Decisions of a 23 year old/2019 Hunts

[boonehuntr]

Go live your dream.. find out if it's really what you want to do. A lot of truth in if you love what you do, you don't have to work a day in your life. You'll find work, if you're really serious about it to fill in the other 9 mos. This doesn't have to be a lifetime decision.. you've got time to figure it out and readjust if needed. You only go around once; don't look back with regrets.

 

[Sportsman]

Take this for what its worth. I am 33 years old, Married with a 1 year old boy. Go and go now. I don't have a ton of regrets in life, but the one I do have is not moving or traveling our west when I was your age. With my career, wife and child it is really hard to get away. I was fortunate that my parents paid my whole way in college including room and board. They always talked about saving moving and not taking out student loans. If I were to go back I would have taken a $10,000 student loan in a heart beat. I would have traveling out west and hunting animals that I may not be able to now. I would have paid that $10,000 off by now and had a ton of memories and possibly a few taxidermist heads. Instead I say one of these days I will go out there and do this and that.

I know this is more about me just going and traveling and you are wanted to move out there. You are young, with not a ton of responsibilities. You can always move back or anywhere you like. My advice is do it now when you are young. Money comes and goes, Memories last a life time.

You might check out the average cost of college these days, even though it was a decade since you were there (likely). $25,000/year at a state school for tuition, room and board. Goes much higher for private and some state flagships. Very easy to have $50,000 in debt even when paying $12-15,000 cash per year.

Advice to all with young kids. Consult a financial planner now on best venues for college savings.

 

[Glory]

Was 23 when I moved to Craig, AK for the outdoor opportunities after leaving the USCG. Made 1k a month. 16 years later, with 16 years of saltwater guiding under my belt I have zero regrets. Own my own charter and comm fish business. Can comfortably support wife and 3 kids on my lifelong passion of fishing. Follow your dreams. Work hard and be smart and it will work for you.

 

[archp625]

You might check out the average cost of college these days, even though it was a decade since you were there (likely). $25,000/year at a state school for tuition, room and board. Goes much higher for private and some state flagships. Very easy to have $50,000 in debt even when paying $12-15,000 cash per year.

Advice to all with young kids. Consult a financial planner now on best venues for college savings.

What does any of this have to do with what I told him? I didn’t say borrow money to go to college.

 

[Sportsman]

No I'll intent do please don't assume it. I just mean it's easy to leave college with more than $10,000 in debt these days even when making reasonable choices.

 

[Wrench]

Guides will always be needed because they starve to death. Doing what you love for work typically is the best OR worst choice you'll ever make.

If you can dave Ramsey the crap out of a year or two and then head west without debt you'll appreciate sleeping well at night.

This comes from a guy who bailed to Alaska with enough money to get there and halfway back or pay for a spot to park my trailer for a month at the age of 21.

It was the scariest and best choice I made. I had to live on top ramen and fish...but it taught me not to be afraid nor in debt.

 

[boom]

I think the quickest way to make you like your hobby less is to make it your job.

I’m older now. Hopefully wiser. I ran around a bit chasing various “dreams”. If I could write my dumbass self a note, I would tell myself to focus on career and to save money. The power of compounding interest.....

The last thing on your mind is retirement. I know. I was there. If I had started saving and contributing to various IRAs and 401k’s then; whoa! It would be amazing.

I still have crap loads of fun now and in my history. Hell, I’m hunting turkey now. My career doesn’t define me. I know that now.

 

[KBC]

I only read page 1... Go with your gut instinct. It's hard to regret doing things that YOU decide YOU want to do.

 

[granite7]

I have followed my gut with “no regrets” thinking on several things over the years. Some things I would change and others I would not. In other words, I still have some regrets. So, I say:

Go with your heart, as long as it isn’t opposed to reality.

Take a year or two and suck it up living lean while you sock away savings and pay down debt. Then make your move. Less risk and less long term damage if you don’t end up loving your choice.


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[4ester]

Make the move but find a job in your field.

Moved my family to WY 10 years ago, and has been good for us.


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[mntnguide]

You will not make a good living as a guide unless you find the funds to become an outfitter. I don't regret the 10 years i spent pulling pack strings through wilderness areas of Idaho and Wyoming all summer and fall, but eventually you will get burned out and realize you need to make money. You will not get to do much hunting for yourself, and depending on the type of clients, could be great could be miserable. Becoming an outfitter involves buying somebody else out usually to get their permits and for a good area that will easily be in the six figures..i work in the power industry now in western WY and get to hunt big bulls and bucks for myself and spend all summer scouting for my own hunts which is great.. there are times i miss being in the hills all summer for sure, but then i see my paycheck every two weeks now and remember what i use to make working 16hr+ days all month and laugh. Guiding isn't for everyone, it is a lot less hunting than you imagine in your head

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[Shrek]

Move yesterday and don’t guide ! Guideing will ruin hunting for you and you’re wasting time where you are now.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Boy, tough call. I guided elk hunts for four years, I’ve hunted elk for 51. Damn near ruined it for me and we killed 35 elk. I’ll never do it again.
Love guiding fishing in Alaska, tremendous fun. I’ll do it as long as I can.
Guiding upland hunts for the last five years. Not sure how much more I’ll do.
Boils down to idiots with guns.
In any event, 23 years old, go do it. You’ll learn a lot about hard work, good country and managing clients expectations. All of which will serve you well.

 

[Cml5895]

Just a little update for you all, the job hunt is still on. I am definitely not locked in to Northern Colorado, I am looking in Utah, Wyoming, Montana and Colorado. The process is definitely slower than I had hoped, but I guess the longer it takes the less debt and more savings I will have for the move. Like I talked about previously, the guiding will take a backseat for now and I will be focusing on making the move to a place I would really like to be. I know I have been in contact with a few of you, but if anyone knows of a construction management position available, feel free to PM me. Believe me when I say that I have read everyone's advice and opinions, and I can't tell you how helpful and encouraging it all has been! I will update when I know hear more. Thanks!
Collin

 

[CJohnson]

I was in your situation 7 years ago. Just turned 30. I had the option to move out west and take a job making $40k/year or stay and get a Masters degree. I ended up staying and getting a degree so I could stay in touch with my now wife. We got married right after I finished school, she also has an engineering degree. We spent the next 5 years working 60-70 hour weeks. I traveled with my work, she worked storms every chance she got. We lived in an affordable house and saved every penny we could. Once we reached a target financially we decided to have kids. Now, two kids and one house later, we are very financially stable. We still save like crazy and the only debt we have is our house payment, which is less than most people's rent for a one bedroom apt. But, I could quit my job tomorrow and be fine for 5-6 years. I now have the leverage to negotiate vacation time and I use it. I'm all for following your dreams, but I can tell you that it feels good to be 30 and know that you have some F-you money in the bank and you won't have to slave away until you're 65 years old to retire.

Finding the right woman (or man, partner, whatever) can be a huge financial benefit or liability. My wife is very frugal. We both grew up on tight budgets. Couple this with both of us seeking out high paying jobs, and I think its a big part of our success so far.

The last thing is, I would check out some financial resources for how to allocate your savings and prioritizing paying off your debt. There's a lot more to it than just budgeting. You have to make sure your money is working for you. I would recommend checking our Mr Money Mustache to start off, but eventually you should find an advisor you trust. Look for an independent fiduciary, not necessarily the Ed Jones types.

Good luck to you!

 

[LaGriz]

Wow you have a lot of advice here to digest!

In stead of a ready fire aim scenario, I would recommend you ask this guy to agree to hire you for the 2020 season and plan a careful thought out exit from upstate NY.

4o years ago, I moved from Western Mass to Louisiana to pursue a job in the oil field. The maintenance job I quit was going to end with a planned plant shutdown about 18 months out. Unlike you I was not giving up much. No regrets with this decision. The economy in New England was pretty lame, as were my job skills. The anti business attitude of the region did not promise much to an unskilled high school grad.

30 years ago I wrote to the chamber of commerce in Grand Junction, Colorado indicating I was thinking of moving there. They sent me an information PKG and I traveled out the next summer to evaluate the place. I was unimpressed with the area around Grand Junction as it reminded me of Southern Calif. Kind of a high desert brown with too little forest nearby. I did really like Delta, Hodgekiss, Crawford, and the Four-Corners area near Durango. Employment opportunities appeared limited. At the time, my industry was in one of many low points I have endured in the boom-n-bust cycle. Not being able to decide became a decision to stay. A few years later the Oilfield out west took off and I could have been in a sweet place had I chosen to make the leap. Real estate took off and I might have made a win-fall investment had I purchased a quality property.

I would look hard at the offers you have received on this thread. Make a plan with a 12-18 month time frame. Make the final move early in the year. Allow enough time to secure a residence before you start the 1st season of guiding as you may have zero free time once the season starts.
I envy your good fortune to have this option while still young and in good health. Good Luck LaGriz

 

[Cml5895]

Skype interview on Friday! This is with a company that I feel would be a great fit for me.

 

[molliesmaster]

I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned it yet, but maybe you should pray to God and ask Him for His guidance.

If anybody has the right answer for you, He does.

 

[Cml5895]

Skype interview went well Friday. They called me this morning and are going to fly me out for a face to face next week already. I'm not positive, but that seems like a good sign to me!

 

[cmmiller53]

In my opinion, take the guiding job in August. That is an irreplaceable learning experience, and also a timeline and reason to get out here. It’s easier to find a job when you have a local address and can interview in person.

You will never regret moving away, because you can always go home. The debt will be there for a few years to come regardless of where you are, so what if you pay it off in 6 years vs 10 as long as you are happier doing it. If you let that debt hinder you then you are only losing prime years of your life.


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