Building a Hunting Lifestyle

[jlw0142]

Not an attorney but know a few, and have made hunting my way of life (closing in on the Archery NA29 and Dangerous 7 in Africa)

You have to be a partner/owner otherwise you will never control your schedule and lose over half your money.

Sure short term do what you need to to make partner or work to learn/experience but definitely consider starting your own firm sooner than later. Sacrifice time/money now to set your self up for more income later. You will live much longer than you think.

Litigation and trials (personal injury law) definitely pays more than anything else. Forget Govt work, it will never pay enough and usually ends up being a thankless job. My BIL went to law school and works for the USPTO- 15 yrs later and he still can’t afford to buy a truck he has always wanted Also took a demotion to keep some control of his schedule . My other attorney friend quit the Govt job he had and started his own firm- now makes 5-6X his Gov salary with more discretion on time and vacations!

Also hunt prices have increased way more than inflation. If you are happy hunting your family farm or public land, then time off may be more important than money… but if you ever aspire to do more or international that’s a different story.

Tell me what you think it would cost to complete the archery NA 29 today? Factor that into your idealistic family budget over the next 20 years and see what your income has to be then double it for inflation

That’s awesome! Good luck on your journey to Archery NA 29, and I really appreciate the advice


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jlw0142]

Not gonna happen kiddo. You are going to work your ass off until you are 50, and then wonder where all that time went. The dream is free, the hustle is reality.

Well I’m gonna try to beat the odds. We’ll see I guess.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[pacoalcracker]

Wait, you are mid 20's and already looking for light at the end of the tunnel? You just got into the tunnel, the very beginning. That light isn't coming for another 30 years and plan to work your ass off that entire time. Sorry, no soft gloves here....only reality. Unless you are way above average, most lawyers don't make great money and most don't end up as a partner in a great law firm. If you want lots of free time, you won't either. There's that "reality" word again. Seems young people hate that word.

 

[jlw0142]

Wait, you are mid 20's and already looking for light at the end of the tunnel? You just got into the tunnel, the very beginning. That light isn't coming for another 30 years and plan to work your ass off that entire time. Sorry, no soft gloves here....only reality. Unless you are way above average, most lawyers don't make great money and most don't end up as a partner in a great law firm. If you want lots of free time, you won't either. There's that "reality" word again. Seems young people hate that word.

I love my life and everything about it, including the hard work I have exerted and will continue to. You know nothing about me except the small snippet of info I placed at the top of this thread. Sorry I want my reality to be better than yours. Hope you can find happiness in life. I’m just trying to optimize mine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Howdoyoulikemenow]

I’ll say this. As a very young man I was a hunting sob. Got married. Got a good job. Raised a good family that I’m proud of today. Buried a wife. Retired early going on six years ago. I have funds to hunt anywhere. Thought that I’d turn back into that hunting sob again But these days other than my son who is now raising a family I have no one to go with. I absolutely despise going by myself. So ironically I hunt less now than I did in the last twenty years of my working career.

So…. My point is enjoy that family of yours. Nothing and I mean nothing is more important. Hunting is just fluff like any other hobby or pastime. Everything will work out in the end.

 

[land cruiser]

Transactional law has no respect for personal boundaries. You are the last stop before sign and pressure is the highest at that point and often announcement is your backstop, so not much wiggle room. The only people who work harder than deal and diligence teams are legal teams (at the end of the deal.

Notable mentions: you are only as good as your last deal, stakes are the highest of all, the pay is commensurate and deal crew is seemingly the most respected across your field.

Do what brings you joy. You will spend a lot more time with your clients vs hunting. Book time off for the following year in December and stick to it. You can make it work. Best of luck.

 

[Boarmaster]

I have lived a hunting and fishing lifestyle for 40 some years. It helps if you live near where you hunt and fish. I am a bachelor so easy for me to be gone for a week or two. I have a occupation that allows me to be gone but still work at 95% as if I was at home. It took some time to get to this point. You have to figure out how to get things done. I get up a few hrs early and work. I also work while in my stand on emails and texts. I call people back at lunch. Sometimes I drive up on a high hill with a great view and make calls.
It helps that I love my work. So I don't mind taking a little time each day as trade for being ablevto be out of town for these longer stretches.

I have a great deer lease 9 hrs away. In the past I had more local hunting leases in SWFL but we shot mostly hogs and turkeys not deer. Those are lost to housing and commercial development so we took up leases in Alabama. Weather is better for hunting up there as well. 4 hrs away would be better but I make the 9 hr trip work.
I keep all of my equipment and trailers up at the lease and rent a small warehouse for my atv and SXS.

I decided to taylor my home to being out of town. I decided to live in a villa with a two car garage in a gated community. It looks the same when I come back as when I left. No maintenance on my part so if I am not working I am doing outdoor things. I lock up and put the garage door down and take off. I never thought this type of housing would be what I wanted and alway dreamed of a few acres house and barn/ workshop set up. That dream changed as I travelled more.

Fishing is good here so I fish locally when hunting is not in season. I work pretty hard off season to get as much business as possible done March thru October.

If you want a sporting lifestyle and you’re not independently wealthy you have to make trade offs and sacrifice things of lesser importance. I wouldn't change a thing about my life other than winning the lottery or inheriting a few million.

 

[jlw0142]

I have lived a hunting and fishing lifestyle for 40 some years. It helps if you live near where you hunt and fish. I am a bachelor so easy for me to be gone for a week or two. I have a occupation that allows me to be gone but still work at 95% as if I was at home. It took some time to get to this point. You have to figure out how to get things done. I get up a few hrs early and work. I also work while in my stand on emails and texts. I call people back at lunch. Sometimes I drive up on a high hill with a great view and make calls.
It helps that I love my work. So I don't mind taking a little time each day as trade for being ablevto be out of town for these longer stretches.

I have a great deer lease 9 hrs away. In the past I had more local hunting leases in SWFL but we shot mostly hogs and turkeys not deer. Those are lost to housing and commercial development so we took up leases in Alabama. Weather is better for hunting up there as well. 4 hrs away would be better but I make the 9 hr trip work.
I keep all of my equipment and trailers up at the lease and rent a small warehouse for my atv and SXS.

I decided to taylor my home to being out of town. I decided to live in a villa with a two car garage in a gated community. It looks the same when I come back as when I left. No maintenance on my part so if I am not working I am doing outdoor things. I lock up and put the garage door down and take off. I never thought this type of housing would be what I wanted and alway dreamed of a few acres house and barn/ workshop set up. That dream changed as I travelled more.

Fishing is good here so I fish locally when hunting is not in season. I work pretty hard off season to get as much business as possible done March thru October.

If you want a sporting lifestyle and you’re not independently wealthy you have to make trade offs and sacrifice things of lesser importance. I wouldn't change a thing about my life other than winning the lottery or inheriting a few million.

Thank you! I appreciate the insight. I also have the dream of owning a country home on some land, but I have pretty much squashed that idea for the time being. I am willing to make sacrifices for my career and family, but I just want to ensure that I can still enjoy my life outside of work. Seems like you do a good job!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Boarmaster]

Thank you! I appreciate the insight. I also have the dream of owning a country home on some land, but I have pretty much squashed that idea for the time being. I am willing to make sacrifices for my career and family, but I just want to ensure that I can still enjoy my life outside of work. Seems like you do a good job!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Its always a balance. I’m 62. Did the country property thing when I was in my 30s. Did the large house and pool at the country club in my 40s. Finally realized what I really needed and went that route. This down sized version works for me moving forward. It really freed up my time and money. If I had a wife and kids they and I would probably not be excited about living in the villa.