Common Ground Focus Of New Project – MFWP
Friday, December 04, 2009
Headlines
Montana hunters and landowners have a new education tool aimed at helping promote responsible hunter behavior and good hunter-landowner relations.
“The Hunter-Landowner Stewardship Project is designed to help hunters and landowners build effective relationships based upon mutual respect and understanding of each other’s perspectives,” said Alan Charles, Coordinator of Landowner/Sportsman Relations for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
The voluntary and free course is available via FWP’s Web site at fwp.mt.gov. Click, “Hunter-Landowner Stewardship Project.”
The course is delivered through an interactive Web site with videos, questions and instant feedback, as well as opportunities for people to test their knowledge on a variety of topics related to hunter-landowner relations and responsible hunter behavior.
Completion of the entire course, taken at the user’s leisure, will usually require about three hours. The program—like many online courses—allows one to complete segments over several days or weeks without losing material or results.
“The program is highly interactive to keep the attention of even those folks who wouldn’t typically spend a lot of time on the computer,” said Thomas Baumeister, FWP’s education program supervisor.
Those who successful complete the course can print a certificate of completion for future reference.
Charles said the program emerged from recommendations from the Private Land/Public Wildlife Council, and from recommendations made by the Montana Hunter Behavior Advisory Council.
“We hope hunters and landowners will find this program relevant and enjoyable,” Charles said. “FWP’s goal is to reveal the common ground shared by hunters and landowners while focusing attention on key issues that typically arise when hunters and landowners interact.”
FWP is asking hunters and landowners to take time to review and complete the course and to provide feedback by completing the survey at the end of the program. FWP will use that feedback to refine, update and expand the program.
