Swan Mountain Wilderness Guide School

Swan Mountain Wilderness Guide School is owned and operated by Patrick Tabor II, whose father Pat founded the operation after building Montana's largest horseback-based outfitting company. Patrick grew up in the guiding industry, holds a Montana outfitter's license, and has logged thousands of miles as a guide in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. He brings both field experience and formal training—a degree in outdoor recreation management—to running the school.

The school operates from a rustic, fully operational outfitters camp in the Flathead National Forest, Northwest Montana. Students eat, sleep, and live an outdoor guide's lifestyle during their courses—not classroom theory. This real-world training facility is one of the key things separating Swan Mountain from other guide schools.

• •Wilderness Guide training (core program)
• •Wrangler Training Program
• •Horse and Mule Packing School
• •3-Day Long Range Precision Shooting Course
• •River Guide Training
• •Waterfowl Guide Training
• •Wilderness Cook School
• •Hunter and Adventurer Program
• •Equine Care
• •Houndsmen and Lion Guide Training

"One person doesn't know it all, so we bring in the best-of-the-best to create a well-rounded curriculum."

Instructors are chosen for expertise specific to each course. Classes are taught by owner Patrick, in-house instructors, and guest experts from across the inland Northwest. This approach means you get specialists rather than generalists.

The school operates under permits from the Flathead National Forest, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and private timber company leases. Swan Mountain Wilderness Guide School and Swan Mountain Outfitters hold memberships in:

• •Montana Guides and Outfitters Association (MOGA)
• •Safari Club International
• •Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
• •Mule Deer Foundation
• •Fishing Outfitter Association of Montana (FOAM)
• •American Outdoors Association