Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

Have any of you ever taken time off from work with out pay to hunt? I usally end up short on the vacation time towards the end of the year and havea couple of times taken time off with out pay...I get 3 weeks per year. The company I work for usally has mandatory down time that never matches with my needs so it burns up the time. What do you do?

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

Being self employed ,that is the case every day I take off. Now that the kids are grown and I do not worship the cash as much ,I now take most of the hunting season off.I am just as poor as when I was young but much happier. Those high priced hunts I did like 3 tripes to alaska I had to work for 2 years straight and every other weekend to cover the expense of a DYS hunt for moose or caribou,but would do it again if I had to save for a hunt like that .I do not know how I will ever do a required guided hunt like grizz, sheep or goat but I'll find a way someday.My next dream hunt is for goats.Keep working and dreaming and You can do it.


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RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

Im also self employed. My busy season just happens to NOT be during the hunting season. Its great.

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

I am also self employed and I have free time, sometimes too much free time[:@]

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

I think that this is going to be the case for me this year. I have an elk trip planned in September and that is going to take all of my personal time. I cannot miss the Michigan rut so I have to find a way to make up some time or save some cash to make it past the 1-2 weeks I take off during the rut. Can't wait!!

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

The company I work for had restrictions on vaca. time, not to be taken from April 1 - Aug. 1. I, however have a gobbler chasin' addiction thatrequires at least a week every April. It took 3 years of unpaid timebefore they eventually realized I wasn't gonna be a team player ;). . .they now make exceptions for hunters.

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

I go hunting. If they wanna fire me so be it.

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

I'm all about time off w/o pay. I really think our culture is way too work oriented, I love when someone's excuse is I have no more vacation time left, of I only have a few days left etc...whatever the bs is, and yes i know some people have to work, though really they could reorganize and gain some days I'm quite sure. Course I don't have many responsibilities, so when you can't tell the boss to shove it, you're kinda stuck in a dilemna.

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

PS- I took almost 2.5 weeks last fall, NM elk. Though I don't plan to do that again.

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

I havn't taken days off w/out pay, but have bought an extra weeks vacation
several years in a row.Whatever it takes to get more days off for family and
my time hunting.

PS- salukipv1.....how are the saluki's going to look this fall?

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

i get 2 weeks of vacation plus 1 paid holiday each month. I can usually combine that with my three days off and get to spend plenty of time hunting. Also, instead of paid overtime, we get hour for hour compensation time for overtime.

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

I have taken time off with out pay. Some jobs gave me great vacation, others little to none. I'm taking my time to hunt regardless of whether I get paid or not.

I need to become self employed, that would make it a lot easier

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

last year I took from July 15th to December 07 off. Also self employed, i try to take at least 3-4 months every year.

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

I am a patent agent working in a patent law firm. When I am working, I am getting paid; when I'm not working, I'm not getting paid. They expect me to work 1800 billable hours per year, but I work more to earn more money.

Thus, any time I take off is time-off without pay. Christmas day -- I'm not working, and I'm not getting paid. But I don' have to work 40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year to meet my 1800 billable hours requirement. I work when I want, and I take off time when I want and as much time as I want. If I want to take 6 weeks of vacation per year and I can get free from my work to do it, no problem. I really like this freedom. Beats the heck out of having 3 weeks and 3 weeks only vacation per year, no matter what.

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

I take off for hunting or fishing when ever I want to. That is about all I take off unpaid for. Vacation is for family.

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

For years I had all the freedom I could ask for in regards to time off being I wasn't based in a corp. office but out of my home. My requirements weren't in days or hours more in quota, so as long as I met the quota's or targets I had a job and money. However I am now self-employed and my freedom isn't as easy to come by and yes it impacts my bank account. I am hunting regardless and will take time off to do so, just hoping as we mature as a companyI'll find the right mix of employee's to allow more freedom and less monetary repercussions:D.

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

I spent most of my life self employed and much of that emplyment was hunting and fishing guide jobs. Lucky, but I never got rich at it.. However I would go the same route again in a heartbeat.

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

I guess it would depend on the hunt. For northeast/southeast whitetail I would'nt. For a trip out west in a heartbeat.

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

I don't see it that way at all.
Hunting putsputs meat in the deep-freeze and art on the wall..
I'd have to work just as hard at the office, to to put a years supplies worth of cow pig chicken in the same freezer.
Geez than I'd have to fork over the same amount of money that I've spent on mounts on pictures..
Heck a nice respectatble pic is 400.00 to 1000 bucks..
And I'd need just as many pics as mounts, to fill up wall space..
Ya only live once, and for all I know could be dead tomoorow, so at least my life didn't revolve around work and bills and pay checks..
Besides I'm worth a hell of alot more dead than alive.
So if I am gone tomorrow, I know my great grandchildren will never have to worry about finaces.....
I have no regrets..

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

Im self employed and Im not married and I have no kids. So with that being said...if I cant shut down to go hunting than the hell with it. I only gotta feed me and I dont eat much so come October things definitely slow down until mid-Jan. I do without a lot of high ticket items and ride older vehicles to make sure I can do this but for me its absolutely worth it. Its all about quality of life..not quantity of money. I consider myself one lucky guy!!!

Theres gotta be a little bit of balance in life. I have learned over the years Id rather be happy and broke than miserable with money....

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

I have 4 week off that can be taken any time during the year unless we are extremely busy and usually this happens when it’s not hunting season. I also can bank my O/T so time off without pay doesn’t happen too often. Unfortunately this may all change in the very near future...

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

My thoughts exactly. I'm always out hunting.

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

I'm self enployed also, plus I own a selfserve carwash. I don't get paid for the time I'm off and I have to pay someone to run the carwash while I'm gone hunting. It makes it hard for me but I do it anyway. car

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

1/2 vacation days, 1/2 no pay days, every year.

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

If you want to do a Mtn. Goat hunt, but not have to pay the fees for a mandatory guide/outfitter, I'd recommend that you check out the state of Colorado. The regsdo not require that a non-resident hire an outfitter and we have some really nice billies. I happen to live here and have taken two billies in my life. One of themeven qualifies in the top 15 for the B&C record book. If you're a non-resident, you'll probably have to apply for the license for several years, but its well worth it. A DYI hunt for Mtn. Goats in Colorado doesn't have to set you back a lifetime's savings. And, I must say that my hunts for them here have been fantastic! If you want to apply, I'd be happy to give you some of the information I used when I was successful. Just let me know.

Regards, & Good Huntin',
LlindeX

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

I really wish I could take a week or two off unpaid and dedicate that towards hunting (I also get 3 weeks off)... When possible I like to try and work some long days and then 'flex' the time off on other days that week - allowing me to take an afternoon or morning or two off and hunt.

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

I have done this alot. I my line of work in Our area the bosses or Owner think they own you . so you get one week vacation and you have to fight for that. When I am Hired I state that I hunt and it is my vacation and I take 1 to 3 weeks , but 3 weeks are rare. Most only will pay one week some do give 2 weeks paid vaction. I am Mr Blue Collar I work Hard for what I have. I do a Cost Analysis of my hunt and what I need to pay the bills down to the spending money and tips for the Guides.
I know how much it takes for a week to pay Bills this is added always and this makes everything coverd.

RE: Taking time off from work W/O pay to hunt...
 

I used to take unpaid days until I had kids. Now I have to use my paid days and cut my trips back. Such is life. If I wanted to hunt all the time I should have stayed single.