"Bearman's"

Yellowstone Park Guided Tours

Yellowstone Park Winter Wolf Viewing - Photo Tours

September through May

The first guide in Yellowstone Park to offer and lead wolf viewing tours!
 

  View Yellowstone Parks first wolves in nearly 70 years in their natural habitat. Featured in the CD- "Return of the Wolf" and  the National Geographic film "Wolves, a legend returns to Yellowstone".

    Winter is the best time to view wolves. Period!

    Viewing areas are located in the Northern range of Yellowstone Park. Groups will travel to sites where wolves are active, set up spotting scopes, and camera's and learn through open discussion everything they ever wanted to know about wolves, bears and Yellowstone Park. (I provide three scopes with tripods--$4300. worth!)

    The sites will vary and change almost daily. Wolves are often viewed while hunting, at play, or interacting with other animals within their environment.

    We have great success in viewing one of 5 packs and on some days we are able to view 2 or even 5 packs or groups of wolves in Yellowstone. The wolf viewing area I use often is located in the northern range of Yellowstone Park where the largest elk herd in the world is located----estimated to be 14000 head in size.  Red fox, bald eagles, ravens, coyotes, mule deer, bison, elk, and big horn sheep are often viewed along with wolves.

  After about March 15,  black and grizzly bears are also viewed as they appear out of hibernation.

If you are interested in wildlife, and lots of it, then this is the trip for you!
 
 

The prime periods to view wild wolves in Yellowstone Park are:

Any winter month! From September through early November we generally have to climb a hill we call "Cardiac" to have views of at least one pack. As winter progresses and the temperatures drop and snow begins to fall the number of wolves, the number of packs increase and the distances tend to decrease. As the snow piles up and the temperatures drop we no longer have to climb hills to view wolves.

The best views are typcially from mid-November through the end of May. We also start to see grizzly bears emerge from hibernation after about March 15 each year, however the bears do not all exit winter dens all at once but can take over a month before they are all out and wandering around.

  After observing and following wolves around Yellowstone Park since their release the spring of 1996 I can consistently place you within view of wolves 99% of the time, but as my friend Nathan Varley says, "hey this ain 't no pig in a poke"! It can still require patience, and work. I am the first licensed guide to begin leading wolf viewing and photo tours during the late winter of 1995-96 when the Crystal Creek, Rose Creek, and Soda Butte packs were released.
 

    During September, only afternoon tours are led. From October through May, only morning tours are offered. In April and May we have enough daylight that we can go out and view the wolves twice in one day if you prefer a more intensive viewing experience.

  Each tour varies in length depending on month and wolf activity level.  Keep in mind, the more you go out the better your chances of seeing wolves hunt or some other spectacular activity.
 

    Unfortunately the wolf viewing tour is not a backcountry type, hiking tour. It would be great if it were but the wolves are just too sensitive, and  we have a tough time keeping up with them as it is. I can't imagine how we would be able to do so on foot. In snow no less, with backpacks, tripods, spotting scopes, etc.....We would be lucky to see a tail of a wolf if  we were on foot :-)
 
 
 

Fee Schedule And Reservations:

This is a custom private charter guide service, with a one - on - one personalized vacation tour program designed to make this a vacation of a lifetime!

Rate:  $500. flat rate, total price for 1-5 guests. Private Charter tour, averaging approximate, 6-7 hours depending on month and wolf activity. A 30% deposit is required at time of reservation.

  One tour per day is offered during winter months with an early morning start time. During fall months, a late afternoon start time is only offered. In April and May we can go out twice in one day if you prefer a more intensive viewing experience.

  Entrance fee, and food are not included. Snack bars, hot tea, and hot chocolate are provided. Transportation (2000 Chevy All-wheel drive Astro Van), guide, spotting scopes, and other needed equipment are also provided.

  I meet guests for the wolf viewing tour at Mammoth (Albright) Visitor Center. The closest lodging is at Gardiner, Montana or Mammoth Hotel (when open). Visitors lodging at Cooke City or Silver Gate, Montana--- we can set a convenient meeting location in the Northern Range of the park.

I encourage everyone to check what other guides are charging for the same tour and discover just how competitive my rates are.

For more information, or to reserve your day-------Contact and Email Information

Who Is The Bearman?--Biography/Vitae

Kevin Sanders
Yellowstone Outdoor Adventures!
P.O. Box 4352
Bozeman, MT 59772
Email: trailside@gomontana.com