Does anyone on here make a living off fishing and hunting? Fishing and hunting are just about the only things I know and I’m on the lake or in the field everyday. I am a pro-staffer for hunt addictions. If you have any spot openings let me know or give me some ideas for jobs. Thanks
No, but a great many people-sporting goods dealers, bait sellers, tackle companies, etc.-are making a living from my fishing and hunting addictions! Does that count? 
Can you sell?
You can be a great sportsman but in order to make a living at it you must also be a great salesman. Think of the guys you see on TV. There not in the top 20 tournament results but there picture is on every flyer. You can also come up with a product to sell based on experience.
Do you have a reputation among others who seek your advice?. If you do and can direct or even place them in productive situations then you possibly have a marketable service. Now, if you start charging for this service and people are willing to pay, and the satisfaction that they receive they pass on to others then you have the seedlings of a career in hunting / fishing. If you are able to get popular enough and have a certain charisma then you may be either able to approach or be approached for a career that is more visible. Personally I’m waiting for James Holst, you may have heard of him, to come out with his autobiography. That would be more enlightening than some advice from some clown.
Like others have already stated, the biggest part about being successful and making a living in the outdoor business is being able to market yourself. What do you offer that will draw people to your business? It’s not always necessarily about the quantity or quality of fish/game that you capture, but the experience that you offer through your business is what will have customers returning to your business time and time again.
I am in a similar boat to you as I have always wanted to make a living in the outdoors as I have a huge passion in fishing. I am currently in college, but have plans and aspirations to begin guiding this coming summer and look at what it takes to be successful in the industry.
Not me, but I do know you either have to have an awful understanding spouse with a great career of her own or be single. My wife is a teacher so I can’t do it. I’d think you’d either need a kick start from someone that’s already got a start or earn enough first doing something else. My only option is to wait just a few years and retire early so my pension still pays the bills and a fishing career would hopefully be enough to keep me from having to get a (gulp) part-time j.o.b.
Hey Gregg, we are a crew of retired firefighters who pour concrete…part time of course, intrested???
Be right there clown. Thanks for the job.
As soon as the ground thaws and dries. Oh, and by the way, I’ll be your job boss…you will then be able to tell anyone how it feels to work for a real “clown” 
If you are inclined to look at a career as how much you can make per hour, I strongly suggest looking outside of this industry. Also, you have to reach a point in life that you are more satisfied by seeing/helping others succeed.
If your thinking guiding/outfitting. Be prepared for so many guys to undercut your pricing and all the bs that goes with it. Though your in the woods or on water, your not there for your own satisfaction. I only got to fish by myself about 10 times last year. My girls get very little time out because I tend to others.
Manufacturers’ Rep is fun, but the amount of time and expenses add up fast. A new rep can go 2 to 3 years before making a decent living. If you have young kids and want to be a parent, you need to be very disciplined to structure your time.
But, working at ICAST, Shot Show,…has its perks
We are in the season of the sportshows, boatshows, etc. Perfect time would be the weekday nights to stop down and start talking to people. Don’t do the weekends cause of the crowds.
Ask people how they got started and if they can recommend 1 or 2 people you can talk to. Don’t ask people if they are hiring or have a job for you. If people are hiring and they see a go-getter with a passion that matches their own, they’ll ask you!
Network, network, network.
ET
One bit of advice from a recruiter… find where the money in the industry comes from and where it flows. Determine if there is an occupation or business opportunity in that equation that you can pursue. If you’re not positioned in the money flow, your passion for what you do may not work.
Put me down for a copy of that book.
To the OP–
Just speculation but you may not like your career as much when the food on your plate depends on it. With that said, if I had the opportunity to be a full time guide on the river, I would drop everything.
WW
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