The Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife Association held their first seminar this summer called the Bitterroot Valley Hunter Enhancement (BVHE) program. The main purposes of this program are twofold. First, it aims to increase competence among hunters. Skills such as backcountry navigation, packing, meat handling, rifle shooting, and ethical considerations are reinforced. Second, the program tailors these particular skills to assist hunters in gaining access to private lands.
A driving force leading to the development of this program regards the concerns that landowners frequently have about granting hunting access. The creators of the BVHE program, and landowners alike, realized the need for wildlife management on private lands. In conclusion, by increasing hunter competence and skills surrounding all aspects of hunting, landowners will be less skeptical about granting access to their land.
There is a popular consensus among the participants of the ability of this program to “teach old dogs new tricks.” The participants in attendance were made up of novice hunters, and those who have been elk hunting in Montana for up to half a century. Each person came out of the seminar feeling “humbled,” and more confident in their hunting abilities.
It is clear that the BVHE program is not a generic hunter education course. It does not cover broad topics and general safety measures. However, it’s an educational program to strengthen core abilities that western hunters must possess in order to be effective. Furthermore, with the praise this program has already received, it’s without a doubt that it is here to stay. So, it is hopeful that seminars such as BVHE will expand.
There are always new skills to learn, and habits to be correct. The BVHE program seems to fully embody this principle.
