References & Testimonials:    

Provided are some references and letters of past endorsements.

Please, pass on your phone number and I'd be happy to call or call me at the Ranch number below.  I will explain some of the differences in other schools. This is my personal opinion after being a successful land based Hunting Outfitter & Guide in Idaho for 24 years.

I truly like to visit with all potential students, before they register to be sure we can provide the program they are hoping to find.

Our courses very in the cost depending on how long and what type of courses are taken.

Thank you,
Sandy Podsaid

Our References:    

Most have hunted or guided many different hunts with us, starting in the 1980’s. Some hunters have been successful and some not so. Let them tell you their many stories about Sandy's operation, training and his past guiding abilities.  Please remember all previous hunts varied some depending on the seasons. I believe they will tell you --- We will work very hard to help you have a successful guiding or outfitting career.

Letters of Endorsement

Reference & Testimonial,  from Kevin Craft:

To any and all future students of Sandy Podsaid’s AW Adventures Institute,

It is with enthusiasm that I offer this letter of support and recommendation for Sandy Podsaid’s outfitter & guide programs with the “AW Adventures Institute” in Idaho.

I've been privileged to hunt with Sandy as a guide and outfitter since 2002. I have been hunting with Sandy in the back country several times and have harvested numerous big game animals both Elk & Bear. I've been impressed with the 20 plus years of backcountry knowledge, the skills and the experience Sandy has shown and shared with me on my trips. I was also very impressed with the staff, guides, packers, cooks and other students Sandy had in camp learning a long forgotten trade.

Mr. Podsaid has the ability to care for and work with many different personalities. He is honest to a fault, possesses a strong sense of integrity and he wants your personal dreams for your trip to be fulfilled.

I recommend Sandy’s training program to anyone who has an interest in the outdoors recreation industry and would like to acquire the education that they will enjoy and use for the rest of their lives.

I fully endorse the enrollment in the AW Adventures Institute, Outfitters and Guide training program.

Sincerely,
A Guided client of many years.

Kevin Craft
Jackson, Michigan
517 782-4714

To whom it may concern,  from Bob Lund,

This letter is submitted in support of the nomination of Sandy Podsaid as a member of the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board.

During the past two years I have had the privilege to become acquainted with Mr. Podsaid during the course of my former employment as the Enforcement Chief for the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board.

Mr. Podsaid is capable of standing on his own two feet and doesn't appear to be inclined to act as a rubber stamp for the agency.  He will represent and advocate for Outfitters. 

I believe that Mr. Podsaid would act fairly and impartially, as a member of the Board, in any regulatory and disciplinary actions.

Mr. Podsaid offers a wealth of experience, common sense gained by surviving as a licensed Outfitter and Guide for many years.  He understands many of the problems associated with operating a business in Idaho. 

I have interviewed a number of clients who booked trips with Mr. Podsaid.  Everyone of them was more than satisfied with the service they received from him whether they were successful or not.  I would like to see IOGA use this kind of information in their decision to recommend an Outfitter as a member of the Outfitting Board.

Sincerely,
Bob Lund
Boise, ID  83709
208-362-2633

To Whom It May Concern:  from  Ronald D. Lavigne  R.Ph:

It is with great pleasure that I take this opportunity to write in support of my good friend Sandy Podsaid.  I can think of no finer addition to the Idaho Outfitter & Guides Licensing Board.

I sit on five Boards at the present time myself.  Some of them publicly traded companies and someone them professional boards.  I am currently President of the Idaho State Pharmacy Association.  I have a clear understanding of what it takes to be a good Board member, and the importance of having dedicated Board members.  One very important thing about Sandy is that he has a clear understanding of administrative procedure and administrative law.   In my talks with him he has a clear understanding of  how Board’s function and a strong desire to do the right thing for the right reason.  He has a strong moral conscience and a real need to provide justice and guidance.   He is a good listener not just a talker, an often forgotten quality for a good Board member.

 I have known Sandy for over 6 years, initially meeting him as my neighbor up the North Fork of the Coeur D’Alene River.  We have spent many hours working together on projects.  One of the things that I learned fast about Sandy is his ability to solve problems in a methodical way.  He can identify a solution and carry out the fix, he always has a plan.  He is also very willing to listen to everyone else’s idea about how to solve the problem to come up with the best answer.

From the standpoint of commerce this man is a real champion of how to effectively bring business to Idaho, using our natural resources.  He has a love of your industry and that coupled with his business abilities, makes him an asset to Idaho, and hopefully to your board.

Respectfully Submitted,
Ronald D. Lavigne  R.Ph
208 556-1039 Ext.2

To Whom It May Concern:  from Barry McHugh:

I am writing to support Sandy Podsaid's nomination to the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board (IOGLB). I have known Sandy for approximately 10 years. We first met at a Boy Scout camping trip where Sandy was volunteering to act as his nephew's chaperone. We became reacquainted over two years ago when he hired me to represent him. Sandy and I worked together to successfully appeal a rating from the U.S. Forest Service. I also assisted him in drafting language for Sandy's license/permit with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, represented Sandy's hearings before the IOGLB, and worked with the IOGLB to finalize the sale of Sandy's outfitting business. After today I will no longer represent Sandy as I am ending my private practice in anticipation of becoming the Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney in January 2009

I have witnessed first hand Sandy's knowledge of and dedication to the Idaho outfitting industry. He is passionate about protecting the industry, and those that work in it. He is a student of the laws, rules and regulations that apply to outfitters and guides, and his knowledge was of great assistance to me during our relationship. We worked together as a team to prepare for matters, and I found Sandy's assistance to be invaluable. Sandy has the ability to work with others. He has an ability to express his thoughts in a professional manner and listen to others while formulating his conclusion.
Sandy is an ambassador for Idaho outfitting with those outside our state. I've spoken with numerous people from other states who worked with Sandy over the years and from clients to industry show sponsors, they all spoke well of Sandy's professionalism and service to clients. I can provide you contact information for those people if you would like.
From our conversations, I know Sandy has a continuing interest in the Idaho outfitting industry, and I am not surprised by his interest to serve on the 1OGLB. His combination of skills, experience and passion would serve the public and the industry well as a member of that board.
Sincerely,

Barry McHugh

To whom it may concern:  from Linda Rider, Rider Ranch

This is a letter of support for Sandy Podsaid in his pursuit of a seat on the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board.

As a fellow outfitter I know that Sandy has an extended history as an active outfitter and a strong advocate for the betterment of the outfitting industry.  Over the years he has built up a large clientele of satisfied hunters.  Moreover, Sandy, by his intrinsic nature, is driven to challenge those things that he feels needs to be improved rather than simply taking the easier path of accepting the status quo.  In so doing, he has spent much effort to become very well versed in the governing rules and regulations of the outfitting industry. 

Sandy is an independent thinker.  He is able to listen with an open mind, be a team player or a leader, as the situation might dictate, and make decisions based on the facts of the issue at hand as well as being able to understand its possible long range ramifications.

I feel that Sandy posses on-the-ground skills, knowledge of rules, regulations and procedures, and most of all, an extraordinarily strong passion for the industry that would make him a good candidate to sit on the licensing board and thus helping to ensure that outfitting businesses can successfully operate in a fair and sustainable climate while protecting the resources and the well being of the guided public.

Please feel free to contact me if I can be of further assistance in this matter.

Sincerely,

Linda Rider,
Rider Ranch

Former student and guide of A-W outfitters,     from James Aasen,

I’d like to share my view of the outfitting business, and lifestyle that goes along with it, is altogether different than most other careers existing today.  It requires skills and attributes lost in time to most of our modern society and those qualities are very apparent when working with an outfitter with the experience necessary to become successful in the business. There is very little talk and gimmick that can be covered up when your on the mountain and you will soon realize that Sandy Podsaid is a man very capable in all aspects of his field.  The broad range of skills, including horse sense, woodsman ship, and customer service that you will learn, can broaden your horizons not only in the outfitter and guide business but within your personal life decisions, making you a more capable and confident person.  Most outfitters can talk the talk, but few can walk along side of Sandy’s consistent track record of happy clients and successful hunts.  I have gone to a guide training program in Montana and worked for a very incapable outfitter in Montana, I then went to work for Sandy’s outfit and learned so much more from Sandy and now count him as one of my valued friends. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have about Sandy.  I know this would be a memorable and exciting adventure if you chose to attend Sandy Podsaid’s, AW Adventures Institute in Idaho.

James Aasen
H.  218 283-2790