FAQs
What happens on a tour?
I’m all about helping you experience the wonder of Yellowstone’s beauty. Using my years of experience in the Park, I will do what I can to find wildlife for you to see.
We will stop for animals as long as we can safely pull over off the road in a pull-out or in the shoulder. If the animals are at a distance, we can get out of the car and watch them through spotting scopes, which I provide. I will take photos.
Clients can pick up to five photos from the day’s trip to keep.
If you have specific animals you hope to see, you can email me ahead of time. Of course, there are never guarantees, but if you tell me you hope to see wolves and bears, I will make looking for them the priority.
On photography tours, we can hike off the road to look for wildlife, depending on your activity threshold.
Where do we meet you?
I can pick you up in Livingston, Paradise Valley, Emigrant or Gardiner.
Are we guaranteed to see wildlife?
Yellowstone is a wild place, so there’s no guarantee of anything. Luckily, if you choose to book with me, I have many years of experience finding wildlife in the Park. It also helps that I am part of a network of photographers, guides, wildlife enthusiasts, and a radio network that helps locate wildlife.
How much of Yellowstone will we see?
That largely depends on your goals, the length of the tour, the season and what wildlife is out.
My favorite time to see the Park is in winter, because of the quiet. While range of travel is more limited by road closures, it’s a great time for wildlife spotting.
In the summer, the roads are open but traffic makes travel slower. It is possible to cover more of the park, such as the east side and Old Faithful, on a multi-day trip because we would focus on different things each day.
I find it’s best if we connect before the trip to discuss options based on your goals. I am flexible and can tell you what’s possible based on the season and length of tour.
Is Yellowstone going to be open this summer?
Yes.
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As of now, the Park is expected to be open. However, shorter staffing this summer could mean a longer wait at the gate, and less upkeep of park facilities.
And then there’s the usual caveats: Anything can happen and both COVID-19 and historic flooding in 2022 have closed down the Park temporarily.
What about weather?
Weather is part of Montana. When it rains or snows, the Park comes to life, and I want visitors to see that. Be prepared to see all four seasons — for example, I’ve seen snow in Yellowstone in July and August.
I will, however, cancel trips in the event of an “act of God,” like 2022’s massive flooding.
Can we hike or snowshoe on this tour?
At this point, I do not offer day hiking or snowshoeing trips. I may offer them in the future based on interest.
Will we see geothermal features?
It’s possible but I don’t advise it if wildlife is your focus. Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic would take up a large portion of our day due to distance and traffic in the high season. I would not be able to say what wildlife we might see because that section of the Park is very unpredictable.
In the winter, the road is closed to these areas.
Does Yellowstone have rules?
At Kaul of the Wild Tours, I’m required to follow Park rules, and I expect clients to do the same.
These rules prohibit Park visitors from knowingly coming within 25 yards of any wildlife, and within 100 yards of wolves, bears and mountain lions.
This is to keep everyone, including the animals, safe. I’ve learned to watch and read wildlife behavior to determine if the animal is stressed. My goal is to educate you on protecting wildlife in its natural habitat while also giving you a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Do we tip you?
If you have a wonderful trip in the park, tips are always appreciated.