Northwest School for Hunters

Northwest School for Hunters runs hands-on hunting and survival courses in Southwest Washington, about 1.5 hours from Portland and 3 hours from Seattle. Instructor Mike Jenkins has spent over two decades as a professional hunting guide across Alaska, Montana, New Mexico, and Arizona—and brings that real experience directly to the classroom and field.

Most hunters lose money on gear and gimmicks that don't work. Statistics show most hunters fail year after year. Mike's philosophy: successful hunters need experience and field time, not products. His courses cut through the noise and teach what actually moves the needle.

Introduction to Big Game Hunting ($235, 2 days) Entry-level course for new or struggling hunters. Covers gear selection (and what NOT to buy), hunting clothing, pack setup, weapon choices, optics basics, and animal habitat. Save hundreds by learning what pros actually use.

Advanced Scouting Techniques ($235.50 for 2 days / $650 for 5 days) Accompany Mike as he scouts new areas and finds elk. Learn to read habitat, identify bedding and feeding areas, interpret sign, use game cameras and glassing effectively. Weather, rut cycles, food sources, and pressure all play roles—learn how they determine where animals live.

Mastering Successful Elk Hunting Techniques ($235, 2 days) For hunters who've found elk but struggle to close the deal. Master spot-and-stalk hunting, still hunting, tracking through heavy cover, ambushing, and calling strategies. These are the skills that separate successful from unsuccessful hunters.

Introduction to Archery Elk ($235) Foundational archery-specific hunting techniques on public lands.

Advanced Archery Elk Hunting Methods For experienced archers looking to increase field success.

2-Day Beginner Wilderness Survival ($235) Hands-on basics: starting fire, building shelter, finding food. Learn what to carry in your pack and gain confidence for overnight backcountry trips.

2-Day Land Navigation Course ($235) Compas reading, map skills, and GPS training. The hard truth: GPS fails. Electronic devices break. Learn traditional navigation so you're not helpless in the field. Includes hands-on training with compass bearings, map orientation, and confidence building.

3-Day Advanced Wilderness Survival & Navigation ($325) The challenge course. Enter at Point A with only what fits in a daypack (no sleeping bags or tents). Spend three days navigating through forest to extraction point using map, compass, and GPS. Master shelter building and fire starting while foraging for food. Daily extraction point available if needed.

Women in The Outdoors ($225) All-female beginner course covering compass and map reading, fire starting, shelter building, and survival basics. Hands-on field training combined with team learning, archery, shooting, campfire discussions, and dinner. Builds friendships with other women interested in outdoor skills.

Full professional guide training covering:

Mike focuses courses on public land hunting because most hunters don't have private land access, and most quality western big game animals are harvested on public lands. Learn to be safe, confident, and successful where you actually hunt.

All courses held in Southwest Washington on public lands. Travel distance an issue? Mike will bring courses to your area (4+ person minimum).

Contact: - Phone: (360) 560-7620 - Email: [email protected] - Response time: 48-72 hours

Mike Jenkins – 22-year professional hunting guide. Grew up hunting Roosevelt elk and blacktail deer in coastal Washington mountains. Guided in Alaska for subsistence hunting and timber work. Managed outfitting in southwest Montana (elk, deer, bear, moose, sheep). Spent springs and summers as fly-fishing guide on Yellowstone, Madison, and Beaverhead rivers. Started archery elk guiding in Gila National Forest, New Mexico in 1990. Now splits time teaching and hunting the Pacific Northwest.

Kirstin Jenkins – Camp cook, medic, and berry guide. Handles camp nutrition, first aid, and wilderness food sourcing during courses.