GHOSTLUVR Report post Posted October 23, 2008 Your being paid for your knowledge which includes your honey holes. Kind of a neat trick when a guy hires you one year and you see him and his friends in your spots the following year (unguided)! May be different if you guide on private land only. Good Luck! +1 from Lark, "It's a miserable existence!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hunt4horns Report post Posted October 23, 2008 DON'T DO IT! IT TAKES ALL THE FUN OUT OF IT....... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mattobertin Report post Posted October 23, 2008 You guys make it sound like so much fun! LOL! What about the fishing deal? Anyone here ever guide for bass, crappie, catfish, etc.? Seems like less of a hassle.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COOSEFAN Report post Posted October 23, 2008 Hey Matt, you are getting some good info here, several folks made some great points. I'm a "full time" outfitter yet I work a part time job in the spring and summer to help with an income during the down time. The money I make during the 7 months that I guide every year isn't squat and I'm constantly asking myself if it's worth it, heck, the guides that I employ make more money than me, even if I was guiding one of the hunters in the same camp!!! There is A LOT of money that is spent on expenses such as fuel, equipment, food, wages, AND......if you are a legitimate and responsible guide/outfitter you'll have paid for insurance and forest service permits! The easiest thing is to be a guide for an outfitter that has taken care of the technical and legal stuff, otherwise you'll find that to "legally" guide a hunter on your own isn't all it's cracked up to be......but that also depends on how much you've put into the hunt.......PB&Jelly sandwhiches and a coleman tent are cheap.....but most clients want more than that!!! There is a bunch of guide/outfitter "haters" out there, and some of those folks have good reasons for their feelings too. Not all guides/outfitters follow the rules, have respect for others, treat their clients well, or have respect for the wildlife they pursue. If you can be mindful and respectful of the laws, wildlife and other hunters, you'll soon earn a good reputation, clients will start calling, and you could be proud of what you do. I'm proud of what I do, the memories, friendships, experiences and everything else are things that I would otherwise miss out on if I didn't do what I do. There is nothing more satisfying than to see the excitement on a hunters face after taking an animal they've drempt of......and knowing that you helped make it happen for them! Best of luck to you! JIM> BTW........the fishing part of the guides test SUCKS........I studied for it and failed! I didn't really care to be a fishing guide at all, just tried it to see if I could pass the test, the cost was the same I believe. Also, I think it would be very hard to make money being a fishing guide and i'm sure it's hard to get paying clients! Doesn't hurt to give it a shot though! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
.270 Report post Posted October 23, 2008 i flunked the fishin' part too. seems that 'dynamite' is not a good answer on any fishin' question. that and when it axed about limits i used the pat mcmanus rule on the question, "all you can catch, plus one". i can't believe they have rules on fishin'..............Lark. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kilimanjaro Report post Posted October 23, 2008 DON'T DO IT! IT TAKES ALL THE FUN OUT OF IT....... By the time I was out of college, I had already been guiding for 3 yrs with guiding expirence in TX, WY, Mexico and even a short stint in AK. After getting out of school, I decided I want to be a full time guide. I ended up in South Africa for a full yr with an apprenticeship under a PH. I got to do things and see things I would have never got to as a client. A lifetime of memories packed into one year!! After working in Africa, I somehow pulled a gig in New Zealand/ Australia. Again, I spent a full yearr over there and got to do things I never would have otherwise. I had another gig lined up in Spain after NZ, but I had a serious climbing accident in NZ and that put a halt to that. While I was back in TX in rehab for the injuries, I got to thinking about what I really wanted. Being around hunting ALL DAY, EVERYDAY had really begun to take the fun out of it for me. It had become just more work than fun. Dealing with some(more than a few) of the clients became a pain and the money wasn't very good. I wasn't making any money really. More like just breaking even in the end. All of that made me really nervous. I was starting to dislike the very thing I loved more than anything!!! So, I decided to give it up and keep hunting as my passion and hobby, NOT my career. Those times were some of the best of my life and I wouldnt trade them for anything, but I'm glad I didnt stay with it. Id be totally burned out of hunting by now for sure. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COOSEFAN Report post Posted October 23, 2008 That's a good point Scottyboy, I do get burned out but it's never gotten to the point that all the fun was taken out of it.......for me at least. For me, the seasons change at the right time, just about when I'm tired of the elk hunts I get to switch gears for the deer hunts and it's usually new and different enough to keep things fresh. Also the important thing for me is MY hunts, I always make sure I have several hunts lined up for myself. Looking forward to my personal hunts keeps me motivated, but that's with any job, most everyone here uses their personal hunting time as motivation to make it thru the workday! BTW....Scottyboy, I got burnt out just reading about all the places you've guided! LOL! I couldn't imagine all the experiences and memories you have, that's awesome! JIM> Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TAM Report post Posted October 23, 2008 Hunting for fun = Hobby Hunting for money = Job No thanks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mattobertin Report post Posted October 23, 2008 This whole guiding thing is starting to sound like a bad idea.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
