The distinction between outfitting and private packing is fundamentally a legal and regulatory one rather than a practical difference in the skills involved. An outfitter is a commercial operator who provides packing, guiding, or other services to paying clients in exchange for compensation, and outfitters operating in national forests, wilderness areas, and other public lands are subject to specific permit requirements, insurance requirements, and operational regulations that private packers are not.
Outfitting permits in national forests are issued by the US Forest Service and specify the areas in which the outfitter may operate, the maximum number of clients and stock animals permitted per trip, the seasons of operation, and the facilities and camps that may be used. Obtaining and maintaining an outfitting permit requires demonstrating experience, financial responsibility, and compliance with all applicable regulations.
Private packers — those who pack for their own recreation, hunting, or camping purposes without charging others — operate under a different, less restrictive set of regulations. They are still subject to wilderness regulations regarding camp location, weed-free forage, party size, and grazing, but they do not need outfitting permits and can operate in most public land areas simply by following the applicable land management rules.