Montana Wildlife Federation offers conservation grants, scholarships

Special to the Daily News

The Montana Wildlife Federation and the Phil Tawney Hunters Conservation Endowment are accepting applications for the 2015 round of annual grants and scholarships. In the last 10 years, the endowment has awarded more than $50,000 in scholarships and grants to further Montana’s hunting, wildlife and outdoor heritage.

Established in 1998, the endowment honors the late Phil Tawney, a fourth-generation Montanan, lifetime sportsman, and conservation leader. Tawney was dedicated to protecting Montana’s fish and wildlife and their vulnerable habitats as he chased waterfowl in the Bitterroot Valley, elk in the Great Burn and Cinnabar Basin, and trout in the blue ribbon waters of the Big Hole River and Rock Creek. The endowment was created to continue his legacy by educating the public about habitat and wildlife and involving young people in hunting and conservation.

Project grants are available to 501(c)(3) groups to support one-year projects that involve young people in hunting and conservation, create healthy wildlife habitats, support public policy changes to conserve habitat, and promote hunting ethics, fair chase, and safety. Projects typically range from $500 to $5,000.

Scholarships are awarded to Montana college students who are studying academic fields that relate to conservation, exhibit a commitment to public hunting ethics and fair chase, and support habitat conservation and wildlife protection. The scholarships provide $1,000 to support any expenses related to the pursuit of a college degree.

For information about the application process visit http://www.montanawildlife.org or contact Mark Dostal at MWF at 406-458-0227 or [email protected]. The deadline for grant and scholarship applications is Jan. 16 with awards to be announced by March 1.