Best occupation for outdoorsman

[ffparamedic]

Ok, I have to ask....no offense meant but why the immense pride in the lineman occupation? There are far more dangerous jobs out there (by nearly every measurable standard I've come across). I only ask because I have several friends who have recently decided to become lineman and their shirts and window stickers have me befuddled.

A lot goes into providing electricity to keep lives going (sometimes literally) when the power goes out due to a tornado, ice storm, snow storm, or whatever we all hunker down and try to stay out of it these guys go out in it and restore the power.....We don't think much of electricity as it is just another thing we have come to expect but when it affects your hospitals, grandmas oxygen concentrator, or myriad things it becomes an issue.

 

[elkeaterco]

Firefighter hands down. I have 20 days off a month, get paid to workout, and love what I do. Add a trade now you have a 6 day mini vacation. Take 3 days off now you're talking 2 weeks off. I generally take 9 shifts off from Sept to Oct and have over 30-50 days off to chase critters. Then take several 6-13 day missions into other states. Pay isn't bad depending on location and if you go to medic school. 50-80K with very good benefits.

 

[SethH]

Ok, I have to ask....no offense meant but why the immense pride in the lineman occupation? There are far more dangerous jobs out there (by nearly every measurable standard I've come across). I only ask because I have several friends who have recently decided to become lineman and their shirts and window stickers have me befuddled.

I've have a lot of respect for linesman. That job is no joke. Do you know of another job where if you put you glove on wrong you can die from it? Not as much glory as some other jobs but an important and dangerous one

 

[JFKinYK]

Most here seem to think the best equals the most time off.

Luckily I didn't waste too much of my life before figuring this out, but I wish someone had sat me down and said this sooner:

If you are truly committed to living a life as an outdoorsman, then pursue a field that supports it. Get into an environmental field, conservation, well positioned lobbyist, politician at any level, wildlife biology, game warden, etc the list goes on. Spend your limited time and energy on this earth fighting for our rights as outdoorsman and working to make sure there are healthy animal populations and wild places to chase them. These fields may not pay the best, or give the most time off, but there is more to life than that.

 

[nflesher]

I am one of those oil and gas guys. The pay is incredible and I work 14 on 14 off. I love the time off and my wife could care less how much I spend on gear and guns as long as she gets a purse or some heels here and there. Life is good

 

[Hornetoad326]

My vote is my job as a alaskan Guide

 

[jwatts]

I am one of those oil and gas guys. The pay is incredible and I work 14 on 14 off. I love the time off and my wife could care less how much I spend on gear and guns as long as she gets a purse or some heels here and there. Life is good

After next year I will be able to take 42 days off in a row when it comes time to head to WY for elk. It definitely has its perks.

 

[nflesher]

After next year I will be able to take 42 days off in a row when it comes time to head to WY for elk. It definitely has its perks.

I love it man. I just like having the two weeks off every month! Trout season is here, soon it will spring gobbler season, then summer time to start scouting and hanging trail cams, then it's hunting season all over again. I have to say though, my wife has got to be the best wife any man could ever ask for because she never say's a word about my hunting or fishing trips. I spent 14 days away from her and the kids at work, come home for 8 hours and drove to Colorado for my elk hunt this past November. I only saw her and the kids 2 days in 6 weeks! I try not to take her for granted because she is a stay at home mom to our two daughters, so I always put my marriage and children first, because without her I would be lost.

 

[Elk Dog]

Always thought being a teacher was a good gig for an outdoorsman. After 30 years as a teacher I've discovered that being retired is even better for an outdoorsman. Find something you love, find a way to make a living at it & never work a day in your life. Loved everyday & now living a life well lived in the outdoors.

 

[LaGriz]

My 2 cents

Base Ball umpire - off duty for most of the fall seasons. Might be rough on a bowhunter as they are still working in September. Muzzy/rifle elk,deer and game birds would be wide open a guy with this occupation. The Major League guys get paid pretty well. Not sure about the NCAA group on the income, but they would be off in time for September archery! An old co-worker in the past always said he would like a job from "Noon-to-1:00 PM with hour off for lunch" and about 6 weeks of vacation per year! Cool guy as I remember.

LaGriz

 

[Micahmoose]

Coal miner, wait don't do what I do..

 

[StrutNut]

Not what I do. I manage a National Recruiting team and I gotta tell you, even after being in the industry for over 20 years I have the same vacation time as someone just out of school. 3 weeks of PTO. I can carry one over. No flex time, long hours. It pays good and I do enjoy helping others find work but for hunting, not the greatest career choice. I do have a great view of a large building out of my downtown Minneapolis office and believe me, I am grateful for the view! My last office was a great view of painted sheet rock.

 

[luke moffat]

I am one of those oil and gas guys. The pay is incredible and I work 14 on 14 off. I love the time off and my wife could care less how much I spend on gear and guns as long as she gets a purse or some heels here and there. Life is good

I have been blessed to find a job in the oil industry as well. The 2 weeks on 2 weeks off schedule has its pros and cons certainly, but it works for my wife and I. We both work hard for two weeks and then have two weeks off together every month to do whatever we want. Couple that with a few weeks of paid vacation and you are working only nearly 170 days a week but more importantly they are usually in large blocks of time off (2 weeks or more) which allow for much long forays into the backcountry than most with even 3-4 days in a row off.

Certainly blessed and don't take the job for granted.

 

[birdman1]

Another oil and gas guy on 14 and 14. Between the pay and time off it is very good for hunting, but there is a trade off of missing a lot being gone for 2 weeks at a time. Its great having more than half the year off and being able to afford to do what I love!

 

[Forestryguy]

I am a Natural Resource on a state forest. I get to work outside all year, and do a fair amount of scouting for deer and turkey. If I could be out West doing what I do, would be even better. I get a decent amount of time off, as long as I accrue it and don't have to use it all up before hunting season. I get paid well from other states that I have compared. Plus I am doing stuff to help wildlife with habitat and forest management.

If I could do it all over again, I would have gone into FF/Paramedic. Lots of time off and great pay.

 

[Jon Boy]

My mom calls me a professional seasonal worker haha
I guide elk hunts in the fall, work on marlboros guest ranch in the winter, and work for the forest service or blm in the summer (just got on a fire crew with blm)
I work 9 months out of the year, love what I do, have free housing every where I go and get paid to scout so when I get time off I know where to find the elk. I make pretty decent money and love what I do so it works for me. Not for the family man at all.

 

[Brock A]

My mom calls me a professional seasonal worker haha
I guide elk hunts in the fall, work on marlboros guest ranch in the winter, and work for the forest service or blm in the summer (just got on a fire crew with blm)
I work 9 months out of the year, love what I do, have free housing every where I go and get paid to scout so when I get time off I know where to find the elk. I make pretty decent money and love what I do so it works for me. Not for the family man at all.

 

[goldenarrow]

Ok you guys have made me interested how would someone go about getting a job in the oil industry? What kind of qualifications would be beneficial? I know that with the price of oil falling I know it probably is not booming like it was. But I know the price will be back.

 

[Ray]

Federal, in a type of job you enjoy, from budgeteer, CAD designer, engineer, scientist of all kinds, aviation, electrical technician, etc. You max out at 240 hours of paid leave a year for the first several years, but as you get bumps over time. You can find jobs all over decent hunting country. Sometimes you have to get your foot in the door in a hell hole, but once you are in the door.

 

[Liv2Hunt]

Airline pilot. Usually 10-14 days off per month. Pay is descent. Travel benefits ok. Can live almost anywhere there is a descent size airport nearby.