We believe, at Swan Mountain Wilderness Guide School, that you should have as much information as possible to help you decide which hunting guide school is right for you. Listed below are several questions that we get frequently asked about choosing a guide school. We are constantly adding to this list so be sure to check in often or just email us with your questions.

If I cancel will I get my deposit back?

Deposits are non-refundable and cannot be used as a credit towards a future course; it is advised that you should obtain trip cancellation insurance for unseen emergencies. Students not accepted by the school will receive a full refund.

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Do you guarantee job placement?

No, this is not legal in the state of Montana. Additionally, anyone promising that they will as a means to entice you to enroll is not being honest. Think about it, who would make a guarantee like that unless they have a way out (which they do). The fact is we don’t know whether you are cut out for this business or not, we don’t know how you will like it, and quite frankly we don’t know where you will fit. Swan Mountain Wilderness Guide School maintains an extensive network of contacts with outfitters all over the country. We get contacted for job openings throughout the year, and maintain a job board. In the last several years we have 4 to 5 times the number of job openings as we have had students to fill them. The fact is, if you work hard, present yourself well, and follow-up there are more jobs then there are people to fill them. Since our inception, everyone who wanted a job got one!

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Is Swan Mountain Wilderness Guide School accredited?

Currently, there are no accrediting agencies for Guide Schools in the United States. Any other guide school claiming they are accredited is misusing the term. The term accreditation is used in a very official manner when evaluating colleges and universities, and these are done by entities entitled to do so. Swan Mountain Wilderness Guide School is proud of its endorsing governmental agencies, sponsors and partners. Please see Our partners page.

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Is Swan Mountain Wilderness Guide School just a way to get work done for an outfitter?

No. This is a big fear that has been fueled by some other guide school programs. The fact is that there used to be, and perhaps still are a few schools that used the students as indentured servants, but this is fairly rare today. Swan Mountain Wilderness Guide School stands on its own merits and is fully independent of the outfitting business of Swan Mountain Outfitters. Do we share faculties, resources, and personnel? Of course, that’s what brings credibility to the school. We have a state-of-the-art outfitting business that is growing rapidly due to our more innovative approach to guiding.

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How important is self-study and preparatory work prior to coming to a course at Swan Mountain Wilderness Guide School?

The material we send in advance is relevant to what we teach. It is the most current information available (not some outdated manual that has been copied over the years), and provides the basis for learning what we will present in our programs. We do not charge students a fee for this, as we see it as integral to our program. We also don’t require students to complete busy work before you start your courses to justify charging you for the materials. With our course preparation materials, however, if you review these before you start our programs, you will undoubtedly learn more and get much more out of our programs.

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I’ve never ridden a horse and I’m a little apprehensive, am I alone?

Not in the least, in fact the vast majority of students have no previous equine experience. This is where it becomes critical to assess two important aspects of guide & packer school:

  • Does the school have a sufficient number of horses and mules and are they sound?
  • Does the program really teach me how to ride and stay safe?

We are proud of our stock at Swan Mountain Wilderness Guide School, and we purposely have designed our equine sessions to give much more thorough instruction on riding and staying safe then the majority of other guide schools.

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When I complete my coursework at SMWGS, will I really be ready to work as guide?

It is unrealistic to expect that by completing some home study preparation and 4 weeks of guide school, that you will be ready to guide high-level clients as if you had been doing it for years. Some outfitters that hire you may in fact throw you in over your head.

At Swan Mountain Wilderness Guide School, our goal is to turn you into a life-long learner. There isn’t a school or a course out there that will ever fully prepare you, any more then getting a college degree prepares graduates for their first jobs out of school. What Swan Mountain Wilderness Guide School will do is set a solid foundation for learning, give you reference materials that you can utilize as a resource guide throughout your career, and introduce you to ways of thinking to learn as much as you can, stay safe and have fun.

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What are your contact details?

You can call us at 1(877) 888-5557 or 1(406) 387-4405. Our mailing address is 26356 Soup Creek Road, Swan Lake, MT 59911. You can email us at info@guideschoolmontana.com

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Is there a weight limit?

Regardless of your riding experience level, participants in our trail rides must be 225 pounds or less. Imposing a weight limit is not a matter of prejudice, it is a means by which to ensure rider safety and the welfare of our horses.

 

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Do I have to be 18 years old to participate?

No. Students who are aged 16 and 17, at the start of the course, can participate if they have parent/guardian consent. We currently cannot admit students younger than 16.

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What caliber gun should I bring?

There is a ballistics course.  We recommend bringing a 30 caliber or better rifle but any bolt action will suffice, plus 2 to 3 boxes of ammunition, otherwise you will not be able to participate in the shooting portion of the course.  Be practical in what you bring, and of course, being safe is of the utmost importance.  Many guys like to practice with their bows and we’ll have targets in camp, but don’t bring it if it is a hassle.

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What will the schedule look like?

The schedule is based on an average of 6 days per week and 12 hours per day of class work, instruction, and self-study. Sundays will be days off.  Typically, we will end in the early to mid afternoon on Saturday.  Students are welcome to take off to go to town, see the sights or do personal errands.  You are expected back in camp for breakfast on Monday morning.  Students are responsible for their own transportation when away from camp.

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Where will we be?

The school is located at our Base Camp, which is 3 miles off Montana Highway 83 just north of the town of Condon.  We ride all over the trails we maintain including up to our Upper Camp, which is 14 miles from our base camp rising approximately 4500 feet in elevation.  The Upper camp is just below Swan Peak on the south side. Our area forms the western border of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. If you want to order topo maps from U.S. Geological Survey (Denver, CO 80225 or Renton, VA 22092), you should request these quadrants: Salmon Prairie and Swan Peak, however you don’t need these for the course.

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If I am not driving, can you pick me up?

We do have a shuttle available to pick up students from the two airports, hotels if you come in a day early, or the train station for a fee.  Charges are as follows, all one-way:  Kalispell Airport and city based hotels – $95; Missoula Airport and city based hotels –  $120; Whitefish Train Station and city based hotels –  $95.

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What do I need to do get in shape for the course?

We will ride between 2 and 4 hours each day. If you haven’t ridden in a while or at all, it always helps to get in the saddle a few times before you get here to get those certain muscles in the mood.  Likewise when we hike, if you have done a little bit of exercise before you come, you won’t feel so out of shape when you get here.  The school isn’t a boot camp, no intense workouts, but just a little bit of preparation will make the course a whole lot more enjoyable.  By the way, if you are thinking of getting new hiking boots, break them in before you get here to avoid blisters.

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What about bears?

There are both Grizzlies and Black Bears in the area.  While there may be an opportunity to spot one, the bears are not at all interested in us, and do their best to avoid us.  We follow all the appropriate safeguards to minimize bear attraction to our camps, and encounters on the trails.  Additionally, all personnel are equipped with firearms as well as bear spray.  In over 35 years of operation, we have never had a dangerous encounter.  In the unlikely event we were to have one, we are prepared to protect you.  Although there is always a risk, we want you to be rest assured that you will be safe.

 

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How does job search work?

As you have all been told, the ultimate responsibility for finding a job rests with you not us.  We will provide leads, tools, and insight on what to do, but you are the one to get it done.  You don’t have to wait until you arrive to start.  You should be researching outfitters and making lists of companies you want to contact before you come.  You should also get going on accumulating the data you’ll want to put in your resume.  There is a job board at camp with names of outfitters who have contacted us when they are looking to hire a newly qualified student. We update this over the season when we receive any new openings.

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What does it take to be successful?

Success in this profession befalls those candidates that look to themselves, not others to make something happen.  Our job is to expose you to the tools you need and the opportunities that are available.  Your job is to aggressively put forth the best effort you can and make something happen.  One thing is for sure; you never fail until you quit trying!

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Will my cell work and how do people contact me?

Your cell phone won’t work at camp; you should bring it for use on your days off, etc.  We have a phone in camp to be used for job search and emergency communications only.  Wifi is available but cell coverage is limited. You should bring a laptop so you can email family and friends, we will have one in camp, but the time on it will be limited strictly for job search.  Do not go buy a laptop just for this class.

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Can I arrive early or stay later after the course?

Both our school and our outfitting business are jammed packed with customers to service, and as a result, we are not able to accommodate you before or after your class.  Often times, the time between courses and weeks are the only days off our staff gets for quite a period of time.  There are plenty of places to camp, or hotels to stay at, and you are responsible for setting all this up.  One of the important lessons you need to learn if you are going to be in this profession is taking responsibility for yourself. On days off, you are encouraged to explore the area. At a minimum you should plan a visit to Glacier National Park and/or the surrounding area.  Getting a break from camp is important, but if you prefer to stay in camp on your days off, that is fine.

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Where will I be staying?

You will be staying in a canvas wall tent with a wood stove and an outlet for electricity. You will have roommates and each person gets a bunk with a foam sleeping  pad. We do recommend bringing an additional sleeping pad if you have any back issues, as multiple weeks sleeping on a single pad can get uncomfortable. There are two pit toilet latrines and a shower with a propane heater.  There is wifi and limited cell service in camp too.  Unfortunately, we do not have the space for anyone to park and sleep in their own camper trailer.

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