Pat Tabor is the founding member of all Swan Mountain Outfitters companies, including Wilderness Guide School. Pat is now enjoying retirement, though he is still serving as a guide school guest instructor, teaching career development. His extensive experience in business, strategy, and marketing, gives our students career training that is not offered at any other guide school. Furthermore, Pat has created a very successful outfitting and guiding business which serves as both a model and inspiration to many of our students. He holds a Bachelor of Science, and a Masters in Business Administration degree, and was an executive in the corporate world for over 25 years before creating a group of outdoor recreation companies. Pat has taught at community colleges and universities, and has designed curriculum for specialty workshops on a variety of topics. Pat is a Wilderness EMT and is a Fellow in the Wilderness Medical Society. He is the Past President of the Professional Wilderness Outfitters Association, current President of the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association, and is serving on the Montana Board of Outfitters as appointed by the Governor.

Role & Areas of Expertise: Founding member, Guest Instructor,  Customer Service, Career Development, Wilderness First Aid.

Patrick Tabor has been employed with Swan Mountain Outfitters since 2008, and started on the ground floor in the Swan Division working in every company role. He has been the Swan Division manager since 2012, and is currently transitioning into company ownership. Patrick is charged with oversight of Wilderness Guide School, and it’s curriculum development, as well as all operations from the Swan Valley location. He is a leader in the company’s management team, and has lead responsibility for all of Swan Mountain Outfitters guide service divisions for over a decade. Patrick earned a Bachelor of Science degree in recreation management from the University of Montana, and holds a current outfitters license. In his free time, he loves to hunt, fish, hike, and teach his children the raw traditions of becoming outdoors men and women. Patrick’s calming nature, and his passion for everything backcountry, gives our students an approachable resource, filled with knowledge of the outdoor recreation industry.

Role & Areas of Expertise: Owner and Outfitter, Business Management, Wrangler School, Packer’s School, Fishing & Riding Instructor

Larry Keyes earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in outdoor education and exercise science. He has conducted a wide variety of outdoor programs and classes for three universities, two colleges and several outdoor educational companies for over 30 years. He owned and operated Bear Tracker Outfitters, the Wilderness Medical & Survival Academy and Bridger Institute, which offer state of the art instruction in an array of outdoor subjects. He has lectured at a number of Wilderness Medicine and Search & Rescue conferences around the country. Larry has used his expertise in horse packing, animal tracking, hunting, wilderness survival, wilderness medicine and wild animal encounters to conduct outfitter/guides schools in three western states for the past 15 years.

Role & Areas of Expertise: Curriculum design and Program production, all areas of instruction, expert in wilderness medicine, packing, and tracking

Carl Motes-Conners is a professional whitewater guide and Rescue 3 International Water Instructor. He has been training professionals in the outdoor industry for seven years. Carl manages Great Northern Guides, overseeing fishing and whitewater rafting tours, and is also the head instructor of The Glacier River School in West Glacier, Montana. Carl works closely with many other local outfitting businesses, agencies and US military to train their personnel in technical swiftwater rescue. Certifications include: Rescue 3 International Instructor: Water, Technical Rope Rescue: Technician Level, PSIA Nordic Instructor: Level I, and a BS from the University of Montana in Nature Based Tourism.

Areas of Expertise: River Training

Jim Ford is a certified Equine Dentist with a practice that covers multiple states in the west.  He is an expert at equine health and behavioral care.  Jim resides in Wyoming but frequently travels to Montana to serve his clients and instruct at Swan Mountain Wilderness Guide School.

Role & Areas of Expertise: Lead Instructor EquineCare

Dave has a great passion for the outdoors: camping, hunting, fishing, and shooting firearms.   He currently resides in Seeley Lake, Montana where he has the opportunities to pursue this amazing lifestyle.

Dave served 20 years in the United States Marine Corps and the majority of that time, in the Reconnaissance Community.  While serving, he had the opportunity, and privilege, to attend several Sniper Schools which gave him the collateral duty in combat, as a seasoned precision shooter.  He has multiple combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

Since his retirement in 2015, he has been heavily involved with volunteering for the Force Recon Association (a non-profit veteran’s organization) and continues to do what he can to support the Recon Community and their families.  Also, he is a graduate of the Swan Mountain Outfitters, Guide School and instructs their Marksmanship Program.  Currently, he works for Bergara as an instructor for their Long-Range Shooting Academy.  The Bergara Academy and Swan Mountain Outfitter has been a great opportunity to meet wonderful like-minded folks, who enjoy the passion for hunting and long-range shooting.

Some of Dave’s military education includes the following:

Squad Leaders Course, Basic Reconnaissance Course (Class Honor Grad), Survival Evasion Resistance Escape, Basic Airborne, Military Free Fall, Military Free Fall Jumpmaster, Marine Combatant Diver, Marine Corps Scout Sniper (Class Honor Grad and High Stalker), Mountain Sniper, Urban Sniper (Class High Shooter), Advance Sniper, Helicopter Repel Suspension Training, Primary Marksmanship Instructor, Martial Arts Instructor, Explosive Breacher and Close Quarters Battle Instructor.

His personal military awards include: The Silver Star Medal, the Bronze Star Medal w/”V” Combat Distinguishing Device, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal w/gold star in Lieu of 3rd award, Navy Achievement Medal w/gold star in Lieu of 8th award, Good Conduct Medal w/silver and bronze star in Lieu of 6th award, Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon w/gold star.

Dave has been married to his wife Tina for over 20 years, she is also a retired Marine Chief Warrant Officer.