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