Possible Career

[Bocajnala]

Hey guys. I have always loved the outdoors and hunting, and I think I would love to become a guide for an outfitter somewhere. I have looked into different schools and training programs that train guides, but I can not find any info on average salaries and stuff like that. Also, I would like to know if it would be a full time all year round job, or do most guides workhave a job on the side also.So if any of you are guides out there, or know a site that would help me I would appreciate it, thanks.
-Bocaj

[younggun308]

Well, you first need to become a stereotype, and only buy guns that have the nickname "Guide Gun", like the Remington 673 and the Marlin 444.


Nah, i don't know what the average salary is, but the guys who are guides do make a decent living from what I could tell.

[Alsatian]

I don't think guides make a very good living. I would not expect a 401K with matching contributions from your outfitter employer. I would not expect a healthcare plan. I would not expect paid holidays or paid vacation. I would not expect a salary. I would expect that you would work 7 days a week and from before sun up until after sun down. I would expect that basically you would be paid pretty poorly. To sum up, I don't think it would be good advice that becoming a guide is a good career path. Better advice would be to go to college and earn a 4 year degree in something, maybe going on to either medical school, law school, MBA school, or some other graduate program if the undergraduate program hasn't totally destroyed your interest in learning.

On the other hand, if you are young and single and want to learn more about hunting or fishing and don't mind working your a$$ off, being a guide for a couple of seasons would not be totally wasted time. I just caution you about seeing this as a bright long term career prospect. You won't be sending your children to college on the money you bring home from guiding.

[eatsleephunt]

I agree with Alsatian. This is not something you want to get into unless you get a business degree along with it, and plan to have your own outfit someday.

I have a good friend who has guided for about 23 years, and hasmade itto the point that he does have a good income. He works for several outfitters throughout the year to make it pay though. Spring bear, summer pack trips, late summer scouting for his fall employer, fall seasons, some cat hunting in between (he owns the dogs, by the way), and mule deer guiding in Mexico in January (maybe some more cat hunting when he gets back. He makes about 4K a month base pay plus tips which average about 2-500 bucks a trip, so yeah, he does pretty well. However, there are no health benefits, retirement packages, or time to hunt for himself. He gets one week in late august to bowhunt - that's it.

And yeah, expect to sleep about 6-7 hours a night and be away from your wife and kids for long periods of time (like he is). Not too many marriages can work this way. To put that in perspective, think about having a wife and kids at home while you are away for a year plus in Iraq, etc. Think about the worry you would have on your mind that they are doing well, getting what they need, etc.

You better find a tough hunter gal if you plan to give hera guides life.

[Colorado Luckydog]

A lot of the waterfowl guides I know do construction during the off season. They don't talk about their income that much, they just talk about how much they love their job. I was offered a job as an elk guide in Colorado and the money wasn't much at all, but the hunting fringe benifits were great! I had to turn it down because I couldn't take that much time off my real job. Good luck and remember money isn't everything!

[BrutalAttack]

I've guided cougar hunts in the West and the money can be very good (up to ~$8k/month)but the season is short. Equipment (dogs, collars, etc) costs alot, as does gas.

I've also worked as a more traditional guide jobs in Utah and in the northwest. Usually the pay is weak but it varies. Some jobs are only $300/week plus food and board when out at a camp. The hours are insane and you have to cater to some people that are more than likely going to flat out piss you off and annoy you. Fat New Yorker that is about to stroke out. Big mouth Texan that talks big but misses everything etc etc.

It's not any kind of life unless you're a "special" type.

My advice is go to college and then you can be the one that gets guided, go to Africa, whatever you want.

[JeffS]

Most people think because they like to hunt and fish they would like to work as a guide. My cousin works as a fishing guide and he always says it becomes a job and you never get to fish yourself. He makes pretty good money but he also has a lot of expenses as well.

[130woodman]

I guided when I was 18 and 19 and like brutalattack said you have to deal with some total Idiots.The guy I worked for the first year really didn't know how to hunt but thought he did so I was just a tour guide up in the mountains. The second guy I worked for was good he would tell me which area to go hun and I would take out the hunters and hunt the way I seen fit. I wouldn't trade the experiance for anything It was great. It also was a lot of work those 18 hour days can get to you.If you really want to try it and you don't have a family tieing you down then go for it. I went to college when I was 20. So you can try it then go to school.

[AK Jeff]

Most people get into guiding because they love the outdoors, and not because they're looking to cash in big. My best friend is a guide here in Alaska and he's not exactly rolling in dough, but he gets to spend several months in some amazing country doing what a lot of people save all year long to do for just a week. In the off season he works odd jobs, mostly construction, to pay the bills. He said he's probably going to hang it up after next season and finish his degree so he doesn't have to be a grunt during the off season.

The other thing to consider is how guiding can change your perspective on outdoor pursuits. My grandfather was an elk guide for a lot of years in northern Wyoming. He's got some great stories about those days, but it absolutely ruined his desire to hunt. Hunting went from being an enjoyable outdoor activity to being a blood and guts business of trying to satisfy a bunch of city dudes that didn't know an elk from a holstein cow, but they all thought they were Davie Crockett. Dealing with people like that can suck the fun out of something that you love really quickly. Not trying to burst your bubble, just want you to see both sides of the coin before you dive in.

AK Jeff

[Bocajnala]

Thanks for all the help. I might consider doing a few years of it or something like that. I have just always wanted to try it. Thanks again.