Be a Professional Hunting and Fishing Guide

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If you like people, love the outdoors, and respect nature, you can turn those assests into a paying business.

Sometimes it takes a bit of energy and a willingness to take chances to achieve the freedom of rural living and self-employment. At least, that was the way it worked out for me a few years back. I was a logger working in the Chequamegon National Forest here in Wisconsin when the pulp market slipped down the hill and took my profession with it. To keep my family in groceries, I decided to try to make a living by doing what I love most ...hunting and fishing. In short, I became a professional guide.

And I've never regretted that career change. Furthermore, if you—like me—are an avid outdoor sportsperson, live in an area that has a better-than-average supply of fish and game, and know (or are willing to work hard at learning) a good bit of woodsmanship, there's no reason why you, too, can't become a professional guide.

FINDING THE TRAIL

Generally, the nature of the guide business almost dictates that you enter it on a part-time basis. After all, it takes time to build up a regular clientele of men and women who find your services valuable, who return year after year, and who will spread the word to others. After a season or two—if you're good, if you work at your job, and if you're at least a little bit lucky—you'll have built up a business that can support you on a full-time basis.

One requirement for this type of work that can easily be overlooked is a genuine enjoyment of your fellow man. After all, guiding is very much a people game. Your clients want to enjoy themselves in the outdoors, and a good part of that enjoyment should come from you ...from your pleasant professional personality, positive outlook, and ability to lighten potentially dull or disappointing moments with the right words, actions, and sometimes even a well-chosen yarn.

Aside from an outgoing, pleasant manner and a genuine love of and respect for nature, the guide's most important asset is woodsmanship. No matter where in this big, beautiful land you live, there are angling and hunting techniques that are unique to your part of the country. Make it your business to be well versed in these local strategies.

The best way I've found to pick up a lot of knowledge and experience in not too much time is to hire on with an established, respected outfitter—as a guide, if possible; as a cook or camp swamper, if necessary.

Generally, fishing guides work independently. But when it comes to hunting, there are two classes of outdoor professionals. An outfitter is a big operator who provides all the services visiting sportspersons might need, including transportation, lodging, riding and pack animals, meals, guiding, and post-trip arrangements for processing and shipping game. Often an outfitter employs several guides to take clients out while he or she sits back at headquarters and takes care of the business end of things. A guide, on the other hand, offers services in the field, taking customers to game and usually providing transportation (even horses) ...but he or she rarely provides the other amenities offered by an outfitter.

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