Working in the Industry

[Bama Recurve]

I'm still in my twenties, free to relocate, college degree. I often wonder about opportunites in the outdoor industry. I would love to combine my education and work experience with my passion for bowhunting.  
  Is it as exciting as I dream it up in my head? Will it make this awesome hobby of mine less exciting or amplify it? I know it's probably a ton of work, but do I really want to sit in this office rest of my days?
I'm just talking out loud. You guys chime in

[bicster]

Check out the whitewater rafting industry. Most companies offer their training in the spring. I was full time for 9 years until I was ready to move onto the "real job". My wife is still full time working in administration. Some guides also work ski patrol during the winter months to give them year around income. I have no regrets from my days as a raft/kayak guide because it took me to foreign countries and across the country. Having been there done that I can now focus on my career path and pursue other pastimes such as trad archery. BTW, I got into archery because I worked booths at travel shows and I used to have a target range behind the PFD shed of the raft company.

[Bama Recurve]

Thanks Bicster. I have a cousin who worked the Ocoee River in Tn for a long time. I've thought about going in that direction.
Ha I can come back to this "real job" thing later.

[Doc Nock]

Recognize that the "world of work" has changed and may remain changed.

I'd 2nd the idea of enjoying a related outdoor activity... not something tied directly to hunting or bows.  I remember when a buddy who loved to fly fish opened a fly shop in Helena, MT.

Old gent came in he knew and said, "I see son, that you have decided not to fish the good times ever again with this store!"

He didn't understand that comment until it came close to the fishing season and he could never get away... had to make hay when the sun shone and people were buying that were GOING fishing!

Choose wisely, grasshopper!  And good luck!

[longbowman]

I can say from experience that mixing your hobby passion and work isn't all it's cracked up to be.  My dream was to have my own archery shop with indoor lanes and work shop and I got the opportunity to do it.  After one year I found that I was working 12-14 hr. days and my busiest time was when I wanted to be scouting or hunting.  It was great meeting so many people that shared my passion but if given the chance to do it again I'd have to be retired with no need for money and then I could dictate when I would work and when I'd play.  Good luck!

[Jim Wright]

Don't want to seem cynical but the "outdoor industry" does not seem to hold much potential for anyone interested in traditional archery. If your chosen field allows it and you are fortunate enough to find employment there perhaps simply moving out west might be a compromise. I was in a field of employment that allowed me to do so and I treasure the experience but that was some years ago and in a different economy. Good luck.

[straitera]

The most successful folks in the U.S. do not consider their jobs work. To most, it is a passion that they would do for much less money. BUT, because they love the connection so much, they can spend way more hours (which greatly helps productivity & reward) w/o burning out. When I get involved strickly for the "money" I quickly lose passion & interest if that makes sense. Good luck

[Bama Recurve]

Good advice and honesty. I like it.
I've recently learned that "money" should never be a main motivator.
 All I need is a enough to make a living, a stick&string, and maybe some cool Fred Asbell pullovers.

[TxAg]

I wouldn't kill myself for a buck, but nobody ever complained because they had too much money. Find a happy medium.

[achigan]

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

Confucius


I'm a photojournalist. There are absolutely some individual assignments that $uck, but as a profession, it's great.
 Now that my wife and I are empty nesting(a long way off for you) I can spend time where I choose without feeling like I'm neglecting my wife and kids.
  While backpackiing a segment of the AT 13 years ago, my buddy and I came across a just-retired NYC construction worker trying a thru hike. He was so stove up, he could hardly walk, and he was just a couple hundren miles into the journey. Point being, have fun while you can. Jim

[TraditionalGuy]

There is a saying that goes something like, "there is no worse boss than owning your own business." I've known many people that have or still own their own business and work 12-14 or more hours a day, 6-7 days a week and rarely take a vacation.

That being said, you are still really young. I had a friend that got out of the service when I did and went right into wilderness guiding in Colorado. He made next to nothing, had very little space to call his own, and worked his tail off. He hated it and still loved every minute of it. I haven't spoken to him in a while, but last I heard he was guiding celebrities and wealthy folks for good money when he wasn't hunting pretty much anywhere in the world he wanted to hunt.

[Cmane07]

Definitely do what you love and what makes you happy.  I have always loved to hunt and loved the outdoors so I decided to go into wildlife biology.  I am about a semester and a half from having my masters and while people warned me that I may get burned out on the outdoors that is not the case.  I find that the more I work with and learn about deer for my project, the more I can't wait to go out and hunt them.

[BigJim]

I have always turned my hobbies in to business's so I understand what happens in those cercumstances.

I would say as an employee, your future is very limited unless your find a very special place. As an owner, it can be even more so at times.

Traditional archery is a wonderful profession and I wouldn't change much. In order for us to make a living, we must always have less employees than what we really need and push push push to have something new and or special so the sales don't go stagnant. We have a grueling travel schedule that is routinely littered with breakdowns (mechanical and physical/mental)

This can be fun and I don't mind working long hours everyday. It is not good for your health or marriage though.

We take time off to hunt ocasionally and really do enjoy our customers but the thought of retirement never enters my mind.

If you are young with no ties, by all means go for it. Live life and have fun while you can. There will always be time to settle down and do something more financially rewarding.

BigJim

[Mike Vines]

Working to afford your hobby is a whole lot different than working FOR your hobby.  I choose not to do it because I hate working and that would ruin any fun I would have enjoying the hobby that brings me peace.

[gringol]

Big jim is right.  You're young.  Go for it now.  Later on, with a family, mortgage, etc you may not have the chance.  Worst case, after a few years you are sick of it, then you quit, and get a job working for the man.

[yth-mnstr]

I work in the hunting industry now as a manufacturer's rep and love it!  There are gives and takes.  We do stay pretty busy during hunting season, but get to work with hunting and hunters year round.  It just doesn't seem like work at all to me, but I work for some pretty good people.

[killinstuff]

My first wife was the creative director for an ad agency that specialized in outdoor equipment. Rocky boots, Diawa, Flambaou, Johnson/Evenude.  It was a great gig, for me. I still have 50 or so Team Diawa rods and reels, hob knobbed with big name guys in the industry, fished a lot of big money tournaments, went on trips across North America for photo shoots, plus  she made a ton of money.

Anyway,  sales and marketing are the way to go if you can get your foot in the door in the outdoor world.  Lots of money and side benefits.  But get in line and bring a lunch cause competition for those jobs are tough unless you know someone.

[DennyK]

For example my other passion grilling and BBQing folks keep telling me you gotta open your own resteraunt. My reply is always the same: Then it just wouldn't be the same fun anymore.

[Aunty]

Find a job you love, I don't work in the hunting sector. I work outside though and being an employee I work 12 to 16 hours without a worry because I love my job.

[Hit-or-Miss]

Hey, you are at the perfect age to follow your dreams, and do what you love. Once you are older, tied down with family, property, children, etc., it gets REAL tough to do that. Take a chance and enjoy yourself.
Oh yeah, most vital; START A ROTH IRA or 401K PLAN ASAP, and pay yourself FIRST, as much as you can. Start now, and let the power of compound interest work for you. When you are 55 or 60 and want to retire a few years early, you will be glad you did.
  I have 25 years under my belt in a State Pension system, and I'll most likely stick around another 10 or so to boost it up a bit more, as I won't get SS. Then, I might just decide to take up a 2nd career in the Outdoor Industry, if I'm still walking. But if I was in my 20's and not already vested in a retirement system, I would pursue another path. Either way, save & invest your money. Time goes quick...