slughunter Posted April 9, 2009 Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 With me graduating High School in a few month, I have my options wide open. At this point I am not planning on attending college, im not married and am willing to travel to another area, and feel I have what it takes. So I was wondering if its realistic to pursue a career in the hunting industry or is it just something all outdoorsmen dream of? I was mainly thinking as a Guide/Property Manager. It seems like a lot of people would love to be a guide but dont have the freedom too (Married, Kids, cant move). Any info is wanted. -shane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted April 9, 2009 Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 Never done any of that for $. Had a good friend in the elect business that worked for Sedgefield in GA one season when he was offered a job, and fortunately his work was a tad slow, so his boss kinda gave him a leave of absence for 3 months to have fun with it. He really enjoyed it, made great money some weeks as rich guys would tip him $100 at times after cleaning their deer. Went back to work for the elec contractor when season was over. Great experience, but not the thing that would pay the bills all year long. My best advice is to get some college in now if you have even a hint that you may want to pursue something oneday that requires it. Then while your still young try the outdoor thing. Certainly a lot of ppl that make a living that way. Lots of good college programs too that would help you out with land management, QDM, etc. that would give you a leg up in your endeavor. Just a humble opinion from a humble idiot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted April 9, 2009 Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 Well, Shane, there's always guide school. It's usually for a summer or a few months and they teach you everything you need to know, I think they also have a high success rate of landing jobs for their graduates. You could also apprentice for an outfitter as well. When I was in high school and looking at all my different options I looked at taxidermy, guiding, wildlife biology and forestry. Little did I know that I'd wind up in the Media Studies field as a writer and videographer. I am now the youngest individual media member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA), a freelance outdoors writer, outdoors columnist and Pro Staffer for Honey Creek Outdoors! In fact, Saturday I leave for the Black Hills to hunt with Jim Zumbo, a man whom I have idolized since I was 10 or 11 and is now a good friend and my biggest mentor in the outdoors industry. A lot can happen in a year, Shane! I'd say with God and help from some of the neatest folks in the industry, anything's possible! In fact, I have a little story to tell about the last night of the POMA national conference here in Sioux Falls. We had finished our dinner, raffle and silent auction and many of the folks at the conference were hanging out at the open bar in the hotel lobby. I was extremely reluctant to leave, I live in a suburb of Sioux Falls, and was hanging out with them drinking a pepsi. Around 9pm a police officer walked into the bar and told Jim and I that since I wasn't 21 that I would need to leave the bar area by 9. I was greatly dismayed because I was wanting to postpone leaving as long as possible. Jim saw this and asked if we could move up the step to the restaurant and sit and the police man stated that we could most definitely do that and to do so by all means. A bunch of the POMA members saw Jim and I go up and decided to join us saying I was the life of the party (or something along the lines of that ). So here we are, 20+ of us squishing tables together and fighting over who gets to sit by me! Among those were Larry Weishuhn, Laurie Lee Dovey (the sweet gal who discovered Michael Waddell and introduced him to Bill Jordan), Stephanie Mallory of Realtree, our very own Bill Konway, Linda Powell of Remington, Tom Feagley and his lovely wife Betty Lou, Bill Miller and Gordy Krahn of NAHC, Rick Story of U.S. Sportsman's Alliance, Berdette Zastrow (outdoors writer and board member of Pheasants Forever), Tammy Sapp of NWTF, "Uncle Judd" (outdoors writer/photographer Judd Cooney) and of course Jim. I've idolized these people since I first knew there was such a thing as the "outdoors industry"; their compassion and kindness was overwhelming and a few tears were shed on both sides. I feel priviledged to be a part of such a neat group! Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted April 9, 2009 Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 Shane, Check the Prostaff room for the thread about becoming a prostaffer. Theres alot of good advice in there about what it takes and what your looking for may need more than just will power;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig mack Posted April 9, 2009 Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 If I could do it all over again, I would go to college. I would get a degree first and then go from there. But its your decission. Good luck with what ever you decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slughunter Posted April 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 In fact, I have a little story to tell about the last night of the POMA national conference here in Sioux Falls. We had finished our dinner, raffle and silent auction and many of the folks at the conference were hanging out at the open bar in the hotel lobby. I was extremely reluctant to leave, I live in a suburb of Sioux Falls, and was hanging out with them drinking a pepsi. Around 9pm a police officer walked into the bar and told Jim and I that since I wasn't 21 that I would need to leave the bar area by 9. I was greatly dismayed because I was wanting to postpone leaving as long as possible. Jim saw this and asked if we could move up the step to the restaurant and sit and the police man stated that we could most definitely do that and to do so by all means. A bunch of the POMA members saw Jim and I go up and decided to join us saying I was the life of the party (or something along the lines of that ). So here we are, 20+ of us squishing tables together and fighting over who gets to sit by me! Among those were Larry Weishuhn, Laurie Lee Dovey (the sweet gal who discovered Michael Waddell and introduced him to Bill Jordan), Stephanie Mallory of Realtree, our very own Bill Konway, Linda Powell of Remington, Tom Feagley and his lovely wife Betty Lou, Bill Miller and Gordy Krahn of NAHC, Rick Story of U.S. Sportsman's Alliance, Berdette Zastrow (outdoors writer and board member of Pheasants Forever), Tammy Sapp of NWTF, "Uncle Judd" (outdoors writer/photographer Judd Cooney) and of course Jim. I've idolized these people since I first knew there was such a thing as the "outdoors industry"; their compassion and kindness was overwhelming and a few tears were shed on both sides. I feel priviledged to be a part of such a neat group! Dakota Thats awesome Dakota, Sounds like you had an awesome night. Thats awesome you got to spend time with all those people! Sounds like Ill be seeing you on TV in a few years with your own show. -shane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted April 9, 2009 Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 Thats awesome Dakota, Sounds like you had an awesome night. Thats awesome you got to spend time with all those people! Sounds like Ill be seeing you on TV in a few years with your own show. -shane Well, this hunt with Jim is going to be filmed by his camera crew. I'm taking both the Mossberg and the Outback, so you might see your/Kyle's/mine bow taking a Black Hills Merriams! :D:D And we'll see what happens for HCO, things definitely look promising! Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slughunter Posted April 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 I'm taking both the Mossberg and the Outback. Dakota I sure hope that bow kills a nice gobbler for you, It always treated me well. How do you got that bow set up now anyways? Is it the same stuff I had on it when I sold it? -shane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted April 9, 2009 Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 Thanks, Shane! It's basically the same, just no bow quiver or stabilizer (I actually shoot better without one ) and is set down to 45lbs. I really need to find a smaller cam, but this one more than does the job for now. Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted April 9, 2009 Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 Only you can make that decision. I will say this: If you want something bad enough, you will get it. Happiness with what you do is extremely important. You will never regret a college degree. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted April 9, 2009 Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 You will never regret a college degree. Good luck. Couldn't have said it better myself, Chris! Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flintlock1776 Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 I would recommend College first. More and more many jobs will require not only a undergrad degree but a Masters. Do it now while you are young. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 School is way too important. School is very difficult as an adult because "life" can get in the way. Surround yourself with people that share the same interests while learning and you will go far. Once that one special girl comes into your life, everything starts happening quicker and quicker and before ya know it, you are getting married or having kids or building a home or something. School 1st while you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HCO Team Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Diversity and background is key. One way in obtaining this is by schooling. The other is by hands on experience. Combine the two and you will have a good footing to venture into anything you dream and desire. Dreams are easy to conjure but very hard to intertwine into reality. The first thought by many is, "what a perfect job"!! I can go hunting all day, take my camera and BAM, I get paid for what I love to do. Reality. Nope. Doesn't happen that way, for the most of us. This is a very competitive industry. And to live and breathe it 24/7 is an understatement. Keep your hunting fun, love and believe what you do and please, have and keep a paying job!! LOL Luxury goes hot and cold. By believing in yourself will keep the dreams alive, then the possibilities follow....!! Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 With me graduating High School in a few month, I have my options wide open. At this point I am not planning on attending college, im not married and am willing to travel to another area, and feel I have what it takes. So I was wondering if its realistic to pursue a career in the hunting industry or is it just something all outdoorsmen dream of? I was mainly thinking as a Guide/Property Manager. It seems like a lot of people would love to be a guide but dont have the freedom too (Married, Kids, cant move). Any info is wanted. -shane now. back to the story at hand. go for your dreams, shane. find a state, like wyoming or montana. contact the outfitters association and hire on as a camp jack. long hard days, lots of work, and crummy pay. you can go to a guide school, but there are other ways, like starting above. or, contact a dude ranch and start there. if you're worth your salt, outfitter friends of the dude rancher will come after you. it's the life i love, and did for lots of years. give it a try, and see if it's for you. if it isn't, move on. the west is full of all types of jobs, and you can get hired on about anywhere. all you need is a work ethic and be able to pass the drug tests... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flintlock1776 Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Go to College, go to MBA school and build and run your own outdoor business Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJR Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Go to college and get a degree! You will not regret it one bit! Anything else, you will sell yourself short! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Shane, Check the Prostaff room for the thread about becoming a prostaffer. Theres alot of good advice in there about what it takes and what your looking for may need more than just will power;) Yep, would check that post for sure. Only you can make that decision. I will say this: If you want something bad enough, you will get it. Happiness with what you do is extremely important. You will never regret a college degree. Good luck. Got to agree with Chris here for the most part. Think it best to go after your dreams as early as possible, a degree in a field with growth will no doubt give you options. Sad truth however is that there are kids graduating college now who are having and will have a tough time finding a job in their degree field due to the state of our economy. Best of luck to you with whatever you do Shane, but like Chris says if you want it bad enough and work for it, you can reach your goals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Range/ranch/wildlife management is big business right now in Texas. There are a lot of rich folks buying large ranches (5,000 - 50,000 acres) and hiring managers to oversee the operations. In many instances, the owners may only be there for a few months out of the year. BUT... most of them want someone with experience and a college degree in range or wildlife management. It's a great position if you can land one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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