EXTREME GRIZZLY BEAR & WOLF PHOTO SAFARIS

If you prefer to do your hunting with a camera instead of a gun or bow, ABO has the adventure for you. Imagine yourself tracking a grizzly bear or a pack of wolves armed only with your sense of adventure, your photography skill and your trusty camera. ABO has just added grizzly bear/wolf photo safaris to its list of unforgettable Montana wilderness adventures. If you choose you can leave your camera and just enjoy the thrill of this unique experience. Your guide and tracker will be ABO’s outfitter, Cameron Mayo. Cameron has spent countless hours riding the Absaroka-Beartooth country. He is an experienced outdoorsman and knowledgeable about the area and its habitat.

GRIZZLY BEAR/WOLF PHOTO SAFARI HORSE PACK TRIP

FIVE-DAY PACKAGE (OPTIMAL)
$2200 per person

CUSTOM TRIPS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

GRIZZLY/WOLF PHOTO SAFARI PACK TRIP DATES

     SUMMER 2008

• Trip   1:  July 10-14 (Thursday-Monday)
• Trip   2:  July 15-19 (Tuesday-Saturday)
• Trip   3:  July 20-24 (Sunday-Thursday)
• Trip   4:  July 25-29 (Friday-Tuesday)
• Trip   5:  July 30-August 3 (Wednesday-Sunday)
• Trip   6:  August 4-8 (Monday-Friday)
• Trip   7:  August 9-13 (Saturday-Wednesday)
• Trip   8:  August 14-18 (Thursday-Monday)
• Trip   9:  August 19-23 (Tuesday-Saturday)
• Trip 10:  August 24-28 (Sunday-Thursday)
  

Our grizzly bear/wolf photo safari horse pack trips are run out of our backcountry camp, Hellroaring, located 8 miles north of Yellowstone National Park.  Our recommended 5-day trip allows us one day to pack in, 3 days to photo hunt, and one day to pack out.  The horse pack trip to camp is approximately 5 hours through magnificent country.  We stop for lunch on the divide, approximately 1/3 of the way to camp.  Our string of horses and mules are dependable.  Previous riding experience is helpful but not required. 

Once in camp, you can relax by the creek and enjoy beautiful Bull Moose Meadow.  Your sleeping accommodations are in comfortable, carpeted, wall tents with foam padded cots and wood stoves. Propane lanterns are available but most people prefer their head lamps.  There are 2 to 4 people per tent. A hot shower is also available.  We eat in a central eating tent with delicious food prepared by our camp cook.

Our wilderness photo safaris take you through rugged, rigorous country.  This rough and remote area is prime habitat for elk, mountain goat, bighorn sheep, moose, black bear, grizzly bear and wolf. The landscape varies from large open meadows to lightly timbered south slopes and long benches.  Our guides are knowledgeable in the habits of the animals, experienced outdoorsmen and know the area extremely well. 

A typical day of “photo hunting” consists of an early breakfast, most of the day spent in the saddle tracking and glassing and then returning to camp that evening for spirits, a hearty supper, perhaps a hot shower and a good night sleep. Some days we will “hunt” until late morning, return to camp, and then “hunt” again in the late afternoon until dark.  Other days we will stay out all day.  Walking and/or riding are mandatory. Being in good condition for hiking and riding and bringing along a good pair of binoculars will help you have more success viewing and photographing the animals. 

The weather in July and August is usually very comfortable.  Daytime temperatures range from 60 to 80 degrees.  On clear nights the temperatures can range from 20-40 degrees; however, the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness weather is variable so we ask our clients to come prepared for the changing temperatures.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

The rates for photo safari pack trips include:

• Transportation from hotel the morning of departure to trailhead
• Return transportation to hotel from trailhead
• Lunch to and from the trailhead to camp
• In the backcountry, use of horses, mules, tack, all camp accommodations, all meals, and non-alcoholic beverages
• Experienced Guides
          

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

The rates photo safari pack trips do not include:

• Transportation to Montana
• Incoming and outgoing nights lodging before and after trip
• Photo equipment including batteries for recharging cameras
• Montana fishing licenses (if you want to fish)
• Fishing equipment including rods and flies
• Sleeping bags
• Gratuities for guides

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

Guests Driving: Plan to stay in Big Timber the night before your hunting, fishing or pack trip begins.  Big Timber is right off Interstate 90 half way between Bozeman and Billings.  We recommend either The Grand Hotel (www.thegrand-hotel.com) or the Super 8 Motel.  The Grand Hotel Bed and Breakfast is a charming and beautifully renovated historical hotel in downtown Big Timber.  The hotel serves a delicious full breakfast.   The Super 8 Motel has comfortable rooms with small refrigerators and serves a light breakfast.  For a heartier breakfast, the Country Skillet is across the street from the Super 8 and opens for breakfast at 6:00 AM.  The morning of your departure an ABO representative will meet you at your hotel at 7 AM to transport you to the trailhead.  Please check in with ABO upon arrival (406) 579-3866 for confirmation of morning departure time.

Guests Flying: Plan to fly into the Bozeman International Airport (BZN) the day before your trip begins. The following airlines service Bozeman:

The service is usually very good into Bozeman. However, this is a college town, home to Montana State University, so make your reservations early. Check out Montana Travel (1-800-247-3538) or (info@mttravel.com) for some of the best air fares available. Remember, Bozeman is on Mountain Time so keep that in mind when making your travel arrangements.

We recommend the Wingate Inn (406-582-4995). They provide shuttle service from the airport to the hotel. The Inn has a breakfast bar that opens at 5:30 each morning, comfortable rooms, pool and exercise facility. For reduced rates refer to our VIP CODE (ABO) when making reservations.  Make your reservations early. The summer is a busy time for tourists while the fall is filled with college related activities.

The Wingate Inn is our designated assembly point. The morning of your departure an ABO representative will meet you at 6 AM to transport you to the trailhead. Please check in with ABO upon arrival (406) 579-3866 for confirmation of morning departure time.

Bozeman is a delightful old western town with great restaurants, wonderful art galleries, the Museum of the Rockies and many other fun places to visit. If you have the time, come a day or two early or stay over a day after your ABO trip to enjoy some of what Bozeman has to offer.

Deposit Policy
A deposit of 50% of the trip is required to book your reservation. This deposit is non-refundable.

The balance of the cost of the trip is due 60 days prior to trip date and is non-refundable. Trips not fully paid by this date will be considered cancelled.  Trip Cancellation Insurance, which we recommend, is available here.

We accept Credit Cards (Visa/MasterCard only) and Checks.