INFORMATION AND EDUCATION 



Wildlife management, which is the primary function of the Mon- 

 tana Fish and Game Department, can proceed no faster than the 

 rate permitted by public understanding and support. Thus, the chal- 

 lenge facing the Department is to gain that support and understand- 

 ing by means of providing current factual information. 



Research, management, development and enforcement are gen- 

 erally learning new facts and techniques faster than these can be 

 transmitted to the general public. Until these facts are put into 

 practice, they are of no value and the job of providing fish and 

 game to fishermen and hunters is made correspondingly less effective. 

 This job of bringing new findings and other general information to 

 Montana citizens is the responsibility of the Information and Educa- 

 tion Division. 



The Montana Fish and Game's Information and Education Divi- 

 sion, the newest major section in the Department, has made definite 

 progress during the past biennium in developing a suitable program 

 of conservation information and education. 



Youth and adult education programs were the newest develop- 

 ment to materialize during the past two years. Probably one of the 

 most far-sighted efforts is the Commission's plan to provide $15,000 

 to be divided between Montana State College and Montana State 

 University to finance wildlife extensionists in the conduct of Adult 

 Education programs throughout the state. 



The division has gradually expanded its youth program within 

 the limits of its personnel. 



Both the adult and youth programs are basic in approach, teach- 

 ing that wildlife is a product of the land and dependent upon soil, 

 water and vegetation. Appreciation of natural resources and how 



With Governor J. Hugo Aronson (seated) are young Montana conservationists 

 and a panel oi resource professionals. The teen-agers were candidates in state- 

 wide competition to determine Montana's Outstanding Young Outdoor American. 



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