So you want to be a "Hunting Pro?"

[Team Realtree]

We get asked and emailed about this subject often. There are several posts in these forums on it. Hopefully my post here can be a source for future questions and comments.

I first want to clarify the definition of "Pro Staffer." The label "Pro" really stands for "promotional" and not "professional." That's not to say that many out there are not performing professionally and most are very good at what they do. The companies they represent certainly expect them to act in a "professional" manner. But there's a misconception (and often times resentment) when discussing hunting industry pro staffers.

Other common misconceptions: Hunting related pro staffers hunt for a living, get paid great money (to hunt), and they get to hunt year round. I'll say this: Very, very few are paid money for the position. Most do it for product (and not necessarily a lot of it). Hunting might be a part of some of their jobs, but the money does not come from just hunting. Yes, there are folks that sell DVD's and make money from their hunts, but if they don't have a background in business and marketing, that career path will end rather quickly.

After working many years in this industry, I see several qualifications that are a must to make it. You don't have to be great at all of them, but if you don't have decent skills in each, you might want to consider a different career:

— Knowledge and a background in the hunting industry (the broader, the better)

— The ability to sell (yourself, and who you represent)

— Patience with people, a good personality, and excellent communication skills

— Public speaking skills

— The ability to travel at any time

— A primary and very flexible job (to put food on the table).

— A very understanding spouse, significant other, or family (because they won't see you very much). The time away from my family is the reason I would never consider it.

These qualifications might get you on a staff and on some hunts, but you better keep your day job. I would also recommend adding a college degree and good business skills to the list.

As far as TV shows? These are usually an expense and not revenue sources. Very few can afford their own. If they can, their income is coming from another source. The networks charge a lot of money for airtime and sponsorships pay for that (not salaries). Most are lucky to break even.

There are exceptions to all of these, but it is a very small percentage.

Just wanted to give you my personal opinion and perspective. There's not a handbook on it. I welcome additional comments from our staff on this subject and everyone is welcomed to comment. Thanks, S

[GWSmith]

The label "Pro" really stands for "promotional" and not "professional."

That should clear alot of questions up.

I do know the "Pro"motional-"Staff" member from RealTree that I've had the chance to talk with in person acts in a professional manner. When it comes to "Prostaffers" I just see a person who has affiliated himself with a company. What makes that person a "Professional" in my mind is how they represent themselves and the company they stand with. It's about the company you keep;)

I think it's hilarious when I see people wearing a hat that says "Field Staff"...like it means anything:D

[buckee]

The label "Pro" really stands for "promotional" and not "professional."

So you see ..many of us have been voluntary Pro-staffers for years now

[HOYTnMUZZYboy]

IM SO GLAD TO SEE THIS POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hopefully this will help get rid of all the annoying post's.

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

I might add that "excellent communication skills" relates to both verbal and written forms.

One of the easier ways to get started in the outdoor industry is to find a small newspaper that doesn't have an outdoor writer on the sports staff, and "volunteer" yourself to submit articles periodically. Of course your articles will need to meet the paper's standards, but once you achieve that, you'll be on your way.

BTW - It's much more difficult than it sounds...

[alaskaguide]

Great post, very true!

[Rhino]

Thanks Scott...great post.

Being a John Doe hunter isn't so bad after all.

[Tink]

And you must be a crackerjack speller tooThats why I never made it to the Pro ranks..... In spelling classes in school I was drawing deer with vital zones abd arrow sticking out not memorizing the days words to learn... When we had spelling, I would always skip school to bowhunt squirrels in a cemetery near my home in Arlington VA Not Arlington National. I hid my bow & quiver in a tree in the cemetery so I could bowhunt on my way home without having to go home and double back to hunt.

[Tim Andrus]

Well I can tell you a bit. Like Scott said, we all have regular jobs ,family . Now howse this sound --- work 2 dble shifts( monday,tuesday) at the prison ---either work day shift or have it off to mow lawn, catch my daughters soccer game on wednesday. fly out thursday or friday for show where ever. Do show friday ,saturday sometimes sunday -catch flight home have monday off dble shifts tuesaday ,wednesday and so on .

Did that a few years ago for 6 weeks i made it work on some shows i could drive so I would bring my wife and daughter.

So it can be tiring...But I WOIULDNT CHANGE FOR ANYTHING !! Love it , enjoy it and we got a great home here at Camp Realtree

hope that sheds a little insight

Tim

[ruttinbuc]

Good post, Scott. There are a lot of misconceptions about what a "Pro" actually is. Like anything it life it comes down to timing and going after it. Knowing where to start is a great help.

[AdrianJHare]

That is very well done. I would like to add one thing to the list if it would be alright...

Quote:

After working many years in this industry, I see several qualifications that are a must to make it. You don't have to be great at all of them, but if you don't have decent skills in each, you might want to consider a different career:

— Knowledge and a background in the hunting industry (the broader, the better)

— The ability to sell (yourself, and who you represent)

— Patience with people, a good personality, and excellent communication skills

— Public speaking skills

— The ability to travel at any time

— A primary and very flexible job (to put food on the table).

— A very understanding spouse, significant other, or family (because they won't see you very much). The time away from my family is the reason I would never consider it./Quote

-- Have very good listening skills

[stevebeilgard]

excellent post, scott. all i can add to the lists is "getting lucky". ie:being a the right place at the right time.

[dbHunterNY]

That should clear alot of questions up.

I do know the "Pro"motional-"Staff" member from RealTree that I've had the chance to talk with in person acts in a professional manner. When it comes to "Prostaffers" I just see a person who has affiliated himself with a company. What makes that person a "Professional" in my mind is how they represent themselves and the company they stand with. It's about the company you keep;)

I think it's hilarious when I see people wearing a hat that says "Field Staff"...like it means anything:D

It does stand for something. A lot of free hats. Even if you're a prostaffer that gets great money, it's not about that I'd think. It's got to be about the experiences and opportunities. When I see footage of a prostaffer standing on a mountain peak overlooking the view and then get a view of a huge elk bugle in their face, I experience a little envy.

- Dan

[GWSmith]

It does stand for something. A lot of free hats.

...and corporate advertising thats paid for by the consumer;)

Envy does creep in...but I'm sure we all have those special hunting places that if the "Pro's" were able to see them like we've seen them...they would experience a little envy as well;)

[need2hunt]

I'll add this in to the conversation, when it comes to hunting for television shows the best thing you can have going for you is the ability to run a video camera well and the willingness to be behind it instead of in front of it.

[bowhuntnsmycrack]

well it does sound like its a very tought job, alot harder then what i thought of it being. i mean i know the whole time from family and stuff would stink but yea. well thats why my video's go on youtube... become youtube famous lol

[Team Realtree]

Adrian and Steve, you guys are 100% correct. Steve, the right place at the right time comes into play many times. And the folks who are there are usually folks who are not campaigning for themselves. They were just good at what they do and people took notice.

Adrian, I used the word "patience" in place of "good listener." They go hand in hand, and in my eyes are the same thing. Whether it is hunting or just meeting folks, I have been with David, Michael, Bill and others at at shows and have always been impressed with how they will stick around until that last autograph is signed, or the last hunting story is told. Meetings and flights have been missed, but they have always been great about hanging, listening, and enjoying folks that come to see them.

I'll never forget a time when I was with Bill a few years back in Nashville. We were suppose to leave the Bass Pro at 3:00 one afternoon (to make a meeting at TNN at 3:30). Bill had made an appearance and the lines were a mile long. Although I was suppose to help get him out and over to the meeting, folks kept approaching him wanting pics, and sharing stories. We were there until 6:00 and eventually had to reschedule that meeting for the next day.

Bill has always thought it was rude to just walk out on folks still waiting. And he really is like any other hunter in a camp. He loves to hear hunting stories and likes that much more than those meetings.

[Tim Andrus]

Scott

Same thing happened to me with Bill at a Cabela's They kept saying Bill you gotta go and he just kept on the people who were standing in line. Impressed me to say the least

[Hunt or be Hunted]

good good post man~!!! thanks!!

[Dawg]

Ok, so tell me now how Steve B. became a pro staffer?

Sounds like I'll stick with being a forum junkie!

[mrswtnhunt]

Adrian and Steve, you guys are 100% correct. Steve, the right place at the right time comes into play many times. And the folks who are there are usually folks who are not campaigning for themselves. They were just good at what they do and people took notice.

Adrian, I used the word "patience" in place of "good listener." They go hand in hand, and in my eyes are the same thing. Whether it is hunting or just meeting folks, I have been with David, Michael, Bill and others at at shows and have always been impressed with how they will stick around until that last autograph is signed, or the last hunting story is told. Meetings and flights have been missed, but they have always been great about hanging, listening, and enjoying folks that come to see them.

I'll never forget a time when I was with Bill a few years back in Nashville. We were suppose to leave the Bass Pro at 3:00 one afternoon (to make a meeting at TNN at 3:30). Bill had made an appearance and the lines were a mile long. Although I was suppose to help get him out and over to the meeting, folks kept approaching him wanting pics, and sharing stories. We were there until 6:00 and eventually had to reschedule that meeting for the next day.

Bill has always thought it was rude to just walk out on folks still waiting. And he really is like any other hunter in a camp. He loves to hear hunting stories and likes that much more than those meetings.

That is just too cool.......don't think I could ever be a prostaffer. I enjoy my family too much to do that.

[Dakota]

It is a very hard industry to get into and most people don't make it if they can't keep up with the competition. However, the outdoors industry is also one big family in the sense that we are all working towards one goal; the promotion of hunting, fishing and the outdoors in general. I've seen this first hand at the Professional Outdoor Media Association national conference in Sioux Falls, SD this past summer. I got to meet and chat with so many people I have idolized since I was little, and you know what? They all treated me like I was one of them and made me feel like I had known them personally for years!

Scott's right when he says a business degree helps. In fact, correct me if I'm wrong, Scott, but doesn't Bill Jordan hold a degree in business? Another big part of the outdoors industry is communications; whether it is PR work, articles, features, columns, camera work or television production. It's kind of pointless to have your own outdoors show if you don't know how to put one together. To successfully make it in the outdoors industry you need to be both versatile and knowledgable in all aspects of it. As a communicator, you should not only be able to write a column or article, but be able to run a camera or edit footage or audio if need be; you never know what opportunities may arise. It also helps to become learned in the ways and habits of your quarry, take for example "Mr. Whitetail" Larry Weishuhn. He's a well-known communicator and hunter and received a Wildlife Biology degree at Texas A&M. He knows a lot about whitetails and is one of the biggest authorities on hunting the whitetail deer.

While I would in no way consider myself a "professional", I am seeking a permanent place in the outdoors industry and have already begun building upon my resume. I have held a column at the local town paper since I was 13 and was published in North American Hunter magazine at 16. I am now the outdoors columnist for the University of Sioux Falls newspaper The Vessel (circulation about 2,000) and have my own radio show, though it does not particularly advertise the outdoors industry. I am majoring in English and Media Studies and am the youngest individual media member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association all thanks to our very own Bill Konway (Billkay). I still do some freelancing on the side and am looking forward to some excellent hunts this year with the idols of my youth whom have now become some of my greatest friends and mentors. One thing's for sure, it is not easy making a name for yourself in the outdoors industry and I can guarantee you you won't get paid to do every hunt you go on. However, it is a worthwhile effort and you can meet some of the best people with the biggest hearts you will ever find while you're there.

Dakota

[EricF]

Come on guys...not one person has eluded to the fact that they're making a great living doing this. Yes, I believe it can be tough gettin in, but you all make it sound like you're losing money every time the TV comes on.

I do two side businesses...marine surveyor and private captain. Both of these require secrecy because every guy on the waterfront is trying to knock you out of a ride..and the standard story line is, "I can't make a living do only one." That keeps the riff raff looking for a quick buck out of the business. These are two of the many professions that require more "love of adventure" than it does "need for money"...or that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Like you, both of these require "contacts", "networking", and a certain amount of "know how". One screw up outweighs a thousand good things...and the years spent making these contacts go out the window before the sun comes back up.

Good luck with your careers...they are truely one I would love to experience. You are the idols of many young men and women...keep on bringing me my weekend adventures via my TV!!!

[BowJoe]

The way I've always looked at it, in order to become a household name in any industry whether it be sports or business or hunting, you have to either be the best at what you do or present the best product in your field. You don't become the best by luck or someone giving it to you. You may be given a shot but what you do with it is what counts in anyone's eyes. That's why celebrities carry no weight with me at all. Yeah, they might be the best actor or at least in a movie or on a show but that doesn't mean they will be a standout for their talent. Where I get a little annoyed is when they throw their hat into the political ring but only to endorse a candidate they know nothing about. Many actors have never graduated college let alone studied politics or anything other than themselves in a mirror. People like Michael, Tiffany and Lee, Bill, David, Travis and a select few others have all got one thing in common... they all have a knack for what they do and most of the time, it's completely natural. Like any athlete or business executive, they have worked hard to get where they are today but it has also come very natural to them and their persona. You won't find many that would argue when they say what you see is what you get. I'm sure they may be slightly different when completely off camera but that may only include a few bleeps or personal discussions about family or their lives which is none of our business anyway. I respect anyone that achieves this level of celebrity in their own field but rest assured, the cream always rises to the top and it's always floating on stuff that looks the same but is slightly different.

[Turkeygirl]

Great post!

I still admire the guys ALOT.