Prospective hunting guides are being urged to apply for the second annual David Ramage Memorial Scholarship. This $3500 scholarship will pay to place an interested outdoors-person through an accredited hunting guide school in Montana. This guide school, Western Montana School for Guides, is based in Darby, Montana. This four week course will give the scholarship recipient all the tools to become a top-notch guide. Dates for the school can be either June 4 –June 28, or July 2- July 28. This scholarship is a memorial to David Ramage, who was an exceptional hunting guide in California, Colorado and New Mexico. David passed away in 2002 from complications from Lyme disease. Dave went through guide school in Montana to learn the trade of guiding big game hunts.

David Ramage began his career as a hunting guide at a relatively late period in his life. Guiding big game hunts is a young man’s endeavor. But Dave, well in his 40’s, quit his successful butchering business in Ojai, California and went to a guide school in Montana to learn the trade. Dave’s work ethic and demeanor were ideally suited to a guide’s life of long days, wet feet , and low wages. He first started with our company, Multiple Use Managers, Inc. in 1993. At first we did not have an opening for a guide, but Dave jumped at an opportunity to cook for one of our operations in New Mexico. It wasn’t long before we realized he was much better suited at guiding clients than feeding them. Within a few short years, he became a top guide for our Santa Rosa Island and Dye Creek operations, and was our manager at a deer and hog ranch for us in San Benito County as well as a Tule elk and blacktail deer ranch in Mendocino County. If there was hunting to be done, Dave was always there with the jovial approach and a ‘never-give-up” attitude.

Every client he spent time with was left with sage advice and some deeper appreciation for the animals they stalked and the land they trekked on.

Individuals who are serious about becoming a hunting guide and would like to apply for this scholarship need to send: 1). A one page resume; 2). A 200 word essay why they should be chosen to receive this scholarship; 3). A guide school application from Western Montana School for Guides (website to download this application is www.guidetraining.com ). All applicants are urged to thoroughly view the guide school’s website. Send completed application information to the David Ramage Memorial Scholarship Fund, Multiple Use Managers, Inc., 6942 Lawson Rd., Valley Springs, CA 95252. For additional information about this memorial scholarship please email Multiple Use Managers Inc. at muminc@yahoo.com or call 800-557-7087. Deadline for submission is May 15. The scholarship will be awarded by May 25th. At the end of the training the winning applicant is also expected to write a 500 word description of their experience. This scholarship pays for the guide course; travel expenses to and from Montana and incidental expenses are the responsibility of the winning applicant.

We are also seeking donations to this scholarship fund. For more information about making a donation please call Gordon at 800-557-7087. All donations will be tax deductible. We would like to fund this scholarship annually and keep Dave’s memory alive.