Careers in outdoor industry

[Will_m]

I'm sure this is a silly one, and likely an over-asked one, but for those of you who work in the outdoor industry (sales, marketing, CEO, CFO, COO, whatever) what was your career path there?

 

[Beendare]

I hear Sitka is looking for a ecologist/spokesman.


/Grin

 

[juan trueno]

Like most guys, I started on Instagram then made the jump to YouTube

 

[Btaylor]

I'm sure this is a silly one, and likely an over-asked one, but for those of you who work in the outdoor industry (sales, marketing, CEO, CFO, COO, whatever) what was your career path there?

An education is always a good place to start. Maybe attend the big trade shows, introduce yourself and ask some questions. Dont be a jackwagon.

 

[chasewild]

Like most guys, I started on Instagram then made the jump to YouTube

The last thing we need are more youtube "producers" or instagram heroes or outdoor personalities.

If you're seeking a career (e.g. a craft) then dedicate yourself to it wholly. From my side of the table (public lands/ESA/NEPA lawyer), I can't find enough well respected biologists that aren't tied up with state wildlife agencies.

 

[Will_m]

Chasewild, I tried to send you a pm, but your inbox was full. I'm sort of on the same side of the table as you (JD holder) and wanted to ask you a few questions in that respect. Shoot me a pm, please.

 

[juan trueno]

The last thing we need are more youtube "producers" or instagram heroes or outdoor personalities.

If you're seeking a career (e.g. a craft) then dedicate yourself to it wholly. From my side of the table (public lands/ESA/NEPA lawyer), I can't find enough well respected biologists that aren't tied up with state wildlife agencies.

“Too many like you, too few like me”

Noted.

I’m busting your chops. I actually agree with you. It’s getting rough trying to get click$ out here. Addition to fewer internet celebrities probably could
Get by with a few less lawyers too


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[Jacob_Outdoors]

What exactly are you trying to do in the field? Being specific about your goals will help.

What’s your background right now? A lot of guys want to be hunting guides because “they love to hunt”. That’s the worse reason to become a guide.




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[ReddingArcher]

Like most guys, I started on Instagram then made the jump to YouTube

LOL. Thats funny.

 

[MallardSX2]

Are those the same guys who break blaze orange laws and still post the videos? lol Love those.

 

[william schmaltz]

Like most guys, I started on Instagram then made the jump to YouTube

You'll be making t-shirts in no time with that resume!

 

[juan trueno]

Bumper stickers, screenprinted coozies made of recycled waders. T shirts trucker caps and hoodies, match books, our pod cast is launching st patties day and we are celebrating with a special 2 disc 500 copy 12”pressing withswirly vinyl in Vias colorssxheme and a foil wrap that has the first episode on it. Which I’m stoked about. So yeah I guess you could say the future is bright- unless it’s your area we are in that’s getting big ups...

 

[Beendare]

What exactly are you trying to do in the field? Being specific about your goals will help.

What’s your background right now? A lot of guys want to be hunting guides because “they love to hunt”. That’s the worse reason to become a guide.

Great post^

The sarcasm you will get with a question like this is warranted. It seems to me these days EVERYBODY wants to be an internet hunting hero.

I know many guys in the "Hunting industry" from reps to sponsored pros....all the way down to 'Pro staff' hacks that get a few freebies.

If your goal is to make good money and support a family in the hunting/fishing industry- its a bad choice. Reps spend long hours at little pay; shows, travel etc....and really don't make a lot of $$. The many reps I know are still in it because they don't know anything else. They are just getting by. The ones doing it for decades.....all are burned out.

Wildlife pros like biologists are in it for the love of the profession......tough to support a family on the $$ these guys take home.

Sponsored pros; there are a handful of guys that make a decent living doing this- rare birds....the vast majority do it as a side gig. I have one buddy, a very well know bowhunter with the NA slam, that gets maybe $20k-30k a year from sponsors...and all of that goes to guided hunts. Not enough $$ to move the needle really. He has to have a day job to support his family.

The reality of the hunting/fishing industry....its low pay and long hours.

 

[rustneversleeps]

Throw on a flat bill, grab a go-pro, and create an instagram account

 

[flatlanderhuffandpuff]

There are ways of incorporating your interests into you profession. I wouldn't try to turn your hobby into a profession because believe me when I say it will change it for you.

The "personality" side of things is way saturated. I'd rather have a beer and hear some old timers story from back in the day than watch an "athlete" "conquer" the mountain.

I have a side business making a product that hunters use, I get to interact with hunters from all over and that is as involved as I want to be in the industry. I don't necessarily like the idea of turning hunting into a business.

 

[Fitzwho]

There’s lots of easy to work for companies in the “outdoor industry” the vast majority of which aren’t being the host of hunting show.

I currently work in the west Texas oil fields, have 7 years of facilities/construction experience, 5 years management experience, a BS and MS in Civil engineering and am apparently not qualified to do facilities work at Yeti... recently turned down for a position that ranged from janitor to overseeing construction of new facilities... otherwords it can be hard to just get in on the bottom.

 

[Molon Labe]

Don't do what you love...love what you do.
This is why I stopped guiding and love my time outdoors again.

Get a job that you enjoy and make enough money to support a heavy outdoors habit.
If you cant get a job that fits the bill...start your own business...

 

[HookUp]

For a lot of the folks in the outdoors industry there passion becomes thier job and the can't escape their job to fullfil their passion. Only person who IMO has a great outdoor industry job is Erin Snydoor at Kifaru, look at his IG.

 

[Jimss]

There are a large selection of jobs in the "natural resources" industry. Having a quality education is a starting point. I got my degree in Range Management and have been working in that field for 35+ years. It's exciting working outdoors where my job makes a difference improving wildlife habitat, restoration projects, etc. I may not get paid a lot but it certainly has been an exciting career! If anyone is interested in a seasonal job send me a PM and I may be able to get you started.

 

[Mt Al]

Got my start with a degree and a low paying kind-of-management job in the manufacturing side of the industry. Got hired, found problems, learned the hard way to work with people and get problems fixed, helped move the company forward. It's all hard work and the cool-factor of the outdoors is quickly lost in the sole proprietor/family owned/investment company owned/publicly traded world. Know financials of some sort, even a "for dummies" book and understand if you're in private or public owned: worlds apart. Work hard, be easy to work with, get the job done, and you'll go far in the outdoor, or any other, industry.

An education is always a good place to start. Maybe attend the big trade shows, introduce yourself and ask some questions. Dont be a jackwagon.

As elsewhere in this thread, be specific or at least explore options, then get specific. Don't be a jackwagon!!

Know who you are and what you can do. Take a personality test/capability test. Some people are excellent at inventory and scheduling, others die a slow death in that world. If the job fits your personality it will be way easier to succeed.

Plenty of room for good people across the industry.