The Helen Bolle Lifetime Award is bestowed upon individuals who dedicated their lives to the protection of Montana’s natural resources and the communities it supports. In the realm of conservation-based outdoorsmanship–a particular source of cultural and economic strength in the Treasure State– no one fits that criteria better than George Bettas. A lifelong hunter and educator, George has had a large hand in developing the relationship between hunters and the lands they recreate on in the West.

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, George’s passion for hunting started at an early age when he started chasing mule deer on his family’s farm in central Washington. After serving in the military, George earned his EdD at Washington State University and worked there for many years as a Senior Administrator, Dean of Students and Vice Provost-Student Affairs. His experience in hunting– and the composure and character it requires — informed his work educating and mentoring young men and women.

Beginning in the early 1980’s, addition to his role as an administrator at WSU, he embarked on a volunteer career in conservation over the years: he was one of ten founding members of the Mule Deer Foundation and served as its Vice President and President from 1988 to 1990; he served on the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Board of Directors from 1995 to 2001 and served as its chairman in 2000; he became one of the 100 Regular Members of the Boone Crockett Club in 1989 and served six years as the Club’s Executive Director beginning in 2001; he was the Development Director and later Executive Director for the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Foundation, and Trust Manager for the Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust. Across those positions, he’s been successful in securing millions of dollars in funding for youth summer camps, grizzly conservation, and hunting initiatives. He’s been a lead hunting instructor on multiple occasions, including for the Montana Hunter Advancement Program that he helped start through the One Montana Foundation. The program was developed, to help build the relationships between hunters and private landowners, teaching proper land ethics and how to develop positive relationships with private landowners who provided hunting access.

A prolific writer, George has written essays, including articles and essays detailing his experience as a hunter conservationist, offering guidance in those fields from best practices for sharing the backcountry, to the difference between outfitters and DIY hunters. In short, he “has written the playbook (literally) for the horseback hunter.” He’s been a contributor to the Western Hunter magazine and Elk Hunting Magazine. He also started the Fair Chase magazine, the official Boone and Crockett hunting publication and served as its editor.

George is still out hunting in the backcountry, even after fighting a difficult battle against leukemia. His passion and persistence have made a permanent mark on many conservation organizations in Montana and beyond, making his Lifetime Achievement recognition right on target.

By Kalle Fox