So you want to be a "Hunting Pro?"

[2amguns]

Finally! Thanks for the great post. If it were not for my Gun store being operational, I wouldn't be able to Guide full time in the fall and still have my Wife! hahahahahahha A well paying job is quite litterally the cruxt of being able to take off for the hunts, the promotionals, etc.

I do shows for my store to further myself. This post hit the nail, squarely on the head. Thank you.

[Ethan Givan]

I dont think Ive ever replied to this thread but might as well say what I personally think about being a prostaffer. I honestly have no desire to be a prostaffer even though hunting is my passion. I would actually be more satisfied working for an outfitter, not necessarily guiding, but just by scouting, hanging stands, planting foodplots and other land management. The guy behind the scenes that helps put that big buck in the sights of the prostaffer, the one who works hard all summer so it pays off in the fall. I love watching deer and using trail cameras to find out what bucks are around and what their habits are. Im like a kid on christmas morning everytime I go check a trail cam. I cant imagine that being part of my job. I enjoy scouting and the preparation aspect of hunting just as much as I do actually hunting the animal. That would be my dream. I think its a little more achievable than being a prostaffer but still a longshot.

[NBomb500]

I like what you wrote Ethan. You can do whatever you set your mind too! Keep it up. Well, seeing that this is an older post I'll just put my two cents in as short as possible. I would just have to say that the pro staffers probably work harder than most people and they deserve to be able to take pride in what they do. It just so happens that they tend to be in the spotlight so things can be taken the wrong way sometimes. Props to the pros!!!

[Tim Andrus]

thanks NBomb500! well said!

[abrown]

I don't know any Pro-Staffers, I'm sure their great guys, but here's a question! I have a college degree in Natural Resource with an emphasies in Rangeland Ecology, I have a full time job as a Natural Resource Specialist. I'm 31, been bowhunting since I was 15. I'm ate up with it, I could sit in front of the TV and watch hunting show ALL DAY LONG in the off season. It's awesome to disect how they do things or how they mess up. So, what's the difference between someone who's a wildlife biologist, gamewarden, or someone like myself, where we do it full time, 40+ hours a week, and someone who's a Hunting Pro? That's not including the 2-4 days a week sitting a in tree stand, or pulling areial photos of areas I'm planning on elk hunting.

Edited July 9, 2011 by abrown

[Tim Andrus]

Abrown there is no difference between you and pro staffers. I have worked for NYS for the last 22 + years ,and hunt, scout as you do. The pro staff wording is misleading it falls under promotional staff . Where as Realtree sends me to various events at Cabelas , Bass Pro etc if you read back in this post it might shed a little light for ya

Tim

[abrown]

When does the fun start for you guys? LOL Obviously hunting is all promotional. That kind of bites, cause then you have to stay loyal to whatever brands you promote or can get to endorse you. When I think of Hunting Pro, I think of Fred Bear or Jack O'connor, people who hunted because that was a way of life growing up, and a passion. I get a kick out of alot of hunting shows, cause they hunt such strictly managed ranches, they shoot a big buck or have a wall full of em, that's not hunting. Personally I believe it all comes down to access, and who has access to the best hunting! It's getting to be like the King's forest, if you have money, you can hunt big deer.

[Tim Andrus]

its fun year round for me.. looking for new ground ,shooting etc Dont put all pro staffers in the same bunch now some go hunt big fancy ranches . But some do it the right way and earn it , I hunt about 95% on DIY hunts where I find the land, access it whether by handshake or trespass fee and then hang my own stands and hunt.

[abrown]

I'm speaking from experience too. I have gained access to alot of good private land, but haven't hit that piece of property that I can pull a Booner off of yet. I think there's a show that's called DIY? I would rather see a show devoted to that than seeing hunters go out and use guides or hunt out of pre-hung stands. I know it's all promotional, but I know I like to see it when hunters bust their butt and score off of their OWN work and not someone elses! I was watching an OLD episode of when Waddel shot a big buck in South Texas on the run, chasing a doe, was that an ethical shot, NOPE, but it's something you like seeing though. There has to be something different in a hunting show, there basically ALL the same now days!

[Bama16]

I read this the other day and I am truly interested in becoming a prostaffer of some kind. My friend and I are in the Navy right now and have aquired some skill that is envolved with the industry. We are skilled hunters but with shooting our own video only on the public land we have access to it is very hard to get the attention of anyone of this caliber. I have talked to many people and they all say the same thing that it is really just luck but how does the everyday hunter have a chance when they are willing to put in that hard work. How do you even go about getting a sponsor? Do you just walk in to a store and hand them video of you hunting? I just do not understand how that happens. I have learned that communication to the people who really make the decisions is key, they have to know you are out there and there is a huge group of our nations military and not just our wounded warriors that want to have this oppurtunity. If any body has any feed back it would be muchly appreaciated.

Petty Officer DeSanto US Navy

[Tim Andrus]

Bama usually new show owners go to the trade shows ATA ,SHOT and make appts to meet with the companies staff to show what they have to offer. Its a tough business to get into Ill say that.

[Tim Andrus]

abrown I too amm looking for that piece of ground to pull out a booner. But thats the fun of it that keeps me going. Like i said before its a year round hobby for me, always looking..

[abrown]

LOL, Bama, they tried to get me to re-enlist, I told them if they gave me deer season off, I'd sign. Tim, you said hobby! Not for me, I'm ate up with it, obsessed. My wife keeps telling me, I'm antisocial, cause if it's not about hunting I don't talk. LOL I'm not quite that bad, but I do know that family does come first, but that's why I live so close too, so I can hunt all the time. They farm, have good bird hunting, but not deer. I can still be in a stand within 30 minutes. I shot a nice buck last year. I was in the stand within 30 minutes of walking out of work.

[Bama16]

Wow, yeah i feel the same way abrown. I am getting out soon and will be seeking out other resources. There isnt much private land to get on around here but my buddy and I are trying. If you know of in eastern Virginia let me know.

[Tim Andrus]

Abrown I wrote that wrong about hobby. Meant to say the hobby has turn into part time job traveling for Realtree and Ameristep.. Wouldnt change a thing But know how it can get obbsesive lol

[abrown]

Bama, I hunt in northern Oklahoma, southern Kansas and Colorado.

[Tim Andrus]

Where abouts in Ks? I hunt in south east Ks St.Paul ,Parsons area on the Neosho River

[abrown]

I'm farther west, I hunt west and east of Arkansas City, where the Arkansas River runs into Oklahoma. I hunt in Osage and Kay county in Oklahoma, Cowley and Sumner County in Kansas. In Osage there's several ranches +30,000 acres. So I find it kind of funny how people back east brag about having 1,000 acres. When you hunt one pasture that's 800 acres, it kind of spoils you. You and I know it only takes 80 acres if that to hold a BIG BUCK, if they have food, water, and cover. Especially when they get pressured, they hide ANYWHERE!

[Tim Andrus]

Oklahoma 1 state that Im going to hit sooner or later On the pasture heck they can hide in 20 acres and never be killed thats why I luv hunting them so much. And on those big spread ranches hunted in Mt a few years back on a DIY mulie hunt on 17000 acres I think I saw only a quarter of it lol

[abrown]

Let me know if you decide to, where and when, I might be able to give you some advice.

[Tim Andrus]

Thanks Ill be in touch on that. I liked the Nw part of the state. Wont be till 2012 though this year is full

[abrown]

That's one thing I like about my job. I was walking the beach the other day talking to boaters, getting them to pick up their trash, ran into two guys, started talking to them. I told them I was ate up with deer hunting, and have never shot a booner, so they ask for a business card. They said they'd give me a call, and shooting one on them would be NO PROBLEM! LOL, I'd like to claim that I'm not holding my breathe, but I am! I also found out that I have permission to hunt MORE land in southern Kansas, cause the gentleman isn't guiding hunts this year!

[JohnVaca]

When I grow up, I want to be just like Tim!!!

Hey, make sure you holler when you are in KS....I'm right next door.

Safe Travels...

[Bama boy]

Great post

Great post

[Chack100]

Great post,

I used to live in Missouri, but now have moved to Australia, and i am living here.

I miss the cool fall morning of getting up at 3:30 in the morning to get ready to go hunting. I remember that first cool morning in fall when the smell to the air would change and can remember my heart skipping a beat thinking it is bow season. I can remember being little and getting mad at my dad because i wanting to go hunting with him, but him saying it was to cold for me to go with him. He also used to tell stories of taking me out rapped up in a blanket and not even being one year old and sitting in the blind with him. I remember watching deer during the summer would go out driving around just to see what i could see, even if i couldn't hunt an area i would watch deer and was always on the look out for big bucks.There is nothing like hunting in the world and how it makes you feel. It has been a huge part of my life and always will be thanks to people like you all.

I have been lucky to take a few nice bucks with rifle and with bow, no booners, but nice. Hunting deer and turkeys is probably the one thing i miss more then anything, it would be right up there with my family and friends. What i would give to just go hunting one more time, to feel the thrill of the hunt, the addrenaline rush as you draw on a deer, and the satisfaction of just being outside in natural. It is all undescribable and was such a big part of my life.

I have a standing order from one of my sisters to get me the real tree monster bucks video's every year for Christmas. It is my most anticipated christmas present every year. Me and my to young boys sit down and spend the whole day watching it. If it arrives early it gets opened that day and watched. The only present that never makes it to christmas morning. My two boys have never even seen a deer in the wild but they are always asking, dad can we watch deer hunting. Thanks for letting me share this with my boys some way.

What i am trying to say that people out here love what you do just as much as you all do. We appreciate and respect what you all do and some of us even understand what makes you do what you do. I would give anything to go hunting for whitetail deer again, and even more to give my boys that chance just once. I envy what you guys get to do year in and year out. I also appreciate everything you all give so people like me can share our love of the outdoors in some way.

I can say all of this honestly and with no regret though i wouldn't change anything in my life now. I would have at one time given anything to have had the opportunity to be Pro staffer. Now i am thankful that there are people out there like them making video, so i can share some of the great outdoors in some way. So i have to say thank you to the guys and gals out there that do this for me and everyone else!

If i had the opportunity to do this today i would jump at it yet, but it would not be for money or fame for me. It would be about getting the chance to go hunting again and to be in the great outdoors. I hope my kids get the chance to go hunting deer some day, but they will never know it like me, maybe they can love it like me thanks to your alls hard work. So remember you always have a hunting partner in me and my boys even if we have to share it with you in your videos.

To all of your Pro Staffers out there thanks so much, and to real tree keep up the great work. You all have my dream jobs, but nothing is easy. I may envy what you all do and wished i could do it, but now i am just happy that i am able to introduce my boys to deer hunting in some way. Without you all i wouldn't be able to do this, and it give my boys a chance to see what some of my life was about. So keep them camp fires burning and keep telling them stories.