Montana Guide and Packer School

Most asked question:

What is the difference in your Outfitter, Guide and Packer School from the rest?

Answer:

Look for the gray hair, actual years of hands on experience in Outfitting, Packing and building an Outfitting Business from scratch, not buying someone else's.

Also, there is a lot more to Outfitting than just guiding someone and harvesting game animals.

Additional Thoughts:

I also would like to address the issue of having a staff of experts and the question- can one man know it all? In the classic movie made from Louie L'Amour's Novel - Conagher. Conagher (played by Sam Elliot) a well seasoned cowboy sets out to get some cattle back that have been rustled from the ranch he is working for. When he stops by a widow's place to see if she had seen any suspicious activity, her son tells Conagher he heard the cattle and where the rustlers were holding them for the night. Conagher asks if he can spend the night at the widow's place and then take out after the rustlers early in the morning. The widow asks Conagher if he should wait and they could send for help, this would have taken several days for the help to come, if they could and the rustlers would be long gone. Conagher told the widow, that if he needed help he shouldn't have set out after the rustlers in the first place. Think about it??!

{P.S. If you don't understand the above, that's alright. Call Bear Paw (406 222 6642) or take time to watch the movie Conagher with Sam Elliot, it is a good one.}

Cindy and Tim Bowers (Expert)

I started my Guiding and Packing career many years ago. I am a fourth generation Montanan (56 years old) I started my Outfitting business from scratch and with the help of the Good Lord have built it into what it is today. I am not a retired corporate executive wanting to try a new venture, with new ways and all the frills or thrills. I am not involved in or on the board of every organization. I do what it takes to know this profession and I am your teacher. I have done it all and still can do it all, not brag just fact! from digging the outhouse hole, setting up and taking down camps, packing big strings of mules, guiding hunters and fisherman, fixing tack, breaking horses & mules, repairing horse trailers and trucks. I am in the mountains in all adverse weather conditions and work long hours. Any aspect of the Outfitting/Guiding I have done it! The buck stops with me! I don't employ a staff of wish they were's or did's. I am still fit enough to train you myself. One of my few mentors was Joe Gaab one of the early Game Wardens for the State of Montana, who is now 90 years old and still is enjoying life, skiing and horseback riding. I learned a great deal from Joe over the years. Joe was one of the instructors for the Hunter safety program in the 1960's and I was one of his students. Towards the end of his career, Joe was also appointed the first Supervisor of Outfitters for the State of Montana and created the first Outfitter test, he rode all over the State of Montana checking the Outfitter camps for compliance. Joe usually packed 2 head of pack animals and always rode a good walking saddle horse. You could expect to see him at anytime and anywhere especially in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, attending to his duties as a Game Warden and Outfitter Supervisor. Throughout the years we packed into various locations in the A-B Wilderness, Yellowstone National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Joe is a perfectionist and always strives to do things right. I feel the only way to do things right, is to learn them right from the start, in the Outfitting Business this pertains to taking care of yourself, your stock, the resource and your clients.

The mountains can be your friends or your enemies. You need to learn to understand, respect and then work with them, to enjoy them to the fullest. Horses and mules are powerful animals and can hurt you, you need to learn how to have them work for and with you. They are your transportation and will become your friends. I have been blessed to work in the wilderness and live the lifestyle that many dream about. I am now ready to pass my knowledge on from my many years and experiences in the Outfitting business. The good people that are retaining our services to be transported into and out of the wilderness are literally quote: "Putting their lives in our hands" :unquote. I do not take this lightly and you should not either. I always strive to transport my clients the safest possible way. The Outfitting business is a big responsibility and should be taken seriously. We also need to tread as lightly as possible on the land, so future generations can continue to enjoy their heritage.

If I was foolish enough to go to New York City , San Francisco or any large city in the U.S.A. and then try to drive around in that mess, I would be lost in a minute. So I would find a good seasoned taxi cab driver that knows their way around to get me to my destinations safely! So here I am your Taxi Cab Driver in the Rocky Mountains- Bear Paw

Our Goal at Bear Paw Outfitters Guide & Packer school is to train our students with field proven guiding & hunting techniques and the proper skills needed to successfully use horses and mules to traverse others and themselves through the mountains in a safe manner. We will provide guide school students with hands-on training in the areas necessary to full fill your dream as a Professional Outfitter and Guide, or simply to be a better steward of the wilderness. You will be taught trail riding and horsemanship; horseback pack trips; big game hunting and wilderness survival; use of maps and compasses; camp cooking techniques; wildlife and outdoor photography, CPR certification, importantly how to get along with the people you are working with and much more. You will learn what the phrase means " With a touch of Professionalism" Good enough, isn't good enough when it comes to learning to be a Professional, in any of your endeavors! We know what is needed and desired by ourselves and fellow Outfitters.

Erv Malnarich knew what was needed and we are glad he had the foresight many decades ago to pass his knowledge on to the men and women who dream about this type of lifestyle. We are thankful to be a part of his vision. His past history in his training techniques and detailed home study course (50 years) has proven to be the leader in the Outfitting Industry and will continue to be on the cutting edge. There are always those in any business that try to cut corners and costs, etc. for whatever reason. Some will say you need to learn the new techniques, let us be serious-the mountains don't know about new techniques and fancy gadgets. When the batteries are dead in the fancy gadgets and other things break, be glad you still have the knowledge of the old ways.

This is a serious business and if you learn it right the first time, as Erv Malnarich saw the need for, you will be able to enjoy to it's fullest potential.

Ask your Guide School Administrator how long they have actually been "Hands on Outfitting"???

Always remember, some things don't ever change, the oats go in the horse the same way and they always come out the same way.

There’s A Lot More To Ridin’ A Horse

Than Sittin’ in the Saddle and Lettin’ Yer Feet Hang Down

The Duke

If you don't know who the Duke is, you better get to Montana to Bear Paw Outfitters and find out!

Do the math that is 51 years and still the leader in the industry, must be doing something right?

2010 Classes

June 1st - July 1st

Arrive Monday May 31 after 6 pm - last day of class is July 1st

September 9th - October 9th

Arrive Wednesday September 8th - last day of class is October 9th

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Students must enroll and complete the ELM Home Study Program First

Elm Outfitters & Guides Training Program

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Hands on Guide & Packer School Prices

$4000.00

50% non-refundable deposit

Balance due 45 days before hands on class

406 222 6642

Bear Paw Outfitters, LLC

contact -Tim Bowers

Curriculum

Ethics and Attitude

Mule/Horsemanship

Packing: (Sawbuck & Decker)

Transporting Livestock

Use of crosscut saw and ax

Use of chain saw

Shoeing

Wilderness Survival

Weapon Knowledge

Guiding Skills

Game Care

Setting Camps

Camp Cooking

Regulations

Red Cross First Aid & CPR

Yellowstone Park Guide Certification

A school that stresses responsibility and the work ethic that is required to establish a successful career as a Guide, Packer or Outfitter.

Common Sense Approaches

Tried and Proven Techniques

What is a packer? A real packer is actually an artist. Instead of taking a brush, paint and canvas to create a masterpiece, they take rope, mantie tarp, Decker pack saddle and a good looking mule (my own personal preference on the last two items) and create their own masterpiece. You will understand this when I am teaching you. There is nothing prettier than a nice looking string of mules packed to perfection, going down a wilderness trail.

Guinea Pigs trying out a nice breakfast prepared by one of the guide school students

A good outfitter tries to ensure that all their clients are treated respectfully and courteously; their pack and riding stock are well trained, well fed and reliable; their camps are clean, comfortable and well equipped; their staff is knowledgeable and skilled; they observe all game laws; they take good care of the meat they pack out; their operations run smoothly; and God willing, they find game. The rest is hunting, and your definition of success is up to you. This is our commitment.

Let's get serious about this

Ask me the questions and I will give you the straight answers