We cover big game animals – elk, bear, and deer. You will learn their habits, caping, field dressing, boning, tracking and stalking. Hands-on learning is key to developing into a great guide and to cover some of the material we will be harvesting a buffalo – and have fun doing it!
In packing, you will learn how to work with horses and mules from the ground up, hands-on. Riding, caring for stock, care of tack, pulling pack strings, and balancing pack loads to name a few. You will learn about both riding and pack saddles, how to set up camps, proper camp environment, and how to care for your clients. We cover outdoor cooking using cast iron cookware, and you will learn meal preparation and menu planning.
In addition to camping, cooking and packing, you will also learn emergency horse shoeing, basic back country veterinary care, become certified in Red Cross First Aid and CPR, and Hunter Education. You will learn rules and regulations set by the state, how to work with the public and other parts of the business.
The course lasts about four weeks. With very little reading, the course material is learned by hands-on methods, we have found first hand experience to be the best teacher. If you love the outdoors as much as we do, this could be the school for you. Upon enrollment we will send you a tuition receipt, equipment list and class schedule. Class is held May, June and July and fills quickly. Please contact us as early as possible.
Tentative Class Schedule
| First Day: | Orientation, Regulations, Handbooks and First Aid Certification |
| Second and Third Days: | Hunter Safety Certification |
| Fourth Day: | Caping & Trophy Scoring |
| Fifth and Sixth Days: | Horse Care & Emergency Horse Shoeing |
| Seventh Day: | Mantie Loads |
| Eighth Day: | Saddle Work & Practice Loading |
| Nineth Day: | Mantie up loads, put on loads & pull string |
| Tenth Day: | Elk Bugling & Hunting Techniques |
| Eleventh Day: | Pack up camps & head for overnight camp out |
| Twelfth Day: | Camp Cooking |
| Thirteenth Day: | Wilderness Survival* Hunting Techniques |
| Fouteenth Day: | Come off mountain – Guiding Techniques |
| Fifteenth Day: | Tracking and Stalking Big Game |
| Sixteenth Day: | Harvest Buffalo – cutting, skinning, care for meat |
| Seventeenth Day: | Use and Care of Quality Optics |
| Eightteenth Day: | Taking “Quality” trophy pictures |
| Nineteenth Day: | GPS *Map* Compass work |
| Twentieth Day: | |
| Twenty-first Day: | |
| Twenty-second Day: | |
| Twenty-third Day: | Come off mountain solo & Identify Items (tress/plants) |
| Twenty-fourth Day: | Study for written exam & Practice basic skills |
| Twenty-fifth Day: | Take written final & Basic skills test |
| Twenty-sixth Day: | Review Test Results |
| Twenty-seventh Day: | Award Diplomas* Job Placement Openings |
| Column 1 Value 26 | Column 2 Value 26 |
| Column 1 Value 27 | Column 2 Value 27 |
“I highly recommend this school, it was a incredible journey for someone like me who loves the outdoors and animals. The dedication and knowledgable instuctors/staff made it a fun and educational experience. Everyday was like a new adventure, beautiful scenery all around. I wish all school was like this.”
NateSome of the skills taught during Guide School
Guiding Skills:
- Glassing game, general habits, reading sign
- Stalking techniques
- Big Game Anatomy
- Shot Placement
- Blood Trailing, Tracking
- Scoring Game Animals
- Calling/Rattling
- Fly fishing, Spin fishing
- Drift Boat, Float tubes
- Map, Compass & GPS
- Fire starting
- Day Pack, what to carry
- Taking quality photos
Transporting Stock
- Vehicle and Trailer Maintenance
- Winter Driving, Installing Chains, 4WD Hubs
- Operating Vehicle with Manual Transmission
- Loading and Unloading of stock
- Maneuvering of Trailers: Backing, Turning
Cross Cut Saw
- Proper Use & Care of Saw
- Safety
Ethics and Attitude:
- Guide Professionalism
- Social Skills
- Big Game Anatomy
- Work Habits, Communication, Working as a team
- Personal Attitude and Appearance
Game Care
- Field Dressing
- Skinning
- Caping
- Quartering
- Meat Spoilage Prevention and Cleanliness
Weapon Knowledge
- Rifle
- Archery
- Hand Gun
- Ballistics
- Overall Safety and Handling
- Hands on Shooting
Regulations
- Knowledge of Fish and Game Laws
- Importance of Good Working Relationship with Forest Service, BLM and Fish and Game
Horsemanship:
- Saddling, Unsaddling
- Proper Placement of Pads and Saddles on Stock
- Adjustment and Repair of all tack
- Handling, Proper way of working around stock
- Proper Feed, Grooming, Healthcare, Basic Vet Skills
- Riding Skills, Yours & The Clients
Making Camp
- Camp Location
- Proper Set Up and Tear Down
- Proper Set Up of Corrals and Highlines
- Importance of a Clean Camp
- Bear Proofing camp in Grizzly Country
- Low impact, No Trace Camps
Camp Cooking
- Meal Planning
- Cooking with Open Fire and Grill
- Dutch Oven Cooking
- Camp Hygeine and Duties
- Food Storage & Safety
Packing:
- Sawbuck and Decker Saddles
- Basket Hitch, Barrel Hitch, Diamond Hitch
- Panniers and Manties
- Slinging Loads, Top Packing
- Meat Packing, Top Packing Antlers, Safety when loading animals with wild game
- Packing Riding Saddles; Cargo and Meat
- Pulling a Pack String
- Ropes, Knots, Hitches and Splicing
Shoeing
- Anatomy of Hoof & Legs
- Tools
- Animal Restraints
- Hands on Shoeing & Trimming
- Emergency (Backcountry) Horseshoeing
Chain Saw
- Basic Maintenance, Gas/Oil Mixture
- Sharpening
- Safety
First Aid Class & Hunter Education Class
“If you ever wanted to be a guide in the hunting business, you owe it to yourself to attend the elk creek outfitting guide school. The guide school took me to a level of hunting expertise that I never knew I would reach.”
Jerry, North CarolinaDates and Prices
Now booking for May, June, July 2025
Tuition is $5,500. This includes your Big Sky Packer and Guide School manual, all meals, lodging. Transportation to and from the airport, can be arranged for a small fee if you are flying in.
A personal equipment list will be sent upon enrollment. A deposit of $500 is required with enrollment to be submitted with your application. Balance is due upon arrival at school.
After graduation, we provide a list of summer recreation and hunting guide opportunities to help you begin your new and exciting career in the outdoors recreation field.
If you have any questions, please give us a call.
Big Sky Packer and Guide School
406.847.5593
Standard
- Manuals
- All Meals
- Lodging
- Transportation to and from airport (if flying)
- * $500 Deposit Required *
References
Bob-Oregon (541)331-4997
Matt-Montana (406)210-0983
Brandon-California (707)799-4787
Jessie-Montana (406)546-7204
Keith-Idaho(208)827-2180
Tyler-North Carolina (406)546-4173
Roland-Oregon (406)529-5294
Jerry-North Carolina (704)267-9095