Building a Hunting Lifestyle

jlw0142

WKR
Joined
Feb 6, 2023
Messages
307
I am in my mid-20s, married, and in law school. Hunting is my only real hobby (besides archery), and my passion in life. I am striving to be a transactional lawyer of some sort, likely in the tax and business realm, but I am struggling with what I should do next. My faith and my family come first, but I really want to build a life where I can hunt when I want. I am a hard worker and being a master of my craft is important to me, and I am willing to spend years temporarily placing my dreams on hold (as I have already) to build the life I want for my family and I. With that said, I am unsure whether it would be best for me to work my way up to partner in a firm, start my own firm, or go a different route entirely, whatever that may entail. I am starting to realize that my responsibilities as a husband, father, and church servant will take up more of my anticipated hunting time than I imagined. I could say a lot more, but this is something I would like to hear about from others who have gone through similar situations and are currently living a life where they have the freedom they desire. It doesn't have to be an attorney giving me advice, although any attorneys willing to offer advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
I chose my original career because it gave me enough vacation time and paid well enough that I could hunt a lot. The one thing I didn’t have was truly great hunting where I lived. There’s plenty to hunt here, and it’s decent, but it’s not the same as the places I travel to each year.

Hunting has always been a priority for me. I used to save money all year so I’d have enough to cover expenses in the fall. I don’t need to do that now, but the mindset has stuck.

For me, August through November is reserved for hunting. Before scheduling anything during those months, my wife checks my hunting calendar first.

My best advice to anyone wanting to live this kind of lifestyle is to move to the place you primarily want to hunt. You’ll have more opportunities, and you’ll be a resident in the area you want to focus on most.

As for your career, only you can truly answer that. Coming out of law school, I’d suggest working for someone else for a while to gain experience. Eventually, you can branch out on your own if that’s your goal.

Don’t waste time in life—there isn’t always a “next time.”
 
Not an attorney,
If it's possible live in a state that offers opportunities for both your personal life, work life, and your hunting life. A happy wife is a great tool to allow for a better hunting life.
 
I chose my original career because it gave me enough vacation time and paid well enough that I could hunt a lot. The one thing I didn’t have was truly great hunting where I lived. There’s plenty to hunt here, and it’s decent, but it’s not the same as the places I travel to each year.

Hunting has always been a priority for me. I used to save money all year so I’d have enough to cover expenses in the fall. I don’t need to do that now, but the mindset has stuck.

For me, August through November is reserved for hunting. Before scheduling anything during those months, my wife checks my hunting calendar first.

My best advice to anyone wanting to live this kind of lifestyle is to move to the place you primarily want to hunt. You’ll have more opportunities, and you’ll be a resident in the area you want to focus on most.

As for your career, only you can truly answer that. Coming out of law school, I’d suggest working for someone else for a while to gain experience. Eventually, you can branch out on your own if that’s your goal.

Don’t waste time in life—there isn’t always a “next time.”

Thank you! Thankfully the area where I live offers perfect opportunities for me within a maximum range of 4-5 hours, so that is very nice. However, I have aspirations of Alaska moose and caribou trips, I want to go out west every year for elk or mule deer, and I have buddies who like to hunt in the Midwest. Of course I will have to make sacrifices every year, but I just want to minimize them as much as possible and truly live the life I want without being doomed to a life of dreaming of experiences that never come to fruition. Yeah I think you are right about gaining experience first. I’ve got to master my craft before I can really live the life I want, but I just want to get there before I am too old to enjoy the experiences properly, like so many do.


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Have kids

Your lifestyle priorities will change

Sure they’ll change, but that doesn’t mean I won’t still want to hunt haha. And I know that I will dedicate a lot of time to being a present father, like I said, but that doesn’t mean I totally give up on what I enjoy too.


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Sure they’ll change, but that doesn’t mean I won’t still want to hunt haha. And I know that I will dedicate a lot of time to being a present father, like I said, but that doesn’t mean I totally give up on what I enjoy too.


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My boys are 5 and 3. My multi-day multi state hunting seasons have taken a back seat by choice. Can’t believe the oldest is already 5 and I want to make the most of my time while they’re young. Wouldn’t trade it and it’ll pay off when I’m an old man I’m fairly sure.
 
Acts 17:24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.”

The woods is where I go to work on my relationship with God.


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Acts 17:24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.”

The woods is where I go to work on my relationship with God.


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100% same with me, it’s where I feel closest to Him. But also, Hebrews 10:25 and Acts 2:42 make clear that fellowship is important. I also believe that serving others through Christ is important, although that need not be through church organization, of course.


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Sure they’ll change, but that doesn’t mean I won’t still want to hunt haha. And I know that I will dedicate a lot of time to being a present father, like I said, but that doesn’t mean I totally give up on what I enjoy too.

I raised 2 kids and still hunted quite a bit.
But, being a dad 365 days a year is more important than a couple weeks hunting.

Family, Career, Hunting.
In that order
 
I raised 2 kids and still hunted quite a bit.
But, being a dad 365 days a year is more important than a couple weeks hunting.

Family, Career, Hunting.
In that order

I like that and admire it. That’s what I’m striving for: to be a great father and husband, but to set an example for my kids by pursuing a passion. I think it was important for me to have a father who pursued his passions, and I think a lack of those types of father figures is a big reason why we have screwed up kids.


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Litigation and manage your calendar. You’ll work a lot and it will be stressful, but once you get to the partner level you will make your own schedule. Trial and certain stuff will be time consuming, but you have control over when that gets scheduled generally and will be able make your own hours outside of those things. Plus so much is virtual now you can do your work anywhere.
 
Litigation and manage your calendar. You’ll work a lot and it will be stressful, but once you get to the partner level you will make your own schedule. Trial and certain stuff will be time consuming, but you have control over when that gets scheduled generally and will be able make your own hours outside of those things. Plus so much is virtual now you can do your work anywhere.

Thanks! I honestly haven’t seriously considered litigation, but I certainly should.


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Consider patent law and working for the USPTO. All the government benefits of time off and retirement and you don’t have to bill 1800 hours a year.

Thanks! Only problem is I did accounting in undergrad and have almost no science education, and definitely not engineering. Seems like an interesting area though


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Honestly, that would have me moving. You can get in a lot more lil halfday hunts when you are only driving 30-45 mins

Yeah I hear you. I do have good spots within that distance of where I live currently, but meant that the furthest spots I hunt are 4-5 hours away.


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I'm not a lawyer, but I am an engineer in a field that is client-facing and schedule-driven much like law is. I was in a similar position as you when I was your age. Prepare to have much less time to hunt but more money to spend on hunting.
 
I'm not a lawyer, but I am an engineer in a field that is client-facing and schedule-driven much like law is. I was in a similar position as you when I was your age. Prepare to have much less time to hunt but more money to spend on hunting.

Well that’s good to know, I appreciate it! If I can’t have one, I’d certainly like to have the other lol


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Sounds to me like your priorities are in the right order. When you put God first, naturally your marriage and family will fall into place as you all strive to serve God together! Everything after that (hobbies, hunting, and career) HE will take care of. Stay strong and GOD will bless in every aspect of your life, time included. I speak from experience!
 
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