Horseback Hunt HOWTO?

[Would Rather Be Fishing]

I have a friend visiting from abroad this fall. I am going to take him hunting if I get the legalities sorted, but now I am thinking of stepping the experience up a notch and maybe do that on horseback.
How would I go about this? Anyone ever done this? Are there places that provide "guided horseback tours" that one could turn into a hunting trip? I would think that someone unfamiliar with horses needs a guide to make sure people don't hurt themselves or the horses :-) But don't need/want a "hunting-guide", if that makes any sense.

Would someone get into trouble for "illegal guiding" if they did this? Now that I am writing this this almost appears to be a grey area.

Any comments?

[CranePete]

G.O.A.B.C. has a website that might be able to help you

[ryanb]

There is no grey involved in what you are proposing. If your friend is from abroad he cannot hunt here without the services of a guide outfitter (HUNTING GUIDE).

[albravo2]

If you are asking if anyone will rent you a string of horses for a self-guided hunt I don't think you'll find what you are looking for and it is definitely illegal for someone that isn't an outfitter to take you on a hunt. Packing is a very specific skill and the people that have it are typically outfitters.

I would equate it to jet boating. Nobody in their right mind would rent you their boat so you could self-guide up the Tuchodi river.

[Would Rather Be Fishing]

Well I wasn't expecting someone to give us horses and send us our merry way, but I guess I should have read the regs first before posting.

Ryanb pointed out the crucial "legal" bit for out of country hunters. I'll reach out to outfitters and see how it goes...

If anyone has any recommendations for an outfitter that does horseback and is within say 5h driving on the lower mainland I'd appreciate it.

[guest]

There are some terrific Packers out there.
Steamboat Mountain Outfitters. Tetsa River Outfitters. Etc.
Blue Creek Outfitting will meet you at trail head, rent you horses and gear. Meet you upon return. None of the above are guides.
There are specific License requirements for out of province and country requirements. Dont get sucked into posibly guiding illegally.
That could become a complete Shat show.....
Know your requirements as a hunter host. Its quite likely you cant legally do it.

[KodiakHntr]

If you are asking if anyone will rent you a string of horses for a self-guided hunt.


You can absolutely do that. There is a guy who will rent you a fully outfitted pack string and saddle horses. Tell him where you want them dropped off and when you will be out and he’ll be there.

A few guys on the site have down it as far as I know.

Way cheaper than buying horses and gear.

[Foxton Gundogs]

I would never use an outfitter that would simply hand over a string to unvetted, inexperienced "dudes". If they care that little for their horses they are imho not the kind I want to do business with. It akin to giving a N driver a fully loaded super train and saying "go figure it out"

[Would Rather Be Fishing]

Okokok this is going off in the wrong direction. Didn't intend that at all. Like I said, I should probably have done some research before posting...

So I get it - I need a licensed guide if my friend wants to go hunting himself (and spend the not insubstantial amount of money), and a noutfitter would suffice if he just wants to tag along, spend a week in the outdoors camping and not touch a gun and help dress and process (and eat) any game that I hunt.

And I would never just take a horse out by myself without supervision.

[gcreek]

I would never use an outfitter that would simply hand over a string to unvetted, inexperienced "dudes". If they care that little for their horses they are imho not the kind I want to do business with. It akin to giving a N driver a fully loaded super train and saying "go figure it out"

With you on that one.

[MontyLake]

If your out-of-country friend is happy to tag along as a tourist that's probably okay. But what about hiring a string of horse and a wrangler? You do the hunting and direct where you want to go and everything, your buddy comes along for company and the wrangler does his job. That way the owner knows the horses will be attended to properly.

[moosinaround]

There are outfits that do this type of thing. GOABC would be an excellent place to start! Moosin

[albravo2]

You can absolutely do that. There is a guy who will rent you a fully outfitted pack string and saddle horses. Tell him where you want them dropped off and when you will be out and he’ll be there.

A few guys on the site have down it as far as I know.

Way cheaper than buying horses and gear.

My bad, I stand corrected.

Blows my mind that someone would do that.

[dracb]

Actually the guy out of McBride puts you through a course before he rents you horses. Big Boar did it and liked it.

[digger dogger]

Actually the guy out of McBride puts you through a course before he rents you horses. Big Boar did it and liked it.

Blue creek outfitters, I believe!

[Big Lew]

Many years ago there was a dude ranch in Coquitlam that would rent out mountain trail trained horses
to anyone asking. He charged exorbitant prices though, especially for his best gun trained horse which
I unsuccessfully tried to buy. I had such a horse myself and there's absolutely no way I would rent or
lend it to anyone I didn't know.