Becoming a hunting guide

[D16hunter]

I'm in my sophomore year of high school so I've been thinking a lot about what life has in store for me. I've been thinking about being a hunting guide for years and have decided its probably the only job I could do consistently and enjoy it. I am in good physical condition and plan on getting in even better condition. I was thinking about going to a guide school. Is anyone on here a hunting guide or ever been one I wanna find out as much as possible about becoming a guide any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance


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[Bonejour]

Judging from your posts,
I think you'd make a damn good guide.


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[stikbrandon]

U have to be a apprentices for some time with outfitters if you have not made a name for your self or have a resume of previous guiding seasons, my buddy guides and he loves it ! It's a big responsibility, look out for your hunters safety understand basic/advanced first aid ext...

My buddy have to work as a fishing guide in the off season on the rivers where he lives, he says it's not a job that's gonna get u rich but he loves it !

 

[Aeon]

wet towel time....

Do not let me stop you but its not the best job on earth. Its not the hard work part, All of us have to work hard( except Sdbirds who just hunts all week on his EBT card ) its a Rough job for all the bad reasons. Clients suck and more often than not they suck big time. When your 300lb chain smoking have not shot a gun a year client blows the shot...guess what its your fault. Sure you get to spend tons of time in the outdoors and life the life but that whole time you are someones bitch. In order to make a buck you get no hunting season because you are dragging Elmer FUD around. Sure there are the guys that guide on 100k acres of land in new mexico and every client is a high roller that tips big time but that job is like playing big league baseball.

Better idea is to get a job, Work your ass off and make lots of money so you can afford to go hunting a lot.

 

[NBK]

wet towel time....

Do not let me stop you but its not the best job on earth. Its not the hard work part, All of us have to work hard( except Sdbirds who just hunts all week on his EBT card ) its a Rough job for all the bad reasons. Clients suck and more often than not they suck big time. When your 300lb chain smoking have not shot a gun a year client blows the shot...guess what its your fault. Sure you get to spend tons of time in the outdoors and life the life but that whole time you are someones bitch. In order to make a buck you get no hunting season because you are dragging Elmer FUD around. Sure there are the guys that guide on 100k acres of land in new mexico and every client is a high roller that tips big time but that job is like playing big league baseball.

Better idea is to get a job, Work your ass off and make lots of money so you can afford to go hunting a lot.

Dream crusher!

 

[longbowhunter2]

I say do it. nothing venture nothing gained. don't do it kiss your self in the ass for not doing it hahahaha.

 

[Bonejour]

I say do it. nothing venture nothing gained. don't do it kiss your self in the ass for not doing it hahahaha.

Well Ghost, if he can kiss himself in the ass I guess he could always get a job as a hunting dog. ;D


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[msteiger]

I'm going to tell you what my mom told me in high school, when I said I wanted to be a herpetologist. "Combining your career with your hobby doesn't always work. And you usually can't make any money at it."

That said, a man must make his own way in the world. Steve Jobs never asked anyone if they wanted an iPod; he just made it.

 

[ilovesprig]

wet towel time....

Do not let me stop you but its not the best job on earth. Its not the hard work part, All of us have to work hard( except Sdbirds who just hunts all week on his EBT card ) its a Rough job for all the bad reasons. Clients suck and more often than not they suck big time. When your 300lb chain smoking have not shot a gun a year client blows the shot...guess what its your fault. Sure you get to spend tons of time in the outdoors and life the life but that whole time you are someones bitch. In order to make a buck you get no hunting season because you are dragging Elmer FUD around. Sure there are the guys that guide on 100k acres of land in new mexico and every client is a high roller that tips big time but that job is like playing big league baseball.

Better idea is to get a job, Work your ass off and make lots of money so you can afford to go hunting a lot.

I have a number of friends in the industry and most say the same thing......Guiding isn't really fun......It's business.

One of my really good friends is one of those outfitters in New Mexico and gets 11 grand for an elk (he has 10 landowner tags). Even he complains. Although, he now does the picking of who he takes out. He's also multi talented and faceted in the hunting & fishing world......Houndsman, horseman, elk, deer, turkeys, and fishing.......He was also raised in an area that is game rich and knows just about everyone in his zones......It takes a lot of contacts, if your on your own.

I take a lot of people out during turkey season (hunted all but 5 days)......I won't take money and won't get a guides license. When money gets involved. It changes everything........ I hope you have a good sense of humor too........You'll need it.

With this being said...... I'd say follow your dream........The 1st thing, I'd do is get out of California....... Contact a number of outfitters thru-out the west. See if anyone is looking for a "gopher/apprentice".......If your young enough, I think I'd move to Montana.......Lots of river guides and big game......2 cents

 

[stikbrandon]

wet towel time....

Do not let me stop you but its not the best job on earth. Its not the hard work part, All of us have to work hard( except Sdbirds who just hunts all week on his EBT card )

LMFAO!!!!!! Yea Johnny !

D16 chase your dreams , if you havnt made your name by age 30 go get a 9-5 job, do what u love till at least 30 yrs old before u join the blue collar life. Bills suck , work sucks and California sucks ,

 

[D16hunter]

I know it's a huge responsibility and that I'm probably not going to make much money but who cares bout how much you make when your doin something you love. Im gonna work hard and I wanna be able to hunt a lot like Sdbirds who surprisingly has a job (and a damn good one considering how much he hunts) even if it's not me pulling the trigger. I Love watching people hunt and fish and helping people out with both. For example if I'm fishing at a lake or pond and having luck at a spot and I see a guy with his young kids I'll give em my spot and tell em where to cast and what I'm getting bit on and how to fish it. If they don't have the specific lure I'm catching fish on I'll give it to em and jst watch em fish.


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[motorhead]

Your my Hero...

 

[uplandfam]

Hey d16. I had my first son at 19. I've done a lot of different things and seen a lot of different places in my many lines of work. I'm 34 years old and even though I love my life I'd live to go back and get pai to do what I love now. Hunting is usually forever once you get into it. Put your mind to it learn as many different things as you can and work hard at everything you do. You have a few years to figure it out just don't go having kids with out a career. Even though I had a son at 19 I was already a master craftsman an by 22 I was a specialist in a very different field and by 24 I had a degree. I have a few different careers I can fall back on. I have love everything I have done it makes it easier to get up every morning.

 

[8SteelTown]

All you can do is find out everything there is to know about it... save up some cash and go use multiple guides... ask all the hard questions and even the obvious questions. See if one will take you in as a ranch hand / apprentice on one of your off summers. See if you can tag along as the hired help to get a feel for it. Good luck to you man.

And we ALL wish we could hunt like SDBirds... guy's my friggin HERO!

 

[Sdbirds]

How is this on me lol
No ebt card here 3===)

Just go!! A few times a week I'll work till 4 am jet strait to the mountains. Hike in by 5-6 glassing till it's hot then my day starts after a nap then repeat the process. If I can stop living like a zombie I put in way to many 30+hour days in just to look at a deer and keep the lights on at home.

I would say make millions and pay your guide hunt for you and friends.

 

[longbowhunter2]

Hahaha that goes for me to. Working to pay the bills sucks. But it has to be done. We make our own path in life sometimes we take the wrong road. Again do what feels right. I would suggest have back up plan be it trade or college. Like others said it a good thing to be diversified.good luck

 

[Aeon]

Sdbirds nailed it " just go" you cant kill anything from the couch.

and yeah i am jealous when you post mid week day time hunt reports but not so much about working all night long. That shit is tough and you are the man for staying up and going out when your off work at 4 freaking am

 

[Matagi]

A good friend of mine just started his road to becoming a guide in Montana after retiring from the military. From what he has told me, its not easy to get into but not impossible to make a career out of it. He's starting right now working as a fishing guide/hiking guide during the summer months to build his resume into the following fall/winter hunting season. He has extensive experience in teaching survival, nature tours, and as a Government hunter which all looks good on paper to show a service that you're interested in becoming employed with.

Try to start working now as nature tour guide for parks and recreational tour businesses, work as a deckhand on a sport boat (I did that in highschool), etc. Start learning to communicate with people since communication and having a people person personality is important in a job like a guide. Another great way is to call different guide services to ask questions and to see if anyone has a apprenticeship program available.

 

[Bonejour]

My cousin runs an outfitting service in the Alaskan interior. I think he may offer a training program to develop young guides because up there, and in most western states other than CA, it is a big industry and they want to develop young people who are willing to do the hard stuff. PM me if you are interested.


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[longbowhunter2]

My cousin runs an outfitting service in the Alaskan interior. I think he may offer a training program to develop young guides because up there, and in most western states other than CA, it is a big industry and they want to develop young people who are willing to do the hard stuff. PM me if you are interested.


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Ok that's super coll. to bad, hahahaha I have to much mileage. I would have like to done that.