Nina Leckband has a brand-new pair of Leupold binoculars she won in a raffle after completing Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Hunter Landowner Stewardship Program (HLSP).
Late last year, FWP relaunched HLSP, which is an education program focused on educating hunters on safety, ethics, minimizing impacts to private lands, and tips for being a good steward on both private and public lands. The program is part of FWP’s effort to help improve hunter/landowner relationships. For more information on this campaign, visit https://fwp.mt.gov/itsuptous.
HLSP participants watch a series of videos and then take as test. Once completed, the participant can print a certificate of completion and have the program attached to their FWP licensing account. This past year, participants who completed the program by Feb. 15, could enter a drawing to win a pair of binoculars, valued at $250, donated by Capital Sports in Helena and Leupold.
“Capital Sports was happy to offer a pair of binoculars as a prize for taking the Hunter Landowner Stewardship Program,” said Ed Beall, chair of the Private Land/Public Wildlife Advisory Committee and owner of Capital Sports in Helena. “It’s great to see hunters showing interest and taking their time to participate.”
This year more than 400 hunters took the program.
It’s important for hunters to educate themselves about the importance of respecting private landowners and following their rules, Leckband said.
“These opportunities would not be possible without their support, and it is our responsibility as hunters to respect their land,” Leckband said.
Maintaining positive relationships between hunters and landowners is a critical part of Montana’s culture and heritage. In many towns around the state, these relationships extend well beyond hunting season as landowners and hunters share a commitment to their communities and ways of life.
“Speaking on behalf of the PLPW council, the recently updated Hunter Landowner Stewardship video course is something we are really excited to see FWP roll out,” Beall said.
FWP staff are updating the program and will have it ready for hunters to take later this year near the start of the 2025 hunting season.
