What do you do for work/profession?

[carlc]

Self employed, excavation and forestry. About a year and a half ago I got rid of all my employees and went to a one man show. I have to work more, but can also schedule time off when wanted. Ive been able to pack and guide in Alaska for 10 years now, and have a sheep tag this year as well as taking my dad on a moose hunt. It can be rough at times, sometimes too much work, other times not enough, but I am pretty fortunate with my setup right now.

 

[oldskool67]

Retired big city cop of 28 years. Mixed in with 18 years combined Army and NG Infantry. Used to enjoy it, most of the time. Current “retirement job” work at an elementary school for active shooter deterrence.

Currently I hunt once a year (4-5 days) in CA where I’m originally from. ( moved to Texas for family and cost of living for retirement) I hunt quite a bit here (30 plus days) but it’s not the same.

My old job used to allow me to have some week days off to hunt and fish. Also 10/12 hr shift work allowed for 3 or sometimes 4 days a week off, but I chose to work a lot of overtime. When I went back in the NG that ate up outdoor time also. I told myself I would make up for it when I retired, as I was staying in shape. That was a lie. Had major health problems upon retirement and it greatly affects my ability to hunt the mountains the way I used to. Chasing bad guys and dollars was great until it wasn’t. Get out and do what you love as much as you can now.

 

[Doublekicker]

I own a construction company specializing in public works ie: building schools and general GC projects. I love my guys and the work but dealing with California rules and regs are exhausting. Time off for hunting isn’t what I’d hoped it would be but trying to develop more guys to get more time off myself I take about one week long trip and a couple long weekends during hunting season.

 

[Jkr61]

Self-employed property manager. I take care of clients vacation homes. Weekly walkthroughs and arranging anything that needs to be taken care of. A lot of flexibility at certain times of the year.

 

[Ross]

Retired 2.5 yrs

Do I enjoy it,

Don’t have tags like I used to. Hunt about 21 days and scout 14.

Hunt the same percentage as when was working.

 

[Pharmseller]

I sell drugs

 

[Tradchef]

I’m a European trained chef. Mostly Michelin/Relais &Chateaux and upper end restaurants. I started my own in home luxury dining service 4 years ago and focus on wild, foraged and modern cuisine.

I still enjoy cooking for people

Time off for hunting is ok. I usually get more time in general season and spring bear but if business is still strong I focus on that instead and just hunt half days or whenever time allows

 

[cnelk]

6 years retired. I do some handyman/maintenance work on the side to pay for tags and such.

 

[Olympics777]

I’m an electrician for a small company (4-10s) and National Guard on the side. I can easily take a month off work if I wanted to but I feel bad doing it because I’m gone so often for army so I only really hunt on my three day weekends. That’s usually enough to get the job done though.

 

[CodeMonkey]

I sold my soul to our future AI overlords.

I enjoy solving problems, but have little to nothing in common with any of my coworkers.

Sitting at a computer all day doesn't help my health or my ability to hunt. That said, I am able to take exercise breaks and do as much as humanly possible.

Work-life balance is great. No one really misses me when I take off unless something is on fire.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

1. Engineer for a small EPC firm in the oil & gas industry

2. Yes. Like any job, there are pros (work from home, flexible hours, good pay) and cons (young company going through growing pains, light on staff/heavy on workload, some out of state travel), but on the whole this is the best gig I've ever had.

3. I could in theory dedicate all 3 weeks of my annual PTO to hunting, but I don't want to be away from my family that much. Realistically, I'll use 5 days of PTO for one "destination" hunt each year (usually archery elk) and spend lots of partial days afield at home hunting whitetail and turkey.

4. Compared to past jobs, this one makes it a little harder to pull off extended destination hunts because my company runs pretty lean and there's not much spare capacity amongst colleagues to pick up the slack while I'm away. However, working from home with a flexible schedule and living on my hunting property gives me lots of opportunity for local hunting. I could hunt at least a couple hours every single day of deer and turkey season if I wanted to. I'm a casual, fill-the-freezer type of deer hunter, but I get excited for spring turkey season. I'll likely be out at sunrise every morning of spring turkey season this year except for Sundays.

 

[IDVortex]

Self employed, work in construction.

Working on building a business that builds custom/luxury sheds that aren't for the everyday home owner.

Planning on having 2 weeks off this summer to hunt, and hoping for about a week an a half this spring to chase bears.

No PTO, but such is life.

Do I enjoy it? No, Ive done construction my entire life, my back is over it, just to dumb to do anything else.

Goal is to build a business to hire folks to do more of the day to day, to hopefully have some more of my own life back. Granted that brings a new whole realm of stress.

If anyone young is reading this, become a electrician.

 

[Eric30]

1. Market Analysis Coordinator at a utility company.
2. Currently enjoying the position, but still early in my career.
3. I can realistically get two weeks off during hunting season currently and will be able to take more off as I get more seniority.
4. My work is very supportive of us taking time off from work. Plus, I work hybrid most days, which makes scouting and hunting easier in some situations.

 

[SleepyJones]

Oil patch. Equal time. Take additional time off for archery season.

 

[Truck24hr]

Own a log truck in the Pacific Northwest

Hate every waking second of it

I usually take 2 weeks off every fall to hunt plus weekends

I work 80 hour weeks, so nearly the opposite of helping hunting opportunities

That's interesting. I've had thoughts of trying to get into that. My thoughts were to work NW or PNW spring through fall, then come home for winter.

Currently my profession is a guy who drives a truck.. I've still got several interest in career choices that I'd like to try before I'm done. I've slowed it down a lot recently and may sell out and do something different.

 

[Pony Soldier]

Mining consultant largely for small to medium operations - all aspects.

I don't work in the fall. I only hunt and I don't tolerate idiots. After a 50 year career I control my life and choices.

 

[Decker9]

Maintenance millwright making wood pellets. 4 on 4 off 12hr shifts. 16 days of holidays per year, doesn’t sound like much but when combine with regular days off makes for 4 twelve day trips a year. 1-2 sheep hunts / goat hunt / family holiday is usually how they go.

 

[Alpineelk]

Faller/chokersetter on a yarder crew.
Pay is nothin special probably gonna have to move on or find something to compliment it if I ever want to buy a house these days
I enjoy it keeps u fit and is fun being in the woods every day. Hunt anywher from 5-10 days+ weekends

 

[CaribooBC]

Realtor, specialize in recreational properties. I have carried a rifle while taking my clients into a hike in waterfront cabin. Normally by hunting season, my real estate season is slowing down. Works quite well. I also live in an area where I can take a short detour on the way home and get in an hour or two just before dusk.

 

[Jpsmith1]

Commercial refrigeration. I love it and feel blessed I do this for a living. I work for myself so I have to be available 24/7/365 but I can usually hunt 10-12 days/year. Able to push off non emergency service calls a couple days. Back when I worked for a company I usually took off 7-8 days in a row and took a couple long weekends.

Supermarket Refrigeration here, but I'm not the owner. I do love the work most of the time, and it has allowed me to afford a nice life and a wife who was able to raise our children rather than having to manage competing schedules.

It is an extremely demanding field and being one of the "go to" guys even more so.

In the past few years, I've reached a point where I can take a week to hunt but for many years, I got a few Saturday Mornings and maybe the opener.