well as duplicating or making several copies. 

 All new programs will likewise be edited and 

 released with sound. 



It is hoped that this will render a more 

 personal interest and a better understanding of 

 the department's problems, policies and hopes 

 for the future. 



Hunter Safety 



During the 1957 session of the Legislature, 

 the firearms safety training law was enacted. 

 It called for instruction of Montana's teenage 

 hunters in the safe handling of firearms. The 

 responsibility for this program was placed on 

 the Montana Fish and Game Department. 



Organizational work was accomplished the 

 first year, and the actual training of young- 

 sters began in March of 1958. The instruction 

 covered safe handling of firearms, game laws, 

 survival training and hunting tips and tech- 

 niques for novice hunters. The course was 

 enthusiastically received by volunteer instruc- 

 tors and students alike. With the assistance 

 of the National Rifle Association, Montana's 

 methods, techniques, and training material 

 were set up and later were imitated by several 

 other states. 



As of the end of May, 1960, there have 

 been 1866 instructors certified, of which ap- 

 proximately 950 are effect ires; that is, they 

 have taught a course of instruction to at least 

 one class of youngsters. These instructors have 

 made a monumental teaching accomplishment, 

 having taught more than 20,000 students in 

 firearms safety since the beginning of the 

 program out of a total of 118,000 big game 

 hunters in the State. 



The results obtained from the safety train- 

 ing program were spectacular. For instance, in 

 1959 only one trained youngster was respon- 

 sible for a hunting death, whereas in previous 

 years teenagers have been responsible for an 

 i erage of 8 or 9 fatalities a year and an 

 undetermined number of injuries. 



In recognition of these outstanding results. 

 i in- int.-i r i . j 1 iuii.li A:.: ocial ion el' ( lame. Fish, 

 and Conservation Commissioners awarded a 

 plaque to the Montana Fi ih and ( tame I >e 

 partment. The competition was entered mid 

 by 40 states ami pro\ inces, with Montana being 

 i uiiiic r up Id New York. 



The Water and Hunter Safety Section of 

 the Information and Education Division has 

 been compiling information and reports on 

 all firearms accidents in the State with a 

 view toward educating the hunting public in 

 the prevention of tragic firearms deaths. Edu- 

 cation in this field has been highly productive 

 and the cost per student has been nominal. 



Throughout the future years, the Montana 

 Fish and Game Department feels that the 

 safety program and the educational methods 

 are the most important tools to combat fire- 

 arms and hunting accidents. 



Water Safety 



Since 1959. boating and water recreational 

 activities have shown a tremendous increase 

 in Montana's waters. Recognizing this fact, 

 the 1959 session of the Legislature enacted 

 statutes concerning boat licensing, rules of the 

 road, and general water safety. This program 

 was enthusiastically endorsed by boat opera- 

 tors throughout the State. 



The responsibility for this program was 

 placed on the Montana Fish and Game De- 

 partment's Water and Hunter Safety Section 

 of the Information and Education Division. 

 The law was enacted in March of 1959 and by 

 July boat licensing began on a large scale. 

 A public education program was undertaken 

 by the Information and Education Division to 

 inform Montana's boaters of the new law's 

 requirements. 



Over 7.000 boats have been licensed since 



the law went into effect. This classification 



includes only boats of more than ten horse- 

 power. 



In L959, ten separate boating accidents 



caused ten deaths, with an undetermined num- 

 ber of accidents. It is expected that a safety 

 training program will reduce this appalling 

 number and provide safety in Montana's grow- 

 ing water recreation activity, 



Youth Education 



Considerable demands were made upon the 



Department to furnish fish ami game instruc- 

 tion for youth groups. BOJ Scouts camps. -1 II 



camps, ^\u\ public schools were well supplied 



111, lecll 



ildlife re 



structio 



Montana'- 



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