Hunt for a Living...how??
 

I bet many of you have thought of this same idea while you were in thefield,"If I could just figure out how to do this for a living, I would have the greatest job every." At least I think it would be the greatest job. Imagine, you get up every morning and put on your work clothes, but instead of a suit and tie, it's your favorite camo. Then you run out the door, but rush back in because you almost forgot your briefcase, I mean your bow with a quiver full of custom fletched arrows, and it's off to the office in the company 4x4. Once in your office, located at the top a big oak tree between two soybean fields, you set back and let the day unfold.

You and me both know it can be done. We watch peoplewho do it every day on TV and read about them in the thousands of hunting magazines we buy. I'm not talking aboutactuallyhunting for a living (because who knows if that excises), but having career in the outdoor industry. What would be the best way for someone to pursue this, beside camping outside of Bill Jordan's or Will Primos' house, begging them for a job, because that will just cause you to be put in jail or the loony bind. But if someone was willing and able to put in the time needed, how could they go about achieving this? This could be an unanswerable question for all I know, or it could darn well be the secret of life.

All opinions and answers are welcomed.

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

I'm not sure you really want to make hunting your job. Once anything becomes a job I think it loses some of its glamour. Ask a pro golfer what he does with his free time (its not golf) ask a pro baseball player what he does in the winter... (most likely hunt if he is american I know a lot of them do! My point is that be careful that you might find out its not worth it. Granted if its your dream give it a shot!

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

I am not necessarily saying doing it for a J O B, but making a career out of it. Like testing products, writing about hunts, going to shows,being asked to give seminars, helping other hunters get started in the industry, prompting a company you are apart of,even trying to create that one product that every hunter needs, but does have and getting paid for it. INhunter, I know what you are saying, I hunt as much I possibly can and I do get frustrated, even bored at times or just don't feel like going, but I love it. Having a career in the hunting industrydoes not mean you have to hunt 24/7, so instead of huntingduring my free time, Icould fish,golf or play baseball. I do not just mean hunting all the time, but the whole aspect of it (if that even makes sense).

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

You might find yourself writing, talking, and going to shows about hunting instead of getting to do the actual thing. Just something to think about!

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

Then I would quit, because it would be taking up to much of my hunting time. That is a possibility though

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

I have a business plan in the works. I owe a lot of it to this board and yes it's mission statement has big deer hunting front and center.

Is it possible? I think so, but only time will tell. You all will know about it or at least I think you will, because I will advertise here first if the price is right.

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

Wish I could quit med school... It took almost all of my hunting time![:@]

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

INhunter, we need doctors in the world too. So they write us that crossbow permit slip when we get to old to draw our bows back and to fix us up, if heaven forbid, we happen to fall out of the stand.

Fmouse, I wish you the best of luck (don't forget us little people).

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

It can be difficult to remain objective about something you are involved in 24/7. The same small town, relationships, even a site like this can be taken for granted over time. Hunting is my life, but I don't want to be a guide, or give up my career. If there is anything in my life I feel qualified as an expert at, it is my career, hunting is an all-consuming hobby. Sometimes I feel like I work so I can hunt, but in the truth of the matter is if I hunted all the time I wouldn't strive as hard at it. (or appreciate the fruits of my labor near as much).

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

Yo Fieldmouse .... need a sidekick or partner , I'm looking for part time job :)

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

To succeed in anything you do in life you have to give. You have to give everyday to realize a dream. Most people don't get where they are without a lot of work. And when they're done with that work.. they keep working.

What I am saying is.. if you want to write in the hunting industry first you need to learn to write. Start sending out stories (fiction or non) to outdoor mags., take a course at the local college, study the english language.. learn to write. Then when they say NO.. keep trying and get better as a hunter and a writer. It won't be easy but it can be done.

The best way for a 20 year old pitcher to get noticed is to throw in the 90's. The best way for a hunter to get noticed is to consistantly kill big deer.. bottom line. So that should be your first goal.

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

I love bowhunting! It has become a huge part of my life. We take tons of trips each year. I am personally just doing it for fun, I enjoy it. I would love to get more women involved in bowhunting. As far as making any money, I could care less. I just want to spread the love of my sport. Just being in the few magazines that I have been in, I have had many women ask me to teach them how to shoot a bow. And that rocks!! Anyway, I have always lived by the thinking that you have to do something you love for your job. If you do that you will be a sucessful person. So good luck to anyone who loves hunting enough to make it their lives work.:D

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

I have a feeling I would have to choose between hunting for a livingor my wife...............

does anyone need a roommate?

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

Don't worry, I have you in mind. Either as an investor and/or employee. Both will be great. I've got the rough draft on paper, 10 of the 100 targeted for it, at 50 it's a go. Now all I need is to get the legal stuff taken care of and fine tune it to ensure money can be made for all. I'm excited because my favorite thing about hunting is seeing others shoot their dream.

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

Sounds cool , keep in touch and let me know.

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

just think of what a permotion would be like lol

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

i thought about it...and decided that life aint for me. the second you make it your living the second it means something 100% diffrent and is no longer fun or exciting. its no longer fun and exciting because even though you are hunting.....your trying to make a living. your not out there to have fun....you are out there to essentially kill the buck thats gunna make you a buck. dont kill him...its gunna be a long winter with no income i guess. the 2 just dont really go hand in hand. i love to hunt. i can see guiding part time or something..that would be more work then play to begin with. but in the end thats going to cost YOU hunting time..but then again you can save a big ole bruiser for yourself each fall..alot of options..but i dont know..seems like itll ruin what i love and make me end up not liking it as much because i made it WORK...

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

There have been a lot of good points made, that I truely did not think of. For now I guess I will work hard so I can hunt harder. Now if I can just find a job that will let me off from Sept. to Feb. and mid April to mid May, ...or at least the weekends.

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

You may want to create a job for yourself. Perhaps you have an idea or skill that will be successful in the hunting industry. If you are willing to take the risks, the rewards are much greater than you will achieve working for somebody else.

I was frustrated that the cool hunting videos that exist today were not available to rent and decided to do something about it. It turns out that a lot of other people feel the same way. :) This resulted in the single largest library of hunting DVDs in the world being made available to hunters throughout the United States (And soon, Canada!)

Yes, it is work. Yes, it is a job. But its a job where I get to talk hunting every day!


-- FLIX

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

I came out of college as a baseball player that had aspired to make a living playing the game. I thought I had what it took to be a professional baseball catcher. I got passed in the draft by everyone.

After taking a job to make ends meet…..I was playing a LOT of golf on the side. I got fairly good at it…..and had conversations with a friend I’d graduated with who was in the PGA Apprentice Program. He told me a few things about it….and I got hired as an apprentice. I worked my way through the business schools….the playing ability test…..and put 3 yrs in as an apprentice. I was elected to membership in the PGA of America in August 1994. When I began that journey……I LOVED the game of golf.

I left the PGA and my member club in 1995 to take a job in my current industry. I put down the clubs and didn’t touch them for seven years. I LOATHED golf. Everywhere I went….whoever I talked to…..everything I wore…..everything I did….revolved around golf.

I joined a country club, after I began playing again. I remember the first time I walked into the clubhouse to play a round with some friends. GOD IT WAS REFRESHING to be there on MY TERMS! It felt odd…..but invigorating. I could have fun at it, again. I can’t explain to you what that feeling was like. THAT FEELING is why I loved golf. When I HAD to be there….I didn’t feel that.

I hope you think about this before you take a leap that might change the way you feel about hunting for the rest of your life. I was lucky. I got out of it and found something (by the grace of God) that affords me the opportunities to do the fun things in life. I know friends still stuck in the industry that hate it…..but are trapped because of their tenure, there.

Just know that things are not always as they seem……and good luck to you.

Sincerely,

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

Travis .... c'mon up to western NY and become a Union Bricklayer ... my buddy does that and he works until November, then he is off for the rest of hunting season ...he starts back up in April ... the sucker makes a good buck too .... the union makes sure of that ...but that is for a different thread ;)

GMMAT .... I totally undertsand what you are saying with the golf thing. ... it was cars for me ... then I ran a dealership .. started hating the things ... I am back to lovin' 'em, now that i am a Teacher .... now I hate kids [8D]... LOL ... just kidding!!

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

I think the easiest way to get involved in this industry is the sales aspect of it. If you are a rock solid sales person and consistent top producer, there is room in any industry for you if you make room for yourself.

I seriously looked at several sales positions in this industry over the last 2 years and decided that 99.9% of them weren't for me. I am not saying I won't ever make the jump, but it would be difficult for me to make even a lateral move in my career income wise/job security wise by getting into the outdoor or archery industry. If I keep doing what I am doing now I will retire in my 40's easily with plenty of time left to do whatever I want on my terms. If I stepped into the outdoor/archery industry I would likely never be financially independant. There are a few jobs I would take in this industry if the opportunity presented itself (they all have my resume), however the sales aspect of it is typically going to have you living out of your car and on the road 5+ days a week visiting shops. Sounds like fun butmy family, hunting, and shootingtime is far too valuable for me to live that lifestyle.

I do see myself someday having a small shop in my basement/garage when I retire as a part time thing. I wouldn't ever blow it up into a huge business though, I would rather keep it small and low maintenance and more focused on providing others a place to shoot. I would love to have my own 3D course/field archery course as well as an indoor lane setup and will probably do this someday and would like to become active in coaching and working with kids. This is how I see myself getting into this industry unless one of those very few perfect jobs opens up for me which is unlikely at best.

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

Dude, with that mug, how could they resist ya? [8D]


Matt ... move to Hamburg NY ...4 hours due west from you ... we need a good pro shop here ... there isn't ANY ...... please???[&o]

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

personally, the whole commercial aspect of it really takes something away from hunting....

commercialization of hunting is a double bladed sword. It is what's helped hunting survive this long and helps it continue longer... but in my opinion it has taken alot out of the experience.

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

I know a lot of top guys in the industry and they started this way.

BUT, a lot of them are somewhat unhappy too. There is a ton of travel and a ton of divorce due to their dedication. Some say it is worse than alcoholism interfering with a marriage. The guys I know constantly complian about such things as: not being home to see their children born, not being home for their signifcant others b-day in over five years, not hunting close to home like they used to, not being at home for Holidays, not being able to hunt how they like or shoot what they want, the pushing and pulling of sponsors, etc.......

RE: Hunt for a Living...how??
 

Getting in to this business seems to be pretty tough. Finding a respectable outfitter with a good reputation seems to be one of the keys. I have took the advise of the other hunters on this forum and have researched the outfitters that i find interesting. I live in missouri and would like to work in missouri, but i will relocate to where the jobs are. A lot of people say it might not be a good choice to guide for a living, but I have done the real jobs but hunting and guiding are going to be what i persue. Good luck with finding one .