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RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

Stay at a Holiday Inn Express???

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RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

You didn't say which species you would like to guide for, and where. There is a guide program somwwhere down around Colorado Springs that teaches all kind of skills necessary for a good guide. Everything from horse skills to people skills. Experience (and lots of it) will be your best teacher. Remember: It's very much a seasonal job, so you'll need to find something else to do with about 8 months of your year. Out West, a lot of guides are full-time cowboys or ranch hands.

"Friend of Men, Lover of Women, Purveyor of the Brutal Truth"

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

As a guide, outfitter and consultant, I can tell you there is a lot involved in guiding. If you want to guide in the Rockies, western Canada or Alaska you may have to learn how to pack a horse. It would also be good to know how to shoe a horse, know equine first-aid, and be able to ride. You should also know first-aid, CPR, had a gun safety certificate if you were born after 1949, be able to read a topographical map and use a compass for orienteering (triangulation), and have some survival training. I went to guide school in the 80's, but the school is no longer in existence. You should also have a good working knowledge of the animals in the area you plan to hunt, be able to read and interpret sign, and have excellent hunting skills. You also have to know how to get along with all sorts of people. It's a a tough life, with low pay, and you're only employed part of the year. You're better off getting a real job. If I didn't write articles, give seminars, sell my hunting books, design camouflage, consult on hunting products, sell hunting products through my mail order catalog, and have a wife and kids who put up with my lifestyle, I'd be in poor shape.

I run a guide school/hunting school in Minnesota, where we can teach you about whitetails, turkeys, elk, bear and ducks and geese. If nothing else we can teach you to understand the animals better, which hopefuly will make you a better hunter. I also have contacts with several outfitters who need qualified guides. If you are interested e-mail me.

T.R. Michels


Edited by - trmichels on 10/13/2002 15:04:05

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

First of all, take a vow of poverty. Then, plan on never gettin' sick or retiring, 'cause there ain't a lick of benefits. Next, buy a treadmill. You gotta be able to walk like a billy goat over the worsest mountings on the planet. Next, you gotta be able to sharpen a knife good, chop firewood good, get up REAL early for weeks on end. Buy one of them lights thet go on yer bean, cause yer gonna be saddlin' hosses in freezin' weather in the dark ever mornin'. Oh yeah, you gotta be able to lift 125 lb. elk quarters by yer lonesome, 'cause fat dudes often like to sit an watch. Ifn' you can do all thet, then let me know an' I'll put you in touch with an outfitter thet needs good guides.

BJ

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

I suggest going to a phsciatrist if your considering on wanting to become a guide. Some of these boys have some good advise so take heed to it. The novalty of it wears off after haveing to get up before day break 7 days a week and ending who knows when depending on if one of your clients made a lousey shot., and now you gotta field dress this gut shot animal for this guy who treats you like his crap don't stick. When the season is over its time to repair and build new stands and baiting has too be kept up with too. Trust me on this one, I know I never make to much sense, but I would seriously consider becomeing a guide, they are so over worked and under paid. Also many states require you to pass an exam on becomeing a guide so I suggest that you cheque with the state you were considering, later on, BobbY

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

Dont consider it if you are not a much above average hunter yourself. There is nothing worst that getting a guide who you paid for who does not know how to pursue the game himself. Keep in mind some guys spend a lot of money to be in the presence of an expert hunter for advise, dont be a dissapointment.

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

Now wait a minute Smalty. I reckin' I got 'bout as good a success rate as any, but many of my clients complain 'bout me doin' all the huntin' an' they jus' git to pull the trigger. Bein' a good guide means bein' able to fill fellers out, but also make adjustments due to physical limitations an' preferences of the client. Give me an' ol' fart with a pacemaker an' a case of altitude sickness, who wants to shoot a 350 class bull only, an' I gotta try to accomodate 'im (or make him so sick an' sore he'll shoot any good 5x5). Guidin' is 50% huntin' an' 50% customer relations. Good people skills is impotent. Mind readin' an' miracle workin' don't hurt either.

BJ

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

Maybe thats it Beav, I ain't a people person. If you ain't got it you ain't got it. Been there ,done it, not anymore, geting too old now to tolerate those snotty nose easterners who think that a Boone and Crockett is guaranteed as they want to be back at camp by 10 in the morning for what ever reason, its just too hard of work on part of a guide sometimes if you have most of your clients who are out of shape or can't acclimate to the altitude. Just my two cents.

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

Dont get me wrong, customer relations is important too. But not everyone needs a hand holding out there, and are more paying for being put into a good area because they dont have the time or option of days to scout things out before hand. Some want to see how the so called pros do it for their own learning. I recently went on a elk hunt where the 19yr old guide was so green i bought him a push button cow call so he at least made acceptable calls. He was just more or less an extra set of eyes for spotting, and i didnt need to pay for that. All im saying is that just because your a weekend hunter who killed a few critters doesnt make you qualified to be a satisfactory guide. It depends on the weapon choice too. Say what you want, but a rifle hunt guide doesnt need to know jack compared to a bow guide. A few poor calls can blow the whole situation in a bow hunt, where a rifle hunt you just need to get in within a resonable shooting range. A guide is only as good as the client he is matched up with. Its not about how far you can hike in a day. It just kind of sounds like the guy who posted this topic is kind of green. A guide school would be good, or a guide assistant for a couple years.

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

The guide school I went to gave me some learnin' 'bout packin' mules, an' a whole lot of experience stringin' wire round the owners dude ranch. Hunters is born, they ain't made. Trouble is, there's too few experienced guides fer the number of outfitters. They have to break in new fellers ever year, an' they don't start out knowin' the country, even if they can hunt proper. Had a new feller in camp this year. Good hunter. Is in excellent shape. Didn't know the country. His clients complained an' I took one of 'em out to fill onct I got done. By the end of the 3rd hunt, the feller was gettin' to be a excellent guide an' will be great next year ifn he returns. Thet's the big one. Guides roam around an' find better gigs an' git married an' such. Ol' farts like me thet do it 'cause we like to hunt more are few an' far atwixt. A guide can be a help or a libility. But thet's the luck of the draw. Ain't an outfitted I've seed thet has a set crew of good jacks an' guides ever year. Don't even git me started on camp jacks.

BJ

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

Sounds like all of us who have guided have had the same experiences with in-experienced hunters and guides. Give me an "Honest to God" "older" archery hunter who hunts because he loves to hunt (not for the glory, fun or money), and I'll turn him into a heck of a guide; if he can put up with low pay and long hours. And good cooks and camp jacks are hard to keep. Don't get me started on stock.

I think we scared the "visitor" out of becoming a guide.

God save the guides, give them eyes in the back of their heads (to watch the pack string), and one arm made out of spring steel (for holding the lead rope of 20 ornery, spooky pack animals).

Got questions, ask and I'll try find the answers.

Look for my up-coming articles in the e-magazine.

T.R. Michels, writer, speaker, guide, cook, camp jack, mechanic, secretary etc.

Trinity Mountain Outdoors
[email protected]




T.R. Michels

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

Schmalts:
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> I recently went on a elk hunt where the 19yr old guide was so green i bought him a push button cow call so he at least made acceptable calls. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>


I don't want you to give this guy the wrong impression. I'm a licensed guide for the state of Wisconsin. I don't think that age has anything to do with it. Experience does. A lot of you guys might say that experience come with age, and part of that is true. But 19-20 years old is definately old enough to know a lot more than a lot of people, especially if the guide has grown up in that area, or been hunting that species all of his life.

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

I wish I was 19 knowin' what I know. A 19 year old with strong legs can be a real advantage ifn the hunter is in shape too. When the elk ain't talkin' an' there's a mounting or two to cross, well, I ain't on thet program no more. A good savy 19 year old can be a blessin' or a curse, dependin' on yer mood, blood pressure, an' belt size.

BJ

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

It had nothing to do with his age, your right. It was he was just green. He also had poor equipment, or lack of it. I really liked him, he was a good kid with a great heart, but was put on this piece of land that was a total flop for bowhunting. He was upset himself that i was told by the outfitter about what kind of animals to expect to see. We never saw anything within 50 inches of what was expected, and even at that there was only 2 of them that were branch bulls. This was a spot and stalk/call type of hunt, very open country. When you dont even glass them up its pretty depressing. I got duped big time by a sweet talking outfitter with a big advertising mailing list.
the whole reason i replied to this post was that the guy who put the post up sounds green himself, just because if he didnt know what it takes to be a guide he probably needed to get some training before he got thrown into the bush with a client. That and he kinda sounds real young talking about how he want to be a guide like &quot;on the big hunts&quot; Sometimes even i forget that some real young guys post here.

Edited by - schmalts on 10/24/2002 19:08:23

Edited by - schmalts on 10/24/2002 19:11:00

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

Well, good guides are hard to find an' keep. Jus' fer a minute, everone should consider how much trouble guides go thru. They got hunters thet, well, face it, those thet can afford a hunt usually ain't in no condition to do it. They gotta keep fellers safe, while puttin' 'em in front of good bulls no matter how poor they walk, ride, or shoot. Then there's the fellers like the one I had this year thet pulls the trigger on a 5x5 on the first day an' stiffs the guide cause he wanted a bigger bull an' spent all thet money fer one day of huntin'. Mos' fellers are good folk, but some come lookin' fer somthin' asides havin' a good time in beautiful country. Those are the reasons to go huntin'. I've had folks mad cause I'm doin' the real huntin' fer 'em, then other fellers thet git mad cause I ain't crappin' bulls ever hour. Here's my recipe fer a good guided hunt: have fun! The biggest bulls an' mos' successful hunts begin in yer head. Attitude is everthin.

BJ

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

Amen BJ......

There just ain't no pleasin some people. Ain't there just no displeasin others. I tell people when I talk to them that the only thing I can guarentiee is a good hard effort on my part. the rest is up to them. I'll keep em dry (most of the time) I'll keep em fed, if they don't like the feed I always suggest something else they can eat out in the corals. I keep them safe as is with in my ability to do so. If your going to go and do something stupid thats your own damn problem.

And most of all I'll generally show them game. But if I don't it ain't for lack of trying on my part. If I show them a bunch of game and they ain't impressed with the quality then that falls into the catagory one of two things A. Your being an unreasonable SOB because we charge for the hunt not the kill so don't bitch to me about not seeing that world recoed bull during your public land hunt. B. You should pay more and hunt on private land we can arrange that too.

Most of all if your going on one of them guarentied success deals it's A. either a scam or B. It's a high fenced private YO type operation. Nothing against it but know where you go.


Now Schmalts what is this B.S. about &quot;not becoming a guide if your not a good hunter&quot; Some of the hunt instinct is natural but a big part of it is learned. Or did you hit the ground bugling those 400 class bulls in on your baby rattle? Give the kid a break...everybody has to start somewhere.


Edited by - surestrike on 10/27/2002 13:57:44

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

HNI Visitor,
If you're still interested, I run an advanced hunter and guide school.

T.R.
[email protected]

T.R. Michels

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Now Schmalts what is this B.S. about &quot;not becoming a guide if your not a good hunter&quot; Some of the hunt instinct is natural but a big part of it is learned. Or did you hit the ground bugling those 400 class bulls in on your baby rattle? Give the kid a break...everybody has to start somewhere.


Edited by - surestrike on 10/27/2002 13:57:44
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>
I agree, but should a guy who is just starting as a guide who is NOT a good hunter be taking out clients on lets say, expensive private land hunts? I think your not getting my point. Like i stated, you need to match up the right combo of hunter and guide. Also need to match the right guide to the right hunt. Do you really think this kid should learn about guiding on a hunt that a client is paying big money for a once in a lifetime hunt? I think he would start on a different level of hunt, and work his way up. Some guys are not rich, and spend a couple months of take home pay on a hunt and deserve to have a better guide than a newby thats learning, and may have less expertise than the hunter himself. If you think that anyone who has a guides liscense is qualified ,That would be BS in my opinion.
I know guides put up with a lot of fat out of shape high rollers, but not all clients are that way. Its funny, every time i used a guide thats all the guides did was rip on the past hunts clients. Maybe they should consider a new line of work if they cant handle the reality of the fact that not all clients are good fit hunters.

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

Onliest thing you'll git from a guide school is a lighter wallet. Cain't teach what needs to be knowed in a 6 week school. Better to go hang with an' old timer fer a season.


BJ

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

Schmalts,
Sounds like you got this thing all figured out why the heck do you even need a guide? I think you should take up your problem with the outfitter who put you with the guide child in the first place.

I was refering to the poor kid whos asking for advice on how to become a guide. Thats the one who needs a break not the little punk or the outfitter you got stuck with.

Next time you book a trip why don't you inform the outfitter of your superior skills and abilities that way he'll know what your special requirements are. And if he can't or won't accomidate you don't book the trip.

And my point is that hunting guides are made not born. It's the outfitters reponsibility to use competent guides. If you aren't atistfied then talk to him and if you don't get any satisfaction report him to the regualting state and file a formal complaint. Those stay on the outfitters record.

But don't take it out on some kid who wants to become a guide!

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

Surestrike , your the type of guide/outfitter me and many others dont need, and some do. You either dont listen or read. If you read my post earier you would have read my reason for using a guide/outfitter. Yes i do have it figured out how to hunt, and dont need a guide for the most part but having a caller is help while bowhunting. I stated before, that some guys pay for having a good area or private land pre-scouted before they get there due to limited vacation time to pre-scout. And just so you know, i do tell the outfitters that i am a good hunter and what i want from them.I also tell them to be up front with me on quality of the animals because i would be pissed if he was lying, and if i could do better on public land. not everyone need you to hold their hand,or cook fancy meals to make up for poor hunting land. Every time i go on my own i find big animals, but spend the first 5 days of my 10 day hunt scouting them out. My time is valuable and i would rather pay to have those 5 days for hunting, and i know a lot of guys who are in the same boat. Thats what i need a guide for, any more questions Mr Pro guide? Beaver Jack sounds far more knowledgable than you, by realising that the guide/ hunter match is important, and to have a good time. For me that means hunt hard, find game, eat anything, spike camp if needed to do so. You sound like the guy who only wants fat lazy clients who dont know anything . There are a lot of crooked Outfitters out there who hire any body with a guide permit, and will lie their asses off just to get your money, so if you take offense at that it makes me wonder what side of the fence your outfitters ride on.

Edited by - schmalts on 10/29/2002 13:21:16

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

HNI - I went on my first guided hunt this year and I can't understand why anyone would want that job. It's back breakin' work, up every day fore light for 2 months straight and half the hunters are a serious pain in the ass. The camp I was in in had a couple of guys that had obviously not spent a minute getting in shape and expected the world from the guide. The guide I had busted his ass climbing mountains (and nearly killing me) to show me some good elk. I truly appreciated the job my guide did for me, but that was not the concensus of all the hunters in our camp. This has got to be one of the worlds most truly under appreciated professions (and probably under paid) Thank god for the gritty bunch that have the sand and expertise to do the job and the patience to put up with candy assed hunters that don't want to work for it!!!

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

Schmalts,
Now you've gone and done it! I'm going to have to consult Beaver Jack by radio before doing anymore hunting. Thanks for the tip Sounds like your full of good advice.
I don't take offense to anything except the fact that your back slaping some poor kid who asked how to become a guide. And that's what I'm refering to.

Edited by - surestrike on 10/30/2002 22:22:06

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Schmalts,
Now you've gone and done it! I'm going to have to consult Beaver Jack by radio before doing anymore hunting. Thanks for the tip Sounds like your full of good advice.
I don't take offense to anything except the fact that your back slaping some poor kid who asked how to become a guide. And that's what I'm refering to.

Edited by - surestrike on 10/30/2002 22:22:06
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote> If you read your other posts that wasnt what you refering too, you specificly made a smart comment and asked what i needed or used a guide for so i told you, again . Maybe dont take offense so fast next time and start making smart comments, and read the posts a little better. I like a good debate as good as anyone but hate it when someone does not read the facts in earlier posts before making snotty comments that already had an answer.
The advise i gave to this kid was just that, and something to think about for him. I Just want him to realise some of the expectations that may arise from a client who is on what he referred to as the &quot;big hunts&quot; , and i assummed he was talking about high dollar hunts that he probably saw in videos, not some 1500$ public land drop camp special with low quality/kill ratio. Just rtying to help him as much as anyone else.

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Now wait a minute Smalty. I reckin' I got 'bout as good a success rate as any, but many of my clients complain 'bout me doin' all the huntin' an' they jus' git to pull the trigger. Bein' a good guide means bein' able to fill fellers out, but also make adjustments due to physical limitations an' preferences of the client. Give me an' ol' fart with a pacemaker an' a case of altitude sickness, who wants to shoot a 350 class bull only, an' I gotta try to accomodate 'im (or make him so sick an' sore he'll shoot any good 5x5). Guidin' is 50% huntin' an' 50% customer relations. Good people skills is impotent. Mind readin' an' miracle workin' don't hurt either.

BJ

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

Well BJ, you're the type of guide that is exactly the reason I am very hessitant to book a hunt with anyone. I happen to be one of those &quot;ol farts with a bad ticker (no pacemaker thank God)&quot; and can't do a lot of strenous activity any more so I did get a little on the heavy side. Not by choice, you can believe that. But the point is, I still hunt hard but at a slower pace and I can't drag or pack out a kill like I used to. Your comments and those of some others here kinda set my perspective on hunting guides in concrete. If I ever booked a hunt, it's not because I'm rich (far from it) or think it's guaranteed that I take a 350 class bull. I would book a hunt because I want to take an good animal that I would otherwise never have a chance at living in upstate, NY. I would be perfectly happy with a decent size animal that I'd consider a trophy and not what some B&C or P&Y club thinks is a trophy. Too much emphasis is being placed on trophy animals that the love and excitement of just being there and having an opportunity is lost these days. That's what I'm all about. I could care less if I get a world record or not. With enough money, I could book a &quot;hunt&quot; on some ranch or preserve where the deer are fed high protein feed and take a world class deer or elkm then tell everyone I got it in some wild, remote place. If that's what other people want, go for it but that's not why I hunt or would book a hunt. You're lucky enough to be born in raised (I'm assuming) in a place where you can hunt great animals like big mulies, whitetails, bear, etc. I wasn't an neither were most of the &quot;pain in the ass Easterners&quot; you and others here mentioned. My question is if you don't like putting up with peoples' quirks and differences, why be a guide? The money can't be that good. Why don't you and your outfitters tell people the truth when they call or book a hunt and give them honest and reasonable expectations other than the typical &quot;Our success ratio for last yr was 99%&quot;. That's part of the problem. Outfitters advertise with a bunch of hogwash and naive people with money to book a hunt go there with the wrong expectations. So you'd lose a couple of clients if you told them there wasn't a 90% chance they'd get a record book animal. Those are the clients you don't need anyway. Me, I'd just be in it for the fun and excitement of the hunt. But I doubt I ever will because I'd fear that the guide or guides I got stuck with, think like you and some others here. I'm no candy ass and I wouldn't be just some fat guy sitting around watching you work. I'd help as much as I could. Hell, if I had to die because I overdid it skinning an animal or helping pack it out, so what? I'd die happy.

Sorry for the long post, but ya'll guides with the holier than thou attitude really fired my old fat ass up.


Edited by - Crowpecker on 10/31/2002 13:49:08

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

Crowpecker,
You got a good attitude. I'd be happy to guide you. I was jus' emphasizin' the near impossible task guides sometimes have. They have to please people, no matter what the circumstances. Consider this a minute. A camp is licensed and an outfitter runs maybe 30 hunters thru in a year. If he's good, and got a 90% success rate, that means that 27 hunters are goin' home with meat. Now consider that you can only realistically ride a maximum of 5 miles to your hunting area each morning (unless you get your hunters up at 2AM). Then throw in the fact that game in any given unit is captive game (no migration and reliant of feed grounds for winter feed). Now, considering all this, can you imagine all 27 of those hunters being able to kill big bulls year in and out? No, only one or two hunters in a camp will score a real trophy-class bull each year. Such a limited area will only produce so much. Yet every one of those fellers thinks they should have a B&C elk. Usually, they get a dose of how hard it is to hunt and end up settling for a lesser bull. You wanna know the real secret to killin' trophy class bulls? Get close. Don't tell anyone, but the real secret to killin' big bulls on a guided hunt is being prepared to go home empty handed. That's right. 99% of pay hunters aren't prepared for this, so they kill small bulls as the pressure mounts and they aren't seeing what they want, cause face it, it ain't that common. Time limitations, the big investment, and the fact that people can't bear to fail all work against the hunter realizing a true trophy. The most successful hunters are the ones that enjoy the ride, no matter what size bull's on the end of it.

BJ

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

Ahh, BJ, that's what I wanted to hear. The real truth. I knew ya had it in ya! LOL.. I didn't mean to blast you or any other guide. I can only imagine how hard it is to try and please some of those people with out of whack expectations. I couldn't do it. For one thing, I'm not really a people person. I get along fine with most, but have a real hard time dealing with idiots. God bless you all for being able to put up with a lot of stuff. I just thought that maybe, if these prospective clients were told that their chances were slim of taking a record class animal but the possibility exists, then maybe they'd come with a little more realistic dreams AND have FUN at the same time. Even if it does mean you go home empty. Not all of the people booking these hunts are rich. I have friends that dream of it like I do and probably never will be able to afford it. I have other friends that have taken second mortgages or other loans and/or saved for years to be able to go. Maybe some day for me. That's what keeps me going.
Thanks for the reply.

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

Beaverjack and Surestrike...nice to hear from two guys that know their way around the block and are honest. People that hunt with outfitters have to realize its a 2 way street. When you book a hunt book it with your head and be realistic in your expectations..if your picking a hunt in deepest darkest Idaho or Montana be sure your in shape if not don't go , heck there are hunts I know I can't go on unless my back or knee heals and I would be a fool to book something without being in peak condition. If you go you have no one to blame but yourself if your miserable and dont kill something. That brings me up to the next point..realistic expectations of game quality.. hopefully the area you are hunting will have a good population of animals and the outfitter if reputable will tell you this, if your told there are 5x5's in the area don't gripe because you can't find any 6x6 350 bulls running around when you get there. Count a kill as a blessing and nothing more. Your guide won't be miserable and you won't be either, believe me they feel enough pressure to produce if their good enough that they don't need some tinhorn prodding them on. And last of all enjoy yourself and the scenery...there must be a reason why guys go hunting in these places for 7 days a year and spend the remaining 358 dreaming about it. My .02 for what its worth

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

Pecker- I apologize if you took my comment about fat assed hunters personal. My reference was to those who buy the 90% crap and expect the guides to make it happen for the bucks they spend. Your attitude and finances are just like mine but I bet many are the opposite. At 6'2&quot; and 240 I ain't exactly svelt! Also be careful about the dying stuff. I have a freind in Oregon who had 2 out of 5 clients die of heart attacks on his first ever trip guiding with his brother. Elk hunting can be tough on older bodies and I hope I can just keep up for a few more years. Good hunting.

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

Glad you mentioned the dead hunters. Its a fact of life. So much talk 'bout guns an' calibers an' shoe lace wax fer hunting, when the most important equipment you have is yer body. If it ain't up to it, then thet new rangefinder is jus' one more piece of junk fer yer widow to sell at 1/2 its value.

BJ

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

Good points well taken, Glen and BJ. No offense taken here Glen. I have pretty thick skin on this old Italian ass...lol. I can honestly say I feel for you guys and you all have a tough job. You're right. I shouldn't kid about my ticker but I do know enough to stop and sit when I over do it. Usually that takes care of it but sometimes I have to take Nitro but that's rare. I try to take good care of myself but I know that even if I had the dough to book a hunt, I would never book one unless I felt confident that I wouldn't be a burden to the guides or anyone else accompanying us. It's still a dream of mine though. I was lucky enough to be in the Air Force for eight years and lived all over the country. I lived in New Mexico for 3 yrs and loved it. I hunted all the time there and got deer, Javelina, Jack Rabbits and anteolope. But I was never lucky enough to draw a permit for Elk in NM of Colorado. Guess that one will always evade me. Oh well, good hunting you guys and hope all goes well this year.



Edited by - Crowpecker on 11/14/2002 11:52:20

RE: I want to become a hunting guide, what must I do?
 

EXPERIENCE