FAQ’s

How do I book a tour?

Click on the Book Now button of the tour that interests you from there you will see what dates are available and you can book your trip directly online and pay for the trip in full or the minimum 50% deposit to hold that date.

If for any reason you would prefer to speak to a real person or just can’t find the date/trip that you are looking for please contact us directly by phone/text or email and we can book the trip for you and send you a link to pay the deposit.

What if my preferred day/time is not available?

Please contact us directly to let us know when you would like to come. Cancellations happen and we would be happy to contact you if your preferred day/time opens up. Click here to fill out our Waiting List Form.

When are payments/ deposits due?

50% of the tour rate is due immediately upon booking to secure your charter.

Balance of the trip is due 2 days prior to departure. We will contact you 2-4 days prior to departure to get final payment, passenger count, verify all trip documents and get each passenger’s size for a life vest.

Additional Charges

Tour prices are based on 6 passengers maximum additional passengers are $50 each up to a maximum of 10 total passengers on the boat.

Additional Hours ‐ Extend your trip when available at $190 per hour.

Fuel Surcharge ‐ If the price of unleaded fuel goes above $5 a gallon on the day of your trip there will be a $10 per hour trip fuel surcharge. If the price of unleaded fuel goes above $6 a gallon on the day of your trip there will be a $20 per hour trip fuel surcharge.

Do you cancel if it rains?

We do not cancel for rain or cold weather. We cancel trips when the conditions are unsafe which is generally due to wind or lightning. We may also cancel a trip due to poor air quality. We do our best to give you notice the day before your trip, if we need to cancel. But if conditions change unexpectedly, we may have to cancel immediately prior to boarding. We will do our best to give you as much notice as possible and will be in communication with you the day prior if we are aware of any weather that might be concerning.

What is the Cancelation Policy?

If our captain cancels a trip then you will be offered the option to either reschedule your trip (based on availability) or receive a full refund. We will do our best to give you as much notice as possible, if we need to cancel your trip.

What if I need to cancel my trip?

You may cancel your trip up to 10 days in advance of your tour for a full refund. If you are within 10 days of your trip you are responsible for the full cost of your charter/trip and no deposit or charter/trip payments will be refunded.

What if I am late for my trip and/or can’t find the meeting spot?

There is no credit in time or refund for any unused portion of your tour. If you are running late or are unsure about the meeting spot then please contact us as soon as possible, so that we can direct you to the meeting dock. You may call or text us at 406-515-9181, if you have any questions or concerns.

What should I bring on my boat tour?

How to Dress for the Changing Montana Weather

Weather in Montana can be unpredictable especially in the months of May, June, September and October, so we always suggest that you prepare for the unexpected. Plan to bring layers, even if the day feels warm, the breeze off of the lake can be quite chilly. We suggest that you pack extra warm layers, a windbreaker and a warm beanie just to be safe. There is nothing worse than being cold.

Footwear - Water shoes or flip flops and closed toed walking shoes, if you are hiking on Wild Horse Island.

Food & Beverages

Fortunately, our boat has a spacious deck with storage and we have a cooler on board with ice packs where you can store any food or beverages that you would like to bring.

We strongly suggest that you bring water, especially if you are going to hike on Wild Horse Island as it can get very hot.

You can bring a light bite to eat that you can enjoy on the boat or we drop you off for a picnic on the beach.

****Please note that we do not allow red colored beverages, like Gatorade and Red Wine as they will permanently stain the boat. But you can enjoy these beverages on the beach, if you like.****

Sundries

Towels, Sunscreen, Bug Spray, Bear Spray, Sun Hat, Sunglasses w/ strap

Photo & Wildlife Viewing

Phone, Camera, Binoculars

Other Items

Picnic Blanket, Wetsuit for swimming from the beach

Do I really need bear spray?

This is bear country and bears do frequent Wild Horse Island. Bear spray has been shown to be the most effective deterrent to prevent bear attacks. Click here for a video on how to properly use bear spray. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDgBY2PbnO4

Where do I meet the boat?

We will reach out to you 2 days prior to your charter with the specific address and location of the dock where you will meet the boat. We will pick you up at a dock in Polson unless we have pre-arranged something else.

Please note that your boarding time is 15 minutes prior to departure. It is likely that we will not be at the dock until that time. Do not worry if you do not see us there, we will be there 15 minutes before your trip departure time unless we contact you otherwise.

What is the weather like?

The weather in Montana can be unpredictable, so plan for the unexpected and bring layers. We tend to have a milder climate than most of Montana, our mornings are usually cooler and we start to warm up about midday with early evening generally the warmest time.

Average High / Low Rain

May 65° / 41° 8 days

June 73° /48° 8 days

July 82° / 54° 4 days

August 82° / 53° 4 days

Sept 70° / 45° 5 days

What is the water temperature?

The average surface temperatures of the lake range from 36° in mid-January to 56° in mind-June and 68° in mid-August. Please feel free to bring a wetsuit if you would like to use one for swimming.

Here is a link to the Flathead Lake Bio Station, University of Montana where you can find today’s water temp. https://flbs.umt.edu/newflbs

What is the average sunrise/sunset time in Polson?

Below are some very general times for sunrise/sunsets in the area. We stay light much longer than most places, so plan to enjoy a nice long evening while you are visiting Flathead Lake. Click here to find out the exact sunrise/sunset on the day of your tour. https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/polson

Month May June July August Sept

Sunrise 6am 5:40am 6am 6:40am 7:15am

Sunset 9:10pm 9:30pm 9:30pm 8:50pm 7:50pm

What do I need to bring for a hike on Wild Horse Island?

We suggest that you wear closed toe hiking shoes while on the island. Water, sunscreen, hat, bear spray, camera and binoculars.

What is hiking like on Wild Horse Island?

Please note that due to State Park guidelines we will be unable to accompany you on the hike. Here is a link to the Park info. https://fwp.mt.gov/wild-horse-island

What are the fees to hike on Wild Horse Island?

Montana Residents - Montana residents who pay the $9 state parks fee with their annual vehicle registration have no daily entrance fees to state parks. For residents who don't include this in their vehicle registration, non-resident day use fees apply.

Nonresidents - Day use entrance fee with a vehicle: $8 / Day use entrance fee as a walk-in, bicycle or bus passenger: $4 / With a Nonresident Entrance Pass: Free

Can I bring my dog to Wild Horse Island?

It is a violation of park regulations to feed, pet or intentionally approach within 100 feet any wildlife including wild horses.

To protect wildlife viewing opportunities, pets are not allowed in the park.

Can I fish from the boat?

No, unfortunately, we cannot allow fishing from the boat. We can recommend some fishing charter options, if you would like, but because we operate out on Reservation land, we are unable to offer fishing from our boat while on a chartered tour.

Can I bring my dog on board?

A well-behaved pre-approved dog is allowed on board for a fee $50 per dog. Your dog is required to wear a life vest while onboard and we retain the right to refuse boarding to any dog that appears aggressive, destructive or unmanageable. Contact us directly to see if your dog is a fit to be welcomed on board. No dog will be allowed onboard without prior approval.

Boat Manifest Form

Click here to view or fill out our Boat Manifest Form that lets us know how many people will be on board and what size life jackets are needed.

Liability Releases

Click here if you would like to see or print out our liability release before boarding.