CURRICULUM OUTLINE
Our Mission is to offer every student attending the Western Montana School for Guides an atmosphere and method of learning to produce the best possible results. To accomplish your goals, we have chosen "hands on" experience, applying the laws, and familiarizing students with every aspect of the Guide/Outfitter business. As you read the curriculum below, please note how serious we are about offering you a valid field of work or business opportunity.
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| INTRODUCTION & REGISTRATION |
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School Standards, Outdoor Recreation, Industry Opportunities, Qualifications & Skills Required |
| KNOWING THE RULES |
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Federal Land Policies Relating to Outfitting & Guiding |
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Fish & Game Laws & Regulations |
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Outfitter/Guide Laws & Regulations |
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Outfitter/Guide Code of Ethics |
| OUTFITTER/GUIDE RESPONSIBILITIES |
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Responsibilities to: |
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Client, Outfitter, Natural Resources, US Forest Service & BLM Use Regulations, Private Land and Waters, Hunting/Fishing Laws & Regulations |
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Appearance: |
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Personal, Camp, Lodging, Equipment, Stock, Land & Waters |
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Conservation: |
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History, Organizations & Funding, Ethics, Patterns/Practices, Animal Activists, National Forest Service Use and Regulations, "Leave No Trace" Techniques |
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Outdoor Recreation |
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Hiking, Backpacking, Trail Rides, Pack Trips, Outdoor Photography and Camping |
| PROFESSIONAL BIG GAME GUIDING TECHNIQUES |
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Game Animals |
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Individual Habits of Animals, Locating Game, Spotting and Glassing, Judging Trophies, Best Times to Hunt, Understanding Game Sign |
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Hunting Methods |
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Field exercise to stalk and photograph wildlife |
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Still Hunting, Stand Hunting (Location, Tree Stands, Ground Blinds), Driving, Calling (Elk Bugling, Deer Rattling, Predators), Stalking, Tracking (determining the kind of animal, the size of the animal, age of the track, what the animal is doing, following and locating) |
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Tracking Wounded Game |
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Identification of Hit (Blood color, Hair, Actions of Animal) |
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Recovering the Animal |
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How long to wait, How to follow the trail, Marking and sectioning, Persistence |
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Hunting Ethics |
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Fish & Game Laws, Fair Chase Rules, Hunter Courtesy, Selective Trophy Hunts |
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Hunter's Safety |
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Modern Firearms & Safe Use |
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Modern Hunting Bows and Safe Use |
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How to Approach a Downed Animal |
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Staying Out of Trouble with Wounded Bears |
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Care of Game |
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Gutting, Skinning, Caping, Quartering, Handling Meat on the Trail and in Camp, Preventing Spoilage in the Backcountry during Warm Weather |
| GUIDING |
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Judging the Client |
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Current Physical Condition, Previous Hunting Experience, Marksmanship, Hunting Goals (trophy or meat hunt), Attitude, Diplomacy (handling difficult clients), Controlling the Excited Client when Game is Sighted |
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Professional Guide Equipment |
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Personal, Field, Vehicles, Tack and Weapons |
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Proper Equipment Care and Repair |
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Tents, Stoves, Lanterns and all Other Camp Equipment |
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Trophy and Field Care of Game |
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Field Trip to Taxidermy Studio |
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Actual Caping and Skinning |
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Judging & Scoring Big Game Trophies |
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Pope & Young Club |
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Boone & Crockett Club |
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Safari Club International |
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Advanced Leadership Skills |
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Attitude, Appearance, People Skills, Work Ethics and Team Spirit |
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Organization of People and Equipment |
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Making Fast, Accurate Decisions |
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Taking Control in Emergency Situations |
| WILDERNESS SURVIVAL |
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Backcountry Field Trip |
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Packing into the Backcountry |
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Setting Up and Taking Down a Big Game Hunting Camp |
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Basic Camp Cooking, Preparation, Serving, Sanitation and Kitchen Cleanliness |
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Wrangling and Care of Stock in the Backcountry |
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Applying Federal and State Land Use Policies |
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Stalking and Hunting of Big Game (with a camera) |
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Woodsmanship |
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Wilderness and Backcountry Manners |
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Firearms (large bore rifle and handguns) |
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Safety and Prevention |
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Actual Field Exercise with Map and Compass |
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Crosscut Saw, Chainsaw and Axe Use |
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Scouting |
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Gaining Sense of Direction and Distance |
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Survival Situations |
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Fire Building, Emergency Shelters, Rescue & Emergency Procedures, First Aid and CPR Certification, Signal Systems, Hypothermia, and Dehydration |
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Wilderness Navigation Methods |
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Using a Compass |
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Using a GPS (Global Positioning System) |
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Reading Maps (Topos, US Forest Service, BLM) |
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Day/Night Navigation |
| HORSEMANSHIP |
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Identify Horse Colors: Palominos, Sorrel, Bay, etc. |
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Saddles & Equipment, Horse and Mule Behavior, Horse Care & Common Health Problems, Trailer Loading and Transportation, Repair of Tack/Equipment and Safety |
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Riding |
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Riding Lessons & Trail Rides |
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Wrangling (catching, saddling, bridling, and haltering), Matching Horse to Saddle and Rider, Mounting & Dismounting, Reining, How to Control and Ride a Spirited Horse, Hoof Maintenance, Mountain Riding Techniques, Holding in Backcountry |
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Care of Horses and Mules |
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Worming, Shots, Grooming, Trimming, Conditioning, and Proper Feeding |
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Recognition and Treatment of Common Horse and Mule Ailments |
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Horse and Mule Shoeing |
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Shoeing Tools and Substitutes, Types of Shoes and Nails, Basic Fundamentals of Horse and Mule Shoeing, Trimming Feet and What to Look For and Why, Methods of Throwing and Tying Horses and Mules, Actual Shoeing of Horses and Mules |
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Anatomy |
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Age, Conformation and Condition |
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Psychology |
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How to outthink a horse or mule |
| PACKING |
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Equipment and Supplies |
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Pack Saddles and Gear |
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Types and Uses of Pack Saddles |
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Mantas and Their Uses |
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Pannier Types and Uses |
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Hitches and Knots |
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Packing the Horse or Mule |
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Camp Gear, Hay and Grain, Game, Weight Distribution and Balance |
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Packstring Knowledge |
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Correct Way to Tie Together, Procedures for Leading a Packstring, Preventing Accidents, Personal Safety |
| CAMPING |
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Campsite Selection and Layout |
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Erecting Tents |
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Camp Safety & Hygiene |
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Keeping Horses in the Wilderness |
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Minimum Impact Techniques |
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Bear Prevention |
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Camp Equipment |
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Different Types and Uses, Lanterns, Stoves, Tools and Maintenance of Equipment |
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Cook Tent |
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Proper Arrangement, Menus (Nutrition and Diet), Calculating Proportions and Quantities, Cooking on Camp Fires/Dutch Oven Cooking and Using Wood Burning Stoves, Safe Food Storage, and Sanitation |
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Camp Management |
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Procedures, Job Assignments, Schedules, Morals |
| STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS |
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Experience |
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Funding Sources |
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Equipment Needed |
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Land/Waters |
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Employees - Hiring and Handling Personnel |
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Licenses, Insurance, and Bonding |
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Marketing and Booking Clientele |
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Business Structure |
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Office Management & Equipment |