Programming and Schedule

Course Schedule and Topics subject to change without notice.
Click on Registration link for course dates.

Module One – Introduction to Guiding

Module 1 is an introduction to Guide Outfitting and focussed mainly on wrangling, horse care, packing and bush survival. This module is 5 days in length and students will arrive on the day before classes to attend a camp orientation and introductory dinner.

All food and lodging is provided and participants must be fit and enjoy living in outdoor conditions.

Day One – Orientation

What is an Outfitter?: Industry orientation and standards, equipment and gear of a hunter, guide and outfitter personal gear, review for module 1

Wrangling Orientation and Horsemanship: basic knots, basic horse safety, catching and releasing, saddling, mountain riding safety and skills, how to safely guide clients

Day Two – Horses and Hitches

Horse Care: Basic hoof care, hoof trimming, instructor will demonstrate and students will get some hands on practice

Horse Packing Skills: orientation to gear, diamond hitch, basket hitch, barrel hitch, Saddling the pack horse

Evening trail ride with packhorses

Day Three - Packhorses

Horse Care: Basic shoeing of the horse, instructor will demonstrate and students will get some hands on practice.

Advanced Horse Packing Skills: double diamond, odd loads, packing game trophies, how to prepare panniers.

After Dinner: Pack Horse Challenge

Day Four - Shoes and Safety

Shoeing: Practice till noon

Bush Safety: Bear safety and defense methods of a guide, use of spray/bangers/ firearms

Horse Range Management: belling, hobbling, staking, rules and regulations, backcountry Horse care

Evening Ride led by Students, route finding

Day Five - Bush Survival

Working with Horses: Orientation to driving of work horse, equipment review, single horse pull, basic horse safety, students practice

Bush Survival: Basic survival skills, fire building challenge, What one needs to survive?, Types of food that can be found

Guide Paperwork: pre trip planning, rules and regulations, Guide and client relations, risk management, emergency procedures, client care

Module Two – The Business of Guiding

Module 2 carries on from the first module. There is a refresher on wrangling and horse care, camp living and setup, mapping and mountaineering skills and more. This module is 5 days in length and students will arrive on the day before classes to attend a camp orientation and introductory dinner.

All food and lodging is provided and participants must be fit and enjoy living in outdoor conditions.

Day One – Setting up Spike Camp

Pack up to head to spike camp: Learning about personal gear, purchasing groceries, supplies and camp equipment.

Upon Camp Arrival: students take care of horses, camp set up, students prepare dinner

Class will be divided into two teams for camp chores

Day Two – Mapping and Route Finding

Camp: Camp living and cleanliness orientation. Head out for a daily ride.

Daily Topics: map and compass work, route finding, mountain riding skills

Leading: Students will gain experience in leading the group and by late afternoon return to camp

Students share in camp chores at dinner.

Day Three - Wildlife Habits and Trail Cutting

Head out for a daily ride and learn about shelter building, wildlife habits and trail cutting

Students will switch out as head guide to gain experience by leading the group. Return to camp by late afternoon and share in camp chores at dinner.

Day Four - Tracking

Topics: During the daily ride students will build their tracking skills and then engage in a tracking challenge to test their skills.

More time will be spent gaining experience leading the group. Return to camp in the late afternoon and share in camp chores at dinner.

Day Five - The End of the Hunt

Students will have one more ride to test their skills and then it is time to close up the camp, do cleanup, pack the pack horses and head for home.

Once arriving back at the starting point, students will help to clean up the equipment and check the condition of all horses.

Module Three – Advanced Guide Training

5 Day Course – Details TBA

The Module 3 – Advanced Guide Outfitter Training Course is designed for the individual who plans to start a business as a guide outfitter in BC. We will go over everything you need to know about choosing a territory, setting up trails, camps and hunting areas, government regulations and more.

We also go over the guide outfitter certification exam to ensure that you have a good chance of passing the test and obtaining your certification.

Sign up to our email list if you are interested in Module 3 and want to be notified of course dates.