KALISPELL – Springtime in Montana is a beauty like none other. The spring season also brings the distinct sound of gobbling turkeys. For some, spring turkey hunting is a passion that's hard to shake. This year, FWP partnered with the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and several private landowners in the Flathead Valley to provide a special opportunity for young hunters.
Five youth hunters, ages 10 to 15, were selected through a drawing in late March to participate in a mentored turkey hunt on private lands in the Flathead Valley. Matthew Cowan, FWP's Region 1 education technician and president of the NW Montana Longbeards chapter of the NWTF, first proposed the idea in November 2025. The concept was met with enthusiasm, and Cowan quickly began laying the groundwork. Around 40 landowners across the valley were contacted by mail, email and phone. Ultimately, five agreed to participate and enrolled in a regional land access agreement with FWP. Block Management Areas (BMA) were also utilized over the weekend.
Volunteers from the NWTF chapters in Flathead Valley, Great Falls and Helena came together the first weekend of May to mentor the first-time turkey hunters. The weekend kicked off on Friday evening at the local gun range, where FWP staff and NWTF volunteers talked about the history of wild turkeys in Montana, private land etiquette, hunting regulations and general turkey hunting tips. Thanks to generous donations, each youth participant also received a new turkey hunting vest, calls, binoculars and other gear. The groups learned essential bear safety skills as well, including a hands-on bear spray demonstration. The evening wrapped up with shooting practice and pairing each youth with the NWTF volunteer who would mentor them through the weekend.
Saturday morning brought clear skies, gobbling birds and the kind of sunrise that makes the Flathead Valley unforgettable. By 6:15 a.m., the first text arrived: one of the young hunters had harvested a turkey. Throughout the day, more messages and photos followed. By that late afternoon, three youth hunters had taken four birds. That evening, everyone gathered at Cowan's home for dinner, stories from the field and a demonstration on how to process a wild turkey.
Although two of the youth hunters didn't harvest a bird over the weekend, both shared that they loved the experience and appreciated the mentorship provided by the NWTF volunteers. Cowan hopes this program will continue to grow and expand to other NWTF chapters across Montana and beyond. The weekend served as a powerful example of what's possible when FWP, nonprofit organizations and private landowners work together to provide meaningful access and shape the next generation of sportsmen and women.