Making a living guiding elk hunters may seem like a far-off dream, but it’s an achievable goal for passionate outdoorsmen and women. However, concrete information on how to actually enter this profession can be difficult to find. One of the most common questions I hear is: “How Do I Become A Hunting Guide?”
While professions like law or teaching have clear, well-defined paths, the journey to becoming a hunting guide isn’t always so straightforward. This guide will lay out the best strategies for landing your dream job of pursuing elk for a living. Forget traditional career advice; this is a job fair for dedicated elk hunters.
The “Benefits Package” of a Hunting Guide
For a significant portion of my adult life, my primary source of income has been guiding hunters, primarily elk hunters. While it’s not a path to riches, the inherent rewards far outweigh the typical office environment.
From a young age, my sole desire was to hunt constantly. Becoming a hunting guide seemed like the perfect solution. If I could make even a modest living while spending my days chasing elk and deer, I was determined to make it happen.
My first guiding experience is unforgettable. I dedicated myself wholeheartedly to the job. To complicate matters, the outfitter I worked for suffered a heart attack on the second day of the hunt. I was suddenly responsible for everything, from cooking and caring for the livestock to guiding the hunt. Despite the long hours and sleep deprivation, I remained committed to providing the best possible hunting experience.
At the end of the week, I tallied my earnings after expenses: $1.85 per hour. Even so, I was thrilled! I knew this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It was the best job I had ever had. I was ecstatic because, truth be told, I would have done it for free.
By the end of my first season, I gained more hunting experience than I had accumulated in all the preceding years. I had a treasure trove of stories filled with adventure and mishaps, and I experienced truly extraordinary events that no amount of money could buy. After spending four months hunting in various states, I was completely hooked!
The Hunting Guide Job Description: More Than Just Hunting
Being a successful hunting guide goes beyond just possessing elk hunting skills. Interpersonal skills are equally critical. You need to be personable, engaging, a leader, and adept at understanding people and situations to make sound decisions. You’re not simply taking someone elk hunting; you’re crafting an entire elk hunting experience for them. Most clients will have considerably less experience than you. Therefore, the quality of their trip rests on your shoulders, requiring more than just locating elk.
Often, the job requires extended periods away from your normal life. For many, this is the most challenging aspect, making long-term commitment difficult due to the seasonal nature of the work.
However, after speaking with other hunting guides, most agree that the sacrifice is worth it. The ability to hunt and consider it work compensates for the time spent away from their regular lives. Welcome to your new office, the great outdoors.
What’s Actually Required to Become a Hunting Guide
I’ve encountered many articles over the years on “how to become an elk guide,” but they often fall short, at least in my opinion. They consistently fail to address the fundamental requirement: a deep understanding of elk hunting. They discuss schools and other resources but neglect to mention the core of the operation.
As much as people might dislike hearing it, there are certain prerequisites to securing a job as an elk hunting guide. As an outfitter, I receive numerous applications from aspiring guides, but only a small percentage meet the necessary qualifications. Many applicants who want to guide elk hunts have never even hunted in the West. That’s simply not a viable starting point.
While exceptions exist, elk hunting experience is the best foundation. Hunting experience specifically in the areas where you plan to work is even more advantageous! Of course, individuals with western hunting or mountain hunting experience are certainly capable of guiding and hunting in unfamiliar areas and for different animals, but these are generally people with significant overall hunting experience.
The ideal place to start as a hunting guide is in the areas you already know and hunt. By hunting in your familiar spots, you gain valuable knowledge that enhances your own hunting pursuits. You’ll develop a deeper understanding of the area and the animals by spending more time there. Few people have the opportunity to hunt an area daily for months on end.
4 Categories of Hunting Guiding
To help aspiring guides focus their efforts, I’ve categorized elk guiding into four main types:
- Backcountry Horseback Hunts
- Private Land Hunts
- Limited Entry Unit Trophy Hunts
- Public Land Day Hunts
This breakdown will help you identify where your skills align best and provide insights into securing a job as a hunting guide.
Backcountry Pack-in Horseback Hunts
Backcountry elk hunts are central to the tradition of elk guiding. Few other species necessitate packing into the wilderness on horseback for pursuit. Due to the logistical challenges and the need for livestock, many hunters, even experienced elk hunters, hire outfitters to manage transportation to the location, maintain the camp, and handle the horses.
These hunts can be incredible experiences with the right guides, horses, and camp setup. They also offer a great opportunity for those who want to spend time in truly remote locations that few others ever see.
Most clients on these hunts are from states outside the West. However, in states like Wyoming, where a guide is required for nonresident wilderness tags, or Montana and Idaho, with their renowned large wilderness areas, these hunts also attract seasoned western elk hunters seeking the horse camp experience.
Required skills:
Horse skills are paramount for these hunts. Handling, wrangling, and packing stock are the primary services that hunters are paying for, and guides must be proficient in these areas. Elk hunting experience is also necessary, but these types of outfits offer a good entry point for individuals with less elk hunting experience. Horse handling is a skill that can be learned outside of the hunting season. Starting as a wrangler is a great way to get your foot in the door if your elk hunting experience is limited.
Prior knowledge of the specific hunting area isn’t always essential for these hunts. The hunting area is generally limited to the vicinity of the camp and what’s within walking or riding distance. Because of this, few people will have extensive knowledge of that specific area.
Due to the remote nature and the need for manpower, these hunts often experience high turnover among new guides. Many find that the reality doesn’t match their expectations, or they struggle with the isolation. This creates opportunities for those looking to get started, provided they possess the necessary skills with pack stock.
Lacking experience with stock? This is where hunting guide schools can be valuable. This is the most practical application for a hunting guide school. These schools primarily aim to provide horse operations with skilled personnel. Even individuals with significant elk hunting experience may benefit from horse training, but a combination of elk hunting knowledge and horse skills makes you extremely valuable to these types of outfits. This also allows you to explore job opportunities in various locations, as knowledge of a specific unit isn’t always critical for securing this type of guide position.
Private Land Elk Hunts
Private land hunts can vary significantly in cost, the size of bulls taken, and the overall hunt style. Generally, private land elk hunts are physically less demanding than most public land hunts.
Required skills:
These hunts require extensive knowledge of elk behavior and habits. Calling, glassing, and judging are all essential skills. Familiarity with the specific area is less critical because access to private land is restricted, limiting who can gain that knowledge. Hunters with considerable elk experience will quickly learn the necessary details about the hunt area. Horse knowledge may not be necessary.
This type of hunt also requires guides with strong interpersonal skills. There tends to be more downtime on private land elk hunts, so the ability to entertain guests is paramount.
Limited Entry Unit Trophy Hunts
On these hunts, clients hire a guide service primarily for their knowledge of the area and specific animals, which is especially valuable due to the limited number of tags available. Many hunters possess prior elk hunting or western hunting experience. These hunts are often sold to residents who have drawn a tag and are looking to harvest a trophy animal. While most of these hunts take place on public land, the limited pressure and tag availability result in fewer hunters in the field compared to many other public land hunts.
Required skills:
Knowledge of the animals and the area is key. Familiarity with the unit, the ability to field judge elk, and the dedication to spend ample time scouting are essential skills for guides. These hunts focus on specific animals and their locations. Prior familiarity with the area is a significant advantage. While elk hunting knowledge is beneficial and could make this a viable job for someone with extensive experience, hunters with in-depth knowledge of the particular area will be at the top of the list for new hires.
Public Land Day Hunts
These hunts differ from pack-in hunts in that hunters generally don’t bring horses into camp. Most camps are accessible by vehicle and are situated on public land. Many of these hunts take place in Over-The-Counter (OTC) areas, and trophy size is less of a primary focus.
Most clients on these hunts are from states outside the West or from western states with limited elk hunting opportunities.
Required skills:
Intimate knowledge of a specific area is what sets potential guides apart in these hunts. Success can be challenging without a deep understanding of elk behavior, their preferred habitats, how they react to pressure, migratory patterns, and other factors.
Having your own proven hunting spots will greatly benefit you. You’ll also personally benefit from gaining knowledge of an area you already hunt.
Horse skills may be required for some of these hunts, primarily for packing out game. However, a lack of horse knowledge wouldn’t be a deal-breaker like it would be for wilderness hunts.
Landing That Dream Job: Building Your Hunting Guide Career
Once you’ve identified the type of hunt you’re best suited for, research outfitters in that category (or multiple categories) and pursue those opportunities.
Even dream jobs benefit from a well-crafted resume. Creating a hunting resume is an excellent way to get your foot in the door. Include information relevant to hunting and the specific job type (horseback hunt, private land, day hunts, or limited entry hunts), and include high-quality photos.
Here are some additional ideas to help you secure your future guiding job:
- Depending on your timeline, consider taking an alternative job in an elk camp, such as a packer, wrangler, or cook.
- Attend a hunting guide school to learn horse skills and gain entry into wilderness camps.
- Ask experienced horseback hunting friends to take you along on a hunt to learn valuable skills for future use.
- Identify the nearest general elk area with multiple outfitters and learn it thoroughly. Demonstrating knowledge of that area will significantly improve your chances of getting hired.
Hopefully, this article provides a clear direction for those aspiring to become a hunting guide. Good luck in turning your dream into a reality and calling the elk woods your new office.
Bonus: Essential Tips for Aspiring Hunting Guides
What You Need: A current Red Cross first-aid card is virtually mandatory for any guiding position. Many states require hands-on training. Proactively obtaining this certification will give you a significant advantage. Wilderness first-aid and CPR courses are also available.
Did You Know? Accepting money or trade for hunting services without a proper guide or outfitter license is illegal in almost all western states.
What Does It Pay? Compensation varies depending on experience, location, and the type of hunt. The standard rate often falls around $150 per day, with meals and lodging typically covered while working. Guides also receive tips, averaging around 10% of the hunt price.
