Outdoor Career advice......

[Finsandtines]

I have been hesitant to throw this out there but finally thought, what the hell......

I am at a sort of crossroads with my career. I am in search of that perfect job, one that has that hard to find combination of financial stability for my family and something that I truly enjoy doing. I would love to get paid to do what I love. (Wouldn't we all?) My utopia would be getting paid to hunt and/or fish or at least be involved in some way. I believe this stems from my glory days of playing baseball. I always thought I could do that for a living, play a game you love and earn a living at it, what a concept! Unfortunately, I was derailed by injuries. All was not lost though. As a result, I decided to get my degree in sports medicine and was able to hang around the game for a while as an athletic trainer and strength coach and help other aspiring athletes either avoid or overcome injuries that may derail them. A few years later my daughter was born and I left my position and the game so I could watch her grow and be a full time dad. Being gone and traveling for 6 months was not my idea of being a dad.

I took a part time job as a personal trainer while I figured out what I was going to do. I still had the mindset to help others achieve greatness and enjoyed every minute of it. There is a great deal of satisfaction assisting others in reaching their goals. Soon after, I found my way to a management role and 13 years later I am still in the fitness industry. I will save all the details of that time period but I currently work for a fast growing company, have a great position and am very thankful for the opportunities to create a personal training program infrastructure. Despite all that, I am constantly asking myself, what else is there? How can I combine my knowledge and my hobbies? Attempting to create opportunities for myself, I recently dabbled in writing a few fitness articles for a western hunting magazine to help anyone that would take the advice so they could be successful on those dream hunts! Thinking that would be a great starting point, or a foot in the door, that opportunity dissolved earlier this year as a result of numerous changes.

By no means am I giving up as that is not in my nature! I have some other ideas but they are in infancy stage at this point. I am doing a bunch of research, attempting to make more contacts in the hunting industry and have actually purchased a domain name and working on a concept for a website.

I thought I would throw this out there to see if anyone had any feedback, advice, ideas, etc. Thanks for reading, I am open to hearing anyone that cares to weigh in. Now that I reread this, maybe this should have been my new member intro!

Perfect timing, Eastmans hunting TV show is starting, time to go watch even though it looks like a repeat......

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I am involved in competitive shooting in several different venues. Some of my fellow shooters have evolved into world champions in their respective areas. A few have used this as a stepping stone to a professional career in that discipline. Most do "schools or camps", underwrite products and have sponsors for their shooting.

Why not look into starting a fitness school or camp for hunters? Most of us think we know hot to keep in shape and a lot of us do, but there certainly is a lot of specialized areas outside the normal fitness programs that could be looked at. A little creativity might go a long way. Starting out as a side business, would allow you to keep your regular job to see if this might expand and grow into something that could support you.

The shooting schools have just continued to grow. I do some part time instruction in a couple, but the opportunities are getting scarce due to my age and physical limitations. Several old injuries from my college sports days are getting chronic, guess it's something we all have to face.

Good luck! I hope you find something that fits into your goal.

 

[Finsandtines]

Thanks for the feedback. I like where your going with that. I am somewhat dabbling in that arena being careful to not affect my non compete.

 

[Head in the Clouds]

I am in a very similar situation as you, finsandtines.

I am looking for much the same type of outdoor career but it always falls short in one realm or another, be it stability, satisfaction, income, etc. I have developed a broad base of experiences and skills without really rising to the level of expert in any and it seems that every year that ticks by since I graduated from college, I am less able to accept the "entry-level". I currently do tree work and it is OK, it keeps me active, outside, and fed but the satisfaction is missing. I've also realized that my value in the industry is directly linked to being a climber, which I have very little desire to pursue.

While in college, I had, what I may consider to be the perfect jobs for my interests. One was doing wetland mitigation work (plant inventories, site analysis, planning) and the other consisted of timber and prairie restorations. I thoroughly enjoyed both but the work was not full time and I needed more after college. Fast-forward a couple years and seasonal jobs around here and there and I find myself a tree worker in Colorado. I'm currently looking for something steady and long-term in the field of native landscapes but between shady contractors, competition, and limited employment opportunities, it is tough to find the right fit.

I'm starting to gather a few leads and will hopefully have a better plan by the spring. The trick is deciding whether I need to go back to school for a more specific degree/certification (I obtained a degree, two minors, and a certificate my first run but it seems I picked too broadly) and whether I/we are willing to relocate. I strongly considered starting my own company but with limited resources, I would not be able to compete at a sustainable level for now.

I personally, want to keep my hobbies separate from my career while still being able to apply my knowledge and interests that overlap both sides. Just cashing a check is not enough for me though.

 

[Finsandtines]

Well, I pulled the trigger this week. A few developments over the past few weeks, my growing dissatisfaction with the direction of the company and the folks I was surrounded by prompted my submission of my resignation Tuesday. I still can't believe it but over the past several days of reflection (in a tree stand - sure was nice to last minute decide to give muzzleloader a shot!) I keep coming back to the only reason for me staying was financial. For me, and luckily my wife agrees, that simply was not enough.

Maybe it is time to work for me and follow my instincts. I am both scared and excited but looking forward to being happy!

 

[tim]

But the passion is in the trying.

 

[Matthoek21]

Good luck. I admire you man. That's hard to do. You feel a sense of relief and anxiety at the same time. If you're passionate it will work out. GATA!

 

[ivorytip]

But the passion is in the trying.

amen to that, good luck to you finsan

 

[ivorytip]

the train to hunt things are pretty awesome, is there anything like that for rifle hunters?? idea maybe idk

 

[CTUSS38]

Since you like helping people, it seems like running a shooting school would be really beneficial to you. Thompson Long Range in Logan Utah is an awesome example of someone who took their passion and skills in hunting and is now making both a profit and making a difference in a community he loves.

 

[nicktrehearne]

Although I might not have the best advice on the topic, good for you! I quit my job as an electrical foreman roughly 4 years ago to chase a dream job in the hunting industry. It has definitely not been easy but if you stick with it and have the financial ability to get by while things are tight (which they likely will be), you're well on your way!

 

[gypsumreaper]

I have the same thing going on, I'm looking at leaving my current job after 5 years as a tire tech for a job in the hunting industry. I know it's gonna be a rough battle but long as you've got the will to keep going and possible something on the side to keep ya afloat it's a good choice.


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[brianboh]

So I had a career in the outdoor industry. I worked for 7 different outdoor shows owning one of them. I worked for the NWTF for their three shows. It is not all cracked up to be what you want it to be. Yes it was fun and I hunted all over north and south America. It was probably not the best time in my life to be doing it and I had other things on my mind. After the show was sold and after the NWTF I went back to college for my second degree. First was wildlife management which I ran a fisheries program and second after the outdoor career I got an accounting degree. Wildlife management and fisheries is fun but not the kind of money I like to have. Now I have a career that allows me to enjoy what I love and for the most part do what I want.

 

[Finsandtines]

Thanks for all the feedback and encouragement. Lots has changed for me since this post. I did about three or four months worth of research and really couldn't find what I specifically wanted! I came very close to joining global rescue. I thought about doing some outfitting for Whitetail for a portion of the year in Ohio and spending the other portion chartering on my boat while still training some clients. Not to say that I won't go back to that but I had an incredible opportunity with a top franchise company that I could not turn down. The downside is I'm commuting for work which will limit hunting opportunities this fall. I will just have to make more out of less trips. Thanks again! I'll keep you posted on any updates.

 

[Zim]

I've always been a believer that making your passion your work is the best way to destroy your passion. But that's just me. I tell my kids, if in doubt, the easiest way in life is to utilize the skills god gifted them with to maximize their finances and support their families the best they can. That will also put them in the financial position to chase their passion. In my case, hunting. This worked out for me. I'm exhausted by the end of hunting season and want nothing to do with it. My philosophy and it's worked out for me.

I actually got very lucky with my current job the last ten years. I work virtually independent as a contractor in facility inspections. I live by Chicago, boss is in Denver, his boss is in Virginia, his boss is in San Francisco. Nobody works below me. I have not seen a boss in about 5 years. Make my own schedule covering a 5 state area with total flexibility. So I actually make a chart each year of where I want to hunt/fish/attend sporting events, then incorporate my inspections so I can combine the two, getting my travel expenses paid for. I have a cubicle at the office but am gone so often nobody cares. This may not be right for some folks, but it is for me because I like being in the office but no way 100% of the time. So I'm driving around 50%, office 50% switching each whenever I feel like it. Sort of feel like semi-retired. Hope this gig lasts. It's right for me.

Hope you can find a good balance too.

 

[brianboh]

I've always been a believer that making your passion your work is the best way to destroy your passion. But that's just me. I tell my kids, if in doubt, the easiest way in life is to utilize the skills god gifted them with to maximize their finances and support their families the best they can. That will also put them in the financial position to chase their passion. In my case, hunting. This worked out for me. I'm exhausted by the end of hunting season and want nothing to do with it. My philosophy and it's worked out for me.

I actually got very lucky with my current job the last ten years. I work virtually independent as a contractor in facility inspections. I live by Chicago, boss is in Denver, his boss is in Virginia, his boss is in San Francisco. Nobody works below me. I have not seen a boss in about 5 years. Make my own schedule covering a 5 state area with total flexibility. So I actually make a chart each year of where I want to hunt/fish/attend sporting events, then incorporate my inspections so I can combine the two, getting my travel expenses paid for. I have a cubicle at the office but am gone so often nobody cares. This may not be right for some folks, but it is for me because I like being in the office but no way 100% of the time. So I'm driving around 50%, office 50% switching each whenever I feel like it. Sort of feel like semi-retired. Hope this gig lasts. It's right for me.

Hope you can find a good balance too.

That's how I feel. Turning hunting into a job made it feel like a job.

 

[RICMIC]

That's how I feel. Turning hunting into a job made it feel like a job.

Kind of like becoming a game warden because you like to hunt and fish. Because I worked in LE, I have known many wardens through the years, and that was their biggest regret....that they weren't able to get out like they used to. Those who do generally take some vacation and leave the state.

 

[brianboh]

Kind of like becoming a game warden because you like to hunt and fish. Because I worked in LE, I have known many wardens through the years, and that was their biggest regret....that they weren't able to get out like they used to. Those who do generally take some vacation and leave the state.

That and they do not pay well. I actually took the test in GA did well and was moving to the next step. Polygraph and Physical. I got in my truck the morning of the test and reflected on the decision. I could not see my self making 32k annually and never more then 50k. I went back to bed.

 

[Matthoek21]

That and they do not pay well. I actually took the test in GA did well and was moving to the next step. Polygraph and Physical. I got in my truck the morning of the test and reflected on the decision. I could not see my self making 32k annually and never more then 50k. I went back to bed.

Lol...that was my brother but he went ahead anyway. He was a game warden for 8 years in Truetlen and Montgomery Co. He loved his job but it didn't pay well. It did however give him the experience and law enforcement background he needed in order to land a job at FLETC where now he makes good money but hates some of the beaurcratic B.S. he has to deal with. I know he wishes he was still a game warden but with the pay he has now. Oh and the turkey property's he had access to were phenomenal. We all miss that.

 

[mallardsx2]

I have chased the almighty dollar in the gas and oil industry in the last 10 years or so. I can tell you that I have made some serious sacrifices when it comes to my hunting time and family time and I have thought about getting out... but every two weeks when my paycheck comes in I feel like I have purchasing power (That I never had) and the ability to pay off my house and provide for my family in record time. Some people say money isn't everything but try going without it for a while.

As far as "guiding fishing or hunting" for a living...good luck. I have three friends who have tried it and they all have horror stories. One friend went to Montana to guide for several years and came home so in debt that it financially ruined him for about 5 years.

I dont have the patience to drag some woodbee around the woods in search of game only to listen to them complaining..

What a guy really needs to do is find a job that is 4 days a week and bust your butt for those 4 days then have three days to be with family and go hunting. That is what I am going to look for when I come off the road from this oil and gas business.


I truly wish you the best of luck!