Hunting Guide Schools

barrabas74

barrabas74

Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
8,161
Hi I am lookin to make a change and in the spring I am going to go outwest and attend a Hunting guide school in the hopes of getting a license and perhaps figuring out what the heck I want to do with my life(Hunting guide having been my dream almost my whole life). Does anyone know of any schools that would come recommended? Is anyone here a hunting guide or has a similar aspiration? Any information or comments would be appreciated.

I have hunted almost since I could walk and I do ride and like horses. I have read some books and have looked at some of the schools in Montana, Colorado and Wyoming. I might take a home course first.
 
Be sure and check their references.
Guiding is a tough job ,cranky clients,hard work,very rewarding.
You need to be a people person and have good equipment for your clients.
Have an excellent cook ....knowledge about the terrain ,animals,and a back up hunting area.
Scout the hunting area and know about game movement in the West.
Hire out with a good guide for a couple of seasons and you will learn more than any school...just my 2 c.
Good places to find reputable guides....Hunting clubs,skeet,sporting clubs.rifle ranges....your local independent sporting goods store
I ain't talkin' Walmart.
 
Yeah the guide schools are to get you your license and become a guide to get hired on to an Outfit and then get more of the experience that I need. I could not dream of starting an outfit w/o being a guide for a good while and building knowledge and a reputation. I have very good people skills I worked in Fast Food for about 5 years and I help run a technical call center at a College (thousands of cranky kids and teachers). I do helpdesk work as well as general tech work and the like. Its just not for me. The guide schools are run by Hunting guides and outfits from what I have read. Lol I have checked around for reputable guides but here on the east coast that kind of knowledge is few and far between. I plan on moving out west so thats where I would like to take the classes.
 
Take some first aid training courses while you are still on the East coast.
The Guide schools may be a good way to go....it's hard work and building a clientel base is tough....have plenty of reserve money.
Colorado had Guide licenses up until 1981 then they dropped them(don't know if they reinstated licenses) Every Tom, Dick and Harry and ranch hand was a guide .
Wyoming is a draw for hunting license and requires Guide licenses.
Idaho is the same.
Alaska is Guide license State and they publidsh a Guide reference book.
Alaska would be my choice....still rugged ...you can hire air drops for your camps...no Guide license for Caribou,Black Bear,Moose...but there are limitations and laws on horn width for Moose.
Montana is A Guide license State.
Call each State's Fish and Game that you want to be a potential Guide for and they might send you some info.

Good luck on your adventure !
 
Thanks E.E.Earl, I am enrolled in a class that teaches CPR and first aide starting next monday. Some of the "guide schools" I looked into had mandatory CPR and first aid training which makes perfect sense. I will definatley contact the states I am interested in and find out more about their laws and policies. I thought about Alaska but darn its expensive to get out their and take the class, the other places offered 4-5 week schools for around 3500-4000. Alot of money but if you have to pass to get your license it makes sense. I have accumulated a list of refrences from a few of the schools i was looking into.
 
Alaska may be expensive ...but that is where the MONEY goes.....
Start small and stay small for a while .....work up to BIG.
You can Guide Hunting,Fishing trips six months out of the year....maybe more if you want to get real cold ,Musox,walrus,spring (colder than h e l l )Bear hunts
 
I attended a guide school just after graduating from high school in '77. The class had 8 guys and lasted 2 weeks if I remember right (that's almost 30 years ago!).
Most of the guys were just there for the experience but I wanted to guide. I was hired by the trainer (Del Cameron) and worked the following season.
Outfitting is different then just being a guide. Del owned a ranch, livestock and had access to many hunting areas in Montana. I was just a kid that wrangled horses and mules and lead hunters around looking for critters.
If I remember right, I was paid $300 a month plus room and board. $300 doesn't last long when you get to town, drink beer and buy new hats, boots and chase girls.:D
I had the time of my life and saw some things most people don't get a chance to see. The year after that I joined the Marines.............:eek:
 
Thanks for the Info, I know being a guide has more to do with it than just hunting. Its good to hear you had a good experience, I am going to be a guide if its right for me.
 
I've had the same dream for years, and if I were a younger man with no children, I think this is where I might start.
http://www.nols.edu/

My 21 year old son is a traveller, musician, artist, free spirit type. He does work construction as he goes, but I am hoping that he may try this out.

Not really a guide school, but seems to have many skills needed.
I wish you luck, and keep us posted.;)
 
That is a very cool website, the Ande's one very much interested me. Cool stuff and thanks for the link.
 
Hi
I went thru a guide school in Montana in 1969 run by Erv Malnarich. Erv died a few years ago and I think the industry will suffer because of it. He was uncompromising on standards and demands of his students and the schools he underwrote. I've since been licensed in several states and spent many a season doing what I really enjoyed. Now I've retired from it and hunt for my own enjoyment and meat. Been away from it long enough that I can't recommend any particular school. Might check with the Montana Outfitters and Guide Association (MOGA) to see who is offering what and how much. I'll be happy to offer my perspectives from the practical standpoint but perhaps a private email would be more appropriate?
Best Regards
Rocky
 
Flyinrock go ahead and email me I am trying to get ALL the information I can. I am calling references and outfitter schools, all the students I can. I really want to get the best bang for my buck as far as what I'll learn and getting a license. I know they give you a certificate but I want to earn it and the license. my email address is barrabas74@yahoo.com feel free to say whatever you like about the school your experience, your job/job's afterwards and anything else. Thanks.
 
I know you stated you were still in the East. It is true that solid guide info is hard to come by. One place to look is the HUGE Eastern Outdoor Sports Show held every February in Harrisburg, PA. Many outfits from the West come in looking for clients. They can probably point you in the right direction and if you really sell yourself you might meet a potential employer. Most states have one or two very large outdoor shows a year that are worth attending. One place to start is check the bookings for state fairgrounds. In my experience that is a very popular venue for the show promoters. Good Luck.
 
Lol that Eastern Outdoors show is like Heaven to me...been goin since I was 8. I will ask there, I never thought of that before(duhh moment for me). Did you know there going to tear down the Complex. I dont wanna see it go but I guess its gettin old. Thanks man I really didnt even think about that I will make it priority 1 when I am there.
 
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