Guide School & Packer Training - Hunting, Fishing & Camp Cook School

A Guide School Student's Journal

Cody went easy on us - breakfast wasn't till 8:00. He normally would have started at 5:30 as usual, like we would working for an outfitter, but he's found that in a class-type setting the students don't pay attention after a night like that without at least reasonable sleep.

Started at 8:30 with backcountry fire starting, in the snow/rain. We were limited to our knife and a lighter, and each had to get a fire going - more of a trick than some of us thought. After instruction, demonstration and practical pointers we each had to start a second fire. Amazing how much easier it is once you learn some of the "tricks of the trade."

From mid-morning on we had a lecture on horse first aid and nutrition. Cody explained a horse's digestive system, nutritional needs, plus pros and cons of various feed types. Next came the talk and demonstration on first aid. For example; Colic is a big thing to be aware of when dealing with horses and mules and how to treat it. If left untended, an animal would have a slow and painful death. Cody also gave a list of various items an outfitter should have in camp regarding the stock first aid kit -- panalog, banamine, ace, etc.

He's great at taking very technical information and putting it into terms the average person can understand and use. He really knows horses.