Dear Cody and LeRee,
After having spent the past weeks doing as much research as possible into guide schools, i have come to one conclusion. Royal Tine seems to be the school calling out to me most. I have tried to get in contact with a few outfitters to get their opinion on guide schools, and have not heard a single negative comment about Royal Tine. One outfitter, Dave Melton of Bighorn Outfitters, not only said that all students he has received from your school were well trained, but also told me that he will most likely have a spot open in the fall and to get in contact with him once i am attending the school. Upon hearing great recommendation from him and also a possible job opportunity, I knew for sure that I want to start my career guiding with Royal Tine. I am just contacting you to make sure that there is still a spot open in the July class. I plan on getting all the paperwork done as soon as possible and get all the necessary preparations underway. All i have heard is great things about not only the school, but also about the both of you. I look forward to meeting you both and learning some of your knowledge. Thank you for all your help and have a great spring season.
Sincerely,
Stephen R.
Home » Forum » Royal Tine Guide School » Royal Tine Guide School Testimonials
Just curious how many of you guys would be interested in guiding? Contrary to what people might think you can make some pretty good money depending on where you guide. I went to Royal Tine guide and packers school when I was eighteen years old and it was the best time I ever had in my life. We lived in wall tents next to a blue ribbon trout stream in Montana. An average day was up early to the kitchen tent for an awesome breakfast and some coffee. We learned everything to know about packing with mules and horses. We took lots of hikes and day rides, a night ride, and at the end of the class it was a full blown pack trip into the Pintler wilderness in Montana. We saw tons of wild life and learned great hunting tactics from some of the best guides in the business. When the 1 month school was finished they offer a free job lead referrals. You will have your choice of any state you want to guide in.
I was just out of school when I guided in Chama, New Mexico and also southwest Colorado. My pay was about 1,900 per month room and board was free and let me tell you if you had a cook like I did it is awesome. Most of the other guides were about my age and a lot of them were friends of mine from Oregon. My season would last from about June(for scouting ranches) to January for late season hunts. Some guys, turn it into a year round job with cat hunts in the winter. After January I would head back to Oregon for the off season. I will say that the more money to be made is in places like Colorado and New Mexico. As far as a Guide school, in my opinion their is only one school out their that for a great price gives you everything you could possibly need to get started. They are the best hands down ROYAL TINE GUIDE AND PACKERS SCHOOL that’s not just a plug for them, its just that I went there and I know a lot of guys that went to other schools and got ripped off. BE CAREFUL.
I was just out of school when I guided in Chama, New Mexico and also southwest Colorado. My pay was about 1,900 per month room and board was free and let me tell you if you had a cook like I did it is awesome. Most of the other guides were about my age and a lot of them were friends of mine from Oregon. My season would last from about June(for scouting ranches) to January for late season hunts. Some guys, turn it into a year round job with cat hunts in the winter. After January I would head back to Oregon for the off season. I will say that the more money to be made is in places like Colorado and New Mexico. As far as a Guide school, in my opinion their is only one school out their that for a great price gives you everything you could possibly need to get started. They are the best hands down ROYAL TINE GUIDE AND PACKERS SCHOOL that’s not just a plug for them, its just that I went there and I know a lot of guys that went to other schools and got ripped off. BE CAREFUL.
Josh from oregon- Guest
I went to Royal Tine in June of '06 when I was 24. Coming out west and being a guide had always been something I really wanted to do. When I got laid off from my job earlier in the year, I finally decided that now I didn't have any more excuses and it was the perfect time to just do it. I started looking online and Royal Tine was always one of the first schools to come up. I researched quite a few other schools, but RT sounded like the best deal to me. It was the best decision I have ever made. Cody and LeRee are great people and everything they teach at the school applies to what you will do afterward. What really stood out to me is that they gave me job leads halfway through and I got to visit with outfitters before school was through. One of the outfitters was fairly close to the school, so I personally visited them on one of our days off. I was offered a job that day, mostly due to Royal Tine's reputation for turning out solid people. I told that outfitter that I wanted to weigh my options before I made a decision. I ended up talking to 7 outfitters total and got offered a job by all of them. You tell me of another school and/or profession where you can pick the job you want right off the bat. Well, I took a job in central Idaho in the Frank Church Wilderness with one of the most reputable and well respected outfits in Idaho. I currently work there year round as a ranch hand during the offseason. During the hunting season, we go after everything - bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, bears, cats, and hopefully in the near future wolves. During the summer it is extremely hard work. We clear trails, bail hay for camps, pack in hay/cubes to camps, set up camps, cut firewood for camps (without the use of chainsaws), but all the hard work is well worth it once the season rolls around and you hear that first bugle echo through the mountains on a crisp morning. Some advice I would give to you is to just absorb as much as you can from Cody and LeRee, and whoever you would go to work for. They have been doing this for awhile and can teach you a lot. Dang - I haven't written this much since college!! Royal Tine is the best!
Cale from wisconsin- Guest
The Royal Tine Guide & Packer School that Cody and LeRee Hensen run is excellent.
If you have a passion for:
Working outdoors
Working with and around horse and mule.
Working hard and long hours.
Then this is school is for you.
Cody & LeRee are very kind and considerate people. They are also very focused in on making sure that in the short amount of time (four week's) you spend with them at Royal Tine you learn what you need to know to get hired by a Good Outfitter.
Cody takes a lot of material that you must know and teaches you this material in a fun, hands on way. I can tell you that I completely enjoyed everyday I spent at Royal Tine. The days were long and physically challenging. Every night we took a test on what we had learned that day. The evening quizzes were no joke. You have about an hour and half every night to study and you better study. If you get hung up along the way on material in class, Cody and his staff always offer to give you extra help. Cody personally taught every class every day.
I can't say enough good things about Cody & LeRee as people or about the School they run.
Good luck with your decision.
If you have a passion for:
Working outdoors
Working with and around horse and mule.
Working hard and long hours.
Then this is school is for you.
Cody & LeRee are very kind and considerate people. They are also very focused in on making sure that in the short amount of time (four week's) you spend with them at Royal Tine you learn what you need to know to get hired by a Good Outfitter.
Cody takes a lot of material that you must know and teaches you this material in a fun, hands on way. I can tell you that I completely enjoyed everyday I spent at Royal Tine. The days were long and physically challenging. Every night we took a test on what we had learned that day. The evening quizzes were no joke. You have about an hour and half every night to study and you better study. If you get hung up along the way on material in class, Cody and his staff always offer to give you extra help. Cody personally taught every class every day.
I can't say enough good things about Cody & LeRee as people or about the School they run.
Good luck with your decision.
Tom from Virginia- Guest
I thought Cody and Todd were great teachers and always went out of their way to help. I learned more in 4 weeks than I ever thought possible. THANKS!
Ryan from wisconsin- Guest
Indian Summer Outfitters is a wonderful referral. That one referral was worth a bundle. I don't know how many guides you guys place because the business is a difficult one but I do know the experience you provide will be in every students memory forever. It seems like your role is bigger than intended, not only are you training and placing guides, but you’re rounding many young men into a lifestyle that surrounds them with other quality people. It was the best investment in my son ever. Thanks
Ron from washington- Guest
I would like to commend you on the school and your commitment to excellence. I’m sure that many young men glean a wonderful life experience from the school and some are launched on a rewarding career path. On a personal note, I would like to mention that I have a BSc from California State University at Long Beach and a PhD from the University of California at Irvine, but the only diploma on my wall is from Royal Tine. I’m quite proud to have taken the course. Thanks for the experience and the good memories.
Bard from colorado- Guest
Everything my son, Tom, needed so far he learned from Cody and LeRee. The hard work, the obligation to the trade, you guys are all that, every day. You guys also reinforced the importance of respect and Tom is being treated by appreciative clients accordingly. He is learning a lot about the business. He will be looking for a guiding job for next fall now that he is 18 at the SCI convention this weekend in Sacramento. There are good people in the business, you guys are a nice mix of old schoolers with modern technical knowledge, hi tech rednecks eh?
Denny from california- Guest
I went to Cody and LeRee's Royal Tine Guide and Packer School in June 2001. I have to say that my experience was way beyond my wildest dreams and I am still guiding today after 7 years. I absolutely love this lifestyle and wouldn't trade it for anything. If you are looking for a quality school with quality honest people, seriously.....LOOK NO FARTHER than Royal Tine. Best choice I ever made in my life.
I even have a tattoo of the Royal Tine logo on my upper right chest.
I even have a tattoo of the Royal Tine logo on my upper right chest.
Darrin W.- Guest
I attended the guide and packer school back in 2001. In the past 8 years I have guided across Western Canada and during that time have gotten to know many different people, and see many different places. I have always been a lover of the outdoors and hunting, during my last year of high school I was uncertain about what to do after graduating until I found a listing for guide schools in a hunting magazine. I looked into a few different schools and decided Royal Tine was right up my alley. Cody, Leree, and John were the friendliest, most hard working instructors I have ever met and really care about the students and teach them well. I recommend anyone who has any interest in the outdoors and wants a job they will enjoy the rest of their life to check them out. To me, guiding has never been just a job, it's a passion and I couldn't imagine doing anything else with my life. 5 years ago I bought my own Whitetail/Bear Outfit in Northern Saskatchewan and am now pro staff for a TV show out of the states. I know none of it would have been possible without Royal Tine.
Mike G- Guest
