Guide/ Packer/ Wrangler School in Wyoming
Welcome to your future where we teach you the skills to become a professional Guide/Packer or Wrangler!
CR Horseback Adventures has been training professional big game guides, wranglers and camp cooks since 1992. We are the most comprehensive program available and have the most experienced team of instructors in the world. We do not require a home-study course.
CR Horseback Adventures specializes in training top-notch wilderness archery elk guides, professional wranglers and professional camp cooks. Rusty Sanderson will teach you how to ride, pack, and tack on a horseshoe so that you are ready to hit trails with confidence. Rusty will show you how to cook a quick meal that can be done if you are guiding a hunt on your own or a camp cook could not be found.
We offer two 10-day group classes, which will equal the twenty days of learning, as well as job placement assistance after graduation. With our network of licensed & reputable outfitters, we can have a job waiting for you upon successful graduation from any of our schools.
- PROFESSIONAL Wilderness GUIDE/PACK SCHOOL; $5500 – (20) days – June-July-Aug
This class trains top-notch guides and packers. Ninety percent of our successful graduates are guiding their first year. We are the only school who has this type of success rate in the world.
- PROFESSIONAL “September” GUIDE/PACK SCHOOL; $4500 – (10) days – September
We are excited to also be offering an exclusive September hands-on learning class on how to hunt elk. From where to find them, bugling them in, so you can get close and personal without spooking them. You will learn how to be in their house and not spook them out of the country. I will teach you how to find mature bulls. This course is a ten day adventure. The price will run $4500.00 per session. We only offer two elk hunting classes in September!
- PROFESSIONAL WRANGLER/PACK SCHOOL; $3000 – (10) days – June-July-Aug
This class offers in-depth horsemanship, training and camp maintenance to provide a “soon-to-be-wrangler” all the skills necessary to be successful. Students will also learn how to successfully maintain a camp and respectfully serve clients with confidence and efficiency.
Choosing a guide school is an important decision that will help shape your future. A guide school is not only a place you will learn your new trade, it should be a place where you feel comfortable enough to be yourself and have confidence in your instructor that he will give you the tools to become successful.
With that said, there are a few things you need to consider when choosing a school. It is important that the school you choose has qualified instructors. If the instructors of a school have never gone to guide school, have never guided and most importantly have never outfitted, how can they teach you what you need to know about becoming a successful guide, packer or outfitter.
Also choose a school with instructors that have years of experience. If your instructors do not have the experiences you want to have, they cannot really help you become successful. If your instructor learned what he knows from a book, he will not be able to help you in “Real World” situations.
What, if the school you want to attend tells you they require a home-study course, what will they be teaching you when you get to school? By requiring a home study course the school is telling you that they can not teach you what you need to learn. You must learn lessons yourself from a book or video. Many book-based courses are outdated or do not give you “Real World” experiences. A home study course would have to be rewritten every year in order to stay current.
Next, it is important that the school you choose focuses on the things you want to learn. Not every school focuses strictly on guiding and packing. Some schools teach you fishing, how to shoot a gun, how to shoot a bow and other information you may not necessarily need to learn. you may already know it! Be sure to choose a school that fits your educational needs. Most importantly, be sure that the school you are about to choose does not just “let everyone graduate”. Take seriously the curriculum and how the school monitors your progress; with tests, activities, etc.
What are the facilities like at the school you are about to attend? Be sure the school you are choosing has the facilities that will give you the real world atmosphere that is essential in learning how to become a guide, packer, wrangler or outfitter. For example, some schools give you log cabins, but how many wilderness outfitters can hunt from a log cabin? The answer, none! Any wilderness outfitter must use base-camp facilities that are not permanent fixtures. Any wilderness outfitter must “leave no trace” at the conclusion of their hunting season. Choose a school that gives you as real an experience as possible, otherwise you may be in for a big surprise when you begin working in the real world.
Your future will change the minute you choose your guide school. Do your research and be sure the school fits your needs, the instructors have the tools to educate you and you will learn what you need to learn to become the most successful guide possible.
CR Horseback Adventures – Wilderness Archery Guide/Packer & Wrangler School has been training professional big game guides, wranglers, packers and camp cooks since 1992. We are the most comprehensive program available and we have the most experienced team of instructors in the World. We do not require a home-study course.
CR Horseback Adventures 4-week group classes with four students or less. Students learn better in small group setting verses one on one instruction. We also offer 100% job placement after successful graduation from our course. Yes, we do not graduate everyone, you must successfully pass our course. With our network of licensed outfitters, we will have a job waiting for you upon successful graduation from our school.
We offer real-world facilities for our students. Heated or ventilated wall-tents with log beds for sleeping, a large cook tent for family-style meals, heated shower tent and restroom facilities, and a classroom that is as real-world as it gets, the Washakie Wilderness of the Shoshone National Forest. Our livestock are some of the best in the business; dude horses and mules that are safe enough for anyone to work with or ride.
The advantage CR Horseback Adventures – Wilderness Archery Guide/Packer & Wrangler School gives you is our reputation for training successful guides. We concentrate on technical and advanced training to give our students the advantage. Nearly 90% of our graduates guide at their first job.
What is different between your school compared and other guide schools?
We concentrate on training archery elk guides. We also pack-in and pull strings farther than any other school in the United States. You will pack a minimum of 100 miles in four (4) weeks. 99% of the outfitters that call us looking for qualified guides are looking for archery elk guides. Guiding a client to an elk with a bow is the toughest type of hunting there is. Outfitters know that if a guide is trained to hunt archery elk, that guide will have no problem guiding a client to a bear, deer, antelope, etc. with a gun. Additionally, archery elk guides are in demand. Our school is a college level school compared to all other guide schools.
Why do you only run two group classes each year?
Running a limited number of schools each year allows me to be with the students every day. I concentrate solely on the school. We do not have summer guests or hunters while the group school is in session. Until 2009, I would only run one class each year. However, I was approached by several outfitters requesting that I run an additional school to meet the demand for qualified wilderness guides. I now run two group schools each year to meet the demands of outfitters looking for top-notch guides. The demand for our students to work as guides and packers in the hunting industry is always high.
Is there any difference between your July and August Classes?
The curriculum is the same in both classes.
Do you cover fishing in your school?
Teaching our students to fish is a waste of your time. We have only four (4) weeks with you. That is just enough time to teach you the essentials of guiding for archery elk and packing. We concentrate on teaching you how to become a guide in the wilderness.
What sets your school apart from other schools?
Our base camp is located 22 miles into the wilderness. You will be packing and pulling a string over 100-miles during the course of the four (4) week school, weather permitting. Most students in the Personalized Guide Training will ride and pack 200 miles during the 4 weeks. Most schools operate from a camp located 6 to 10 miles from the road. With CR Horseback Adventures, you will be packing more in one week than other schools do during the entire course. CR Horseback Adventures school is the toughest in the United States. We demand a lot from our students because their future employees expect the best from CR Horseback Adventures Guide & Packer School. We help you become a success from day-one.
Do you offer financing and payment plans?
Yes, we can tailor a payment plan to fit your needs. The payment plan can be set up for a class this year or in future years. This gives you the option of making payments when you are able. We offer 12, 24 or 36 month payment plans. All payments must be completed before the start of your scheduled class. Give CR Horseback Adventures a call and we will be happy to discuss a plan with you.
Do You offer Job Placement?
Yes, We offer 100% job placement after you successfully graduate from our Professional Wilderness Archery Elk Guide & Packer School. With our vast network of outfitters throughout the Western United States, we will have a job waiting for you with a first class outfitter. Not all outfitters qualify to receive one of our graduates. You will be placed with a first class outfitter.
Group Guide School
About Our School
Held in beautiful Dubois, Wyoming, we specialize in training successful Wilderness big game hunting guides, packers and wranglers.
The group class spends the first week learning packing skills and horsemanship skills. The second two weeks, weather permitting, we will be packing up camp and moving to a new spot so that students are learning how to pack, set up and tear down camps, while also looking for wildlife. At night after dinner, time will be spent learning how to bugle and how to spot wildlife. The advantage that CR Horseback Adventures Guide & Packer School gives you is our reputation for training successful guides. We concentrate on technical and advanced training to give our students the advantage. Nearly 90% of our graduate’s guide at their first job.
Tuition & Fees
CR Horseback Adventures requires a 50% non-refundable deposit along with your application to reserve your place in any of our schools. Class size is LIMITED to 6 students each month in June, July and August. September will have a specialized 10-day elk hunting course. We accept students on a first-come-first-serve basis. We do not require a home-study course. The cost of the school includes meals and lodging during the 22 day course ONLY. Any personal equipment is the responsibility of the student. All transportation is the responsibility of the student including airline fees, rental cars, etc. There are no refunds of any deposits or fees paid to CR Horseback Adventures.
Curriculum
Some of the material covered during your class is as follows. CR Horseback Adventures reserves the right to alter the curriculum as needed.
At CR Horseback Adventures, you will learn essential, advanced and current techniques that will give you the advantage when being placed at your job. 90% of our students are hired as guides their first year of work. Below are the topics that you will learn while at CR Horseback Adventures.
During your first two weeks at school, you will learn such topics as Game & Fish Regulations, Packing, Shoeing, Horsemanship, First Aid, Taxidermy.
Our school is only for those men and women who are VERY serious about becoming a professional wrangler. This is the most demanding wrangler school in the world. We turn out only the best wranglers the United States. Wrangling is a very demanding yet rewarding field. If you think you have what it takes, give us a call. We will teach you what you need to know to become a top-notch wrangler.
Guiding Skills & Equipment
1. Use of Binoculars
2. Use of Spotting Scope
3. Knives & Knife Care
4. Guides’s Back-Pack
5. Fire Starting
6. Maps & Compasses
Camp Set-Up & Equipment
1. Tent Care
2. Lantern Care & Set-up
3. Cross-Cut Saw Use & Safety
4. Axe Use & Safety
5. Setting up a Tent Camp
Trophy Care
1. Field Dressing Game
2. Capping
3. Packing Game Species & Antlers
4. Field Care for Trophies
Stalking & Tracking Game
1. Identifying Tracks & Big Game Sign
2. Stalking
3. Bugling for Elk
Bowhunting
Use of Scents
Gun & Bow Safety
Field Judging & Scoring Big Game
Bowhunting
Use of Scents
Gun & Bow Safety
Field Judging & Scoring Big Game
Hunting in Grizzly Country
During the third and fourth week, you will also pack and pull a pack string under the direction of your instructor. You will be pulling a pack string farther than any other guide school.
Group Guide School
Class Schedule
We teach our group class three times each year; June, July, August, and then a specialized class in September. Class is held normally for 10 days per session. Again, class size is LIMITED to 6 students per month in June, July and August and a 10-day course in September. Each day will vary as there is not really a schedule to follow, but instead follow the day as it goes. The day starts in the morning and ends at night.
Student Conduct
Safety is foremost at CR Horseback Adventures. Rusty Sanderson reserves the right to dismiss a student from our school for conduct unacceptable. Any student who intentionally, willfully or irresponsibly puts himself, other students, instructors, or livestock in danger may be dismissed. Students are expected to act maturely, responsibly and respectfully during class and towards other students, instructors and livestock at all times.
Grading System
My grading system is based on if you want to be a team player, your work ethic, your want of learning what I have shown you and how you can use it, and how you handle situations for a client setting. The student’s personality and my feeling that you are ready to handle clients, that you are respectful to self and others will say a lot.
Job Placement
Graduating students will receive job placement assistance if they request it. Those students wishing to go to work right away will be placed with outfitters. We have a great network of quality outfitters looking for qualified guides. 90% of our students guide their first year and that is what we anticipate for you! If you wish to work immediately after school, we encourage you to come prepared to go right to work.
School Facilities
CR Horseback Adventures offers the equipment that will be needed to set up a camp in the mountains to give a comfortable setting. We have the livestock that is needed not only for you to ride in on, but also to haul all our gear. We have a set menu and the food that is needed for all three meals that will be needed as we move through the Wyoming wilderness.
Refund Policy
Full tuition and deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable. The school will however, accept a replacement student in the event you cancel and if a replacement is found, either through your efforts of the school’s, the school will transfer your deposit and tuition fees to a class the following year. If a student withdraws from the school, for any reason, prior to completion of the course, there is not a refund.
NO REFUND OF DEPOSITS OR ANY TUITION FEES.
Our school is only for those men and women who are VERY serious about becoming a professional guide in wilderness country. This is the most demanding guide and packer school in the world. We turn out only the best guides, wranglers and packers in the United States. Guiding and outfitting is a very demanding yet rewarding field. If you think you have what it takes, give us a call. We will teach you what you need to know to become a top-notch guide.
No school in the world offers this type of specialized training.
CR Horseback Adventures adds another unique and exciting school to life – Wrangler School.
You will spend twenty days, which are broke up into 10 days on then one day off to do laundry, shower, go fishing, ect., then the second 10 days to continue learning everything you need to know about wrangling for a hunting camp. Like our Guide Training, in this school you have the ultimate advantage. This class is often held at times when clients are present. Therefore, you can practice in a real-life setting. Learn horsemanship, shoeing, packing, catching horses, saddling for you and clients.
This school also gives you, the student, responsibility from day one. We expect our students to be an active part of their education. Willingness to ask questions, willingness to be active in the maintenance of your camp or classroom by keeping it clean. Participation in your day-to-day education is essential to your success.
The biggest difference between our Guide and Wrangler schools is the time you spend with the horses and mules. During our wrangler school, your time is spent learning the ins and outs of horse and mule care, riding, training and so on.
Some of the material covered during your class is as follows. CR Horseback Adventures reserves the right to alter the curriculum as needed.
Horse & Mulemanship
1. Catching Horses/Mules
2. Saddling Horse/Mules
3. Packing
4. Riding Horses/Mules
Camp Set-Up & Equipment
1. Tent Care
2. Lantern Care & Set-up
3. Cross-Cut Saw Use & Safety
4. Axe Use & Safety
5. Setting up a Tent Camp
Shoeing
1. Shoeing Tools
2. Trimming
3. Shoeing Horses/Mules
Client Care & Camp Care
1. Clients First Rule
2. Camp upkeep & maintenance
About Our School
Held in beautiful Dubois, Wyoming, the South entrance to Yellowstone National Park, CR Horseback Adventures began teaching a guide school in 1993. We specialize in training successful Archery Elk guides, packers and wranglers.
Class is held in the backcountry. We will utilize the Washakie Wilderness, Shoshone National Forest and the Brider-Teton Wilderness during your stay. You will cover wrangler skills, shoeing, training, horse and mule manship, first-aid and more.
The advantage CR Horseback Adventures Wrangler School gives you is our reputation for training successful wranglers. We concentrate on technical and advanced training to give our students the advantage.
Tuition & Fees
CR Horseback Adventures requires a 50% non-refundable deposit along with your application to reserve your place in any of our schools. Class size is LIMITED to 6 students each month in June, July and August. September will have a specialized 10-day elk hunting course. We accept students on a first-come-first-serve basis. Our group guide school is $4,500 per student. We do not require a home-study course. The cost of the school includes meals and lodging during the 22 day course ONLY. Any personal equipment is the responsibility of the student. All transportation is the responsibility of the student including airline fees, rental cars, etc. There are no refunds of any deposits or fees paid to CR Horseback Adventures.
Class Schedule
We teach our group class three times each year; June, July, August, and then a specialized class in September. Class is held normally for 10 days per session. Again, class size is LIMITED to 6 students per month in June, July and August and a 10-day course in September. Each day will vary as there is not really a schedule to follow, but instead follow the day as it goes. The day starts in the morning and ends at night.
Grading System
My grading system is based on if you want to be a team player, your work ethic, your want of learning what I have shown you and how you can use it, and how you handle situations for a client setting. The student’s personality and my feeling that you are ready to handle clients, that you are respectful to self and others will say a lot.
Job Placement
Students will receive job placement assistance if they request it. Those students wishing to go to work right away will be placed with outfitters or ranches. We have a great network of outfitters looking for qualified guides. If you wish to work immediately after school, we encourage you to come prepared to go right to work.
School Facilities
CR Horseback Adventures offers the equipment that will be needed to set up a camp in the mountains to give a comfortable setting. We have the livestock that is needed not only for you to ride in on, but also to haul all our gear. We have a set menu and the food that is needed for all three meals that will be needed as we move through the Wyoming wilderness.
Refund Policy
Full tuition and deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable. The school will, however, accept a replacement student in the event you cancel, and if a replacement is found, either through your efforts or the school’s, the school will transfer your deposit and tuition fees to a class the following year. If a student withdraws from the school for any reason, prior to completion of the course, there is no refund of any deposits or tuition fees paid.
RECOMMENDED PERSONAL EQUIPMENT
Below is a recommended list of equipment you will need for Guide & Packer School. All equipment brought to class by a student is the responsibility of the student. Bliss Creek Outfitters is not responsible for misplaced, lost or broken equipment.
Guide School Equipment
Sleeping Bag & Sleeping Pad
Two Bic Lighters
Space Blanket
Rain Gear
Towel & Toiletries
Small Portable Alarm Clock
First Aid Kit
Small Notebook
Pens / Pencils
1 quart Canteen
Binoculars
Small Camo Day-Pack
Folding Hunting Knife
Army-Type Duffle Bag
Stone Knife Sharpener
Full Set of Camo Clothes
Elk Calls & Grunt Tube
Spotting Scope (Optional)
Two Flashlights
Extra Batteries
Headlamp
Five Changes of Clothes
Light Jacket
Heavy Jacket
Long Underwear
Heavy Gloves
Working Gloves
Hiking Boots
Working Boots
Cowboy Hat
Wool or Winter Hat
Small Camera for Photos
Mosquito Repellant
