If a wilderness
adventure is at the top of your vacation wish list, your first big
decision will probably determine whether you ‘go it alone,’ or
opt for a professionally guided excursion.
Your explorations of
uncharted territory – whether for a back country hunting trip, or
wildlife viewing, or a family horseback & fishing excursion –
will most likely result in the fondest memories when you hire a
guided outfitter to handle all the essential details.
“If you’re a
skilled woodsman and you can run your own camp, then you’re Ok,”
says long-time outfitter Neil Eustance, of Vaughn, Montana. “If
you’re not, and you need some help with packing in, camping,
hunting and getting your game out, then a guided hunt is best for
you.”
Perhaps your most
important vacation decision - as important as where you decide to go
- will be the outfitter you choose as your professional licensed
guide.
And that’s exactly
when Neil and his wife, Babette, should promptly be penciled-in as
the “first to call.”
The Eustances - who
own and operate Pack and Tack Outfitters - offer nearly 18 years’
experience as Montana outfitter/guides.
And they offer a
convenient gateway into some of the most stunning wilderness in the
Western U. S. -- the Indian Meadows Traihead into Montana’s
Scapegoat Wilderness... with direct trail access to the renowned and
stunningly beautiful Bob Marshall Wilderness directly to the north.
EXPERIENCE COUNTS
The
Eustances of Pack and Tack have an extensive resume of packing
experience, starting in the early 1990s, when they honed their trade
contracting work with other outfitters. In 1998, the Eustances
purchased a special uses permit and established their Sheep Creek
Camp in the Scapegoat Wilderness, which is located almost directly
north of Lincoln, Montana via the Indian Meadows trailhead gateway.
For almost 10 years
before they made their choice of a camp,
they
considered all the best features of an ideal back country camp.
“That was part of
the reason we decided to get the camp that we did,” said Babette
Eustance.
“We had a lot
of experience working for other outfitters and we saw which camp
layout was bright and beautiful and easy to get in to. The one we
finally bought was very scenic and very beautiful with a good
population of game animals.
“The camp was just
the right distance from the trailhead and just seemed like the
perfect one.
“We thought, ‘Wow,
do you think we could do this?’ And then it actually came up for
sale and that’s when we decided, in 1998, ‘Well, let’s go for
it!’ ”
They had been
studying, learning and researching for years... and waiting for this
opportunity.
Neil is a Montana
native raised since childhood near, and in, the Montana’s
wilderness. One of Neil’s first trips into the Bob Marshall was
when he was in high school. He went alone.
Thus he brings to
outfitting the best combination of lifelong experience as an
outdoorsman with exceptional skills... and years of experience with
livestock, particularly horses and mules. Eustance owns and handles
his own stock for transportation and packing.
“I’ve always been
a hands-on type of guy with western-style living,” said Neil. “I
trained under a number of unique individuals that have made a
lifelong career of working in the woods. It took a lot of time out of
my life to learn those skills,” said Neil.
“Neil’s woodcraft
skills are so ingrained in everything he does,” said Babette. “He’s
had so much experience that it’s now all second nature to him. He
just knows what it takes to be comfortable living in the woods.”
Neil is also highly
respected as among the most experienced outfitter for packing
hunt-harvested animals out of the wilderness and is regularly
contracted by other outfitters to pack harvested game out to the
trailhead.
And Babette Eustance
is a recognized Elk guide with a reputation and a record of guiding
success. Additionally, Babette is considered one of the best
buglers/callers in the elk hunting industry, and has won several
bugling competitions in the northwest.
THREE-SEASON SERVICE
In contrast to many
single-season outfitters, the Eustances at Pack and Tack provide
three-season services that include custom-designed summer excursions,
and winter dog sled outings.
CUSTOMIZED SUMMER
EXCURSIONS
“In summer we do
roving summer trips,” said Babette. “Which mean we custom-design
what our customers are looking for,”
“Depending upon the
individual needs, fishing, photography, painting, we rove from camp
to camp in the Helena, Lolo and Lewis & Clark National forests,
all within the wilderness,” said Babette.
“We can do
everything from a full-service summer camp to a pack-in and pack-out
arrangement.”
“A lot of times in
our summer trips we’ll get people who’ll want to do something
specific, like watch birds, or take photos, or people who enjoy
painting, or looking for endangered species,” said Babette.
“And so we’ll be
able to customize a trip for their needs. For these trips we, as a
commercial user, do have to put in an itinerary ahead of time with
the forest service. So, we have to schedule our customers into the
schedule we already have arranged with the forest service, and get an
ok.”
FALL HUNTING AT SHEEP
CREEK
When summer skies turn
autumn gold, the Eustances tailor their services to hunting, with
access from their Sheep Creek Camp.
“Fall is hunting,
and that’s limited to the Helena National Forest and the Scapegoat
Wilderness,” said Neil. And year by year, the Eustance’s Sheep
Creek camp is getting a reputation as a hunter’s paradise.
“Last year was an
exceptional year for our hunters,” said Neil. “We had almost an
80 percent harvest, and even 100 percent with some hunts.”
But that success was
merely a part of a trend for Pack and Tack.
“In a 10-year
average, we have run at about a 40 percent success rate,” said
Neil. “Which is phenomenal in the industry. The industry average is
about 17 percent. For individuals, the success rate is at about five
percent.”
“Now, I have to
qualify that,” cautioned Neil. “Because we’ve occasionally had
zero percent. But when the years add up, we’ve had success most of
the time,” he said.
The hunter’s success
is merely the first part of a guided hunt. From there on is where
Pack and Tack stands out in the Montana guiding industry.
“That’s the main
area where our experience pays off for our hunters,” said Neil. “We
have the stock animals and the experience to get your game out. It’s
a very technical operation to transport hundreds of pounds of meat in
the middle of bear country.”
“Retrieval of
harvested animals is such a specialized thing, which we’re good
at,” said Babette. “You have this downed animal in the back
country with Grizzly bears all around, and horses that are scared and
want to run away from giant predators...
“So, you have this
harvested animal that’s huge and you have to get it into manageable
pieces onto a pack animal that really doesn’t think it’s that
great to have on its back,” said Babette.
“Of course that’s
the idea of a guided hunt,” said Babette, laughing.
“Neil and I do the
work while the hunters can sit in their tent at the end of a hunt,
have dinner and talk about the details of the day’s hunt. But
that’s a huge part of the job that we do. And we love it.”
Hunting season has
barely finished when the Eustances turn to their wintertime
specialty... dog sledding.
WINTER DOG-SLED
EXCURSIONS
Once again, the
Eustances have earned a reputation that stands out in the industry.
Like their summer outings, dog sledding excursions are family
activities. And the Eustances will custom-design a winter outing for
small or large groups.
“We go all over the
state for dog sledding trips and tours,” said Babette. “We can
arrange week-long trips where we assist cross country trips and
haul-in camps and set up excursions, or rides for families on a
half-day or day long trip.
“We also do special
occasions, particularly with dog sledding activities,” said
Babette.
“We have 68 dogs and
have the ability to arrange a variety of winter activities, even
including petting activities for shut-in or resource folks.”
A MULTI-USE GUIDE
SERVICE
For Neil and Babette
Eustance, their job as outfitters begins with an undying love for the
Montana Wilderness.
They don’t
sugar-coat any aspect of a back country adventure.
That’s because they
know it’ll be a challenge for anyone who sets foot into Montana’s
beautiful wilderness back country.
But they also know
that the majority of their clients emerge from their experience with
a deep love for wilderness and everything it signifies.
It’s the Eustance’s
job to open the gates to a wilderness experience.
“We’re a little
more progressive, than most outfitters,” said Neil. “We’re not
quite as traditional as the old-style outfitter. We’re probably one
generation younger.”
“And we love what we
do,” said Babette. “One of the things that past clients of ours
have commented on regarding our service is the fact that we really
enjoy what we do,” she added.
That’s part of the
reason why the Eustances of Pack and Tack are so willing to
custom-design a wilderness adventure for each of their customers.
Because, with each
year another person, family or group will be ready for an experience
in Montana’s unique wilderness lands. And the Eustances are ready
to share their love of Montana’s wilderness with anyone who calls.
For further
information, please visit the Pack and Tack website at:
www.packandtack.com
· How to grow herbs
Lodging in their very own private two bedroom/one bathroom cabin on the river with a full kitchen. Horseback riding, riding lessons, fly fishing and rafting with a guide and scenic tours of Glacier National Park. We will provide a complimentery lunch on the trail or river. We can ride or float right from the ranch, but many excursions will include driving to nearby locations to access more trails and rivers.
This is a wilderness trip that will include 3 days of riding and camping in the Great Bear Wilderness. This does not include lodging at the ranch. We will have and hour and a half drive to the trail head.
For those who prefer a more relaxing getaway in the wilds of Montana there's our Cowboy Bed & Breakfast where you can bask to the sounds of nature with the one you love. 