WebleyGreene455
AH fanatic
Good evening, everyone.
This is going to be something of a long post, I reckon. It's as much a request for help and advice as a way to get my thoughts down on "paper" so to speak and lift some weight off my chest. So please bear with me if I seem to ramble a little bit. Here goes.
Simply put, I'm in need of a career change. Except I need more than a change, I need a start. You see, at the moment I'm technically employed by my parents as assistant manager of our rental properties (we own several across my hometown). That's all very well and good, it's money in the bank every month and aside from one person who skipped out on us, we've always had good, respectful tenants, some of whom have been with us for quite a few years. It's pretty lax, really. You don't have hours unless there's an issue, and there rarely is. Gives plenty of time to do other things like working out, spending time with family, and just doing everything else. But it's not a job. It's helpful for my parents, who're both retired, and for myself but it's not a career or even an occupation. I don't want to do this for the rest of my life, at least not as my only form of income.
Now, I graduated from college around five years ago with a Bachelor's Degree in history. At the time I simply didn't know what I wanted to do, and the job market wasn't exactly ripe with possibilities. It also didn't help that I needed to lose weight and get in better shape, because that was affecting my self-esteem after gaining quite a lot at college, and I was uneasy about starting at a gym because of it. I did, however, start working on losing weight and getting in better shape almost two years ago and now I weigh less than I did before I went to college and am physically stronger as well. I'll get to that part in a moment.
Over time I've looked at different ideas for jobs, ranging from work with the Smithsonian (I never found any suitable vacancies) to working for the Federal Government (living in DC or in Virginia just isn't feasible for a gun owner) and I have long considered other museum work or the Park Service at a historic site. I have a deep love for history, in particular military history, and I want to put that to good use. I've also wanted to get into historical reenacting for years but that's probably gonna have to be a hobby, since I've not found anywhere except for Civil War or Colonial American-era sites where you can do that and get paid for it (and that doesn't interest me; I'm into WWI/II or Vietnam-era).
Two years ago, I made the decision to do my damnedest to get into shape and go into the US Army with the goal of becoming a helicopter pilot or, bar that, go into Armor or Intelligence. However, I was unable to get myself in shape in time and coupled with my age, as well as coming to the understanding it wouldn't make me happy to be in the Army, I elected to set that aside but still continue working on myself. I am proud of myself for sticking with it so long and for getting to the point where I do not want to give up on myself no matter how little I feel I'm gaining or how little progress I feel I'm making. I want to keep at it and get myself into the best shape I'm able to.
So... after some thought and after being on this site for a few months now, I ask with full sincerity: What about becoming a PH? Is it doable for someone who's almost 29 and has never been hunting in his life? How do I start? Where do I start? What do I need to do? Is this even a good idea?
Like I said, I have no hunting experience. Shooting, yes, but not hunting. But I'm willing to learn. I want to hunt anyway, so I'll have to learn sooner or later, and why not consider making a living out of it? And so I have more questions, and concerns.
Is it possible to be an American PH and live/work both in the US and possibly overseas on a seasonal or case-by-case basis? Because I'm going to be honest. I do not want to move permanently to Africa. Hunt and visit, sure, but there's one thing about me that makes it... well, less than appealing (outside of the sheer number of horrific and terrifying snakes): Full disclosure, I am homosexual. And while some countries in Africa are OK with that, more of them are not. Some of them are really not okay with that, and depending on the country I wouldn't be able to bring a boyfriend or husband into the country with me safely, and I'd be concerned for him even if we were in a country that was fine with homosexuality.
For those who are or have been professional hunters, how did you get started? Why did you pursue that career path? For me, I think it'd be a chance to have an enjoyable career that allows me to go places and do things that others only are able to do once in a lifetime. If I'm not stuck in a 9-to-5 job all day every day, it would give me the opportunity to keep up with working out and hobbies. True, there's a part of me that craves the adventure of it all and wants to follow in the footsteps of some of the hunters, sportsmen, explorers, et cetera who've made names for themselves in history. Not that I have any illusions about my name joining them but I'd like to help people fulfill some of their dreams the way I want to fulfill my own. And, after all, since I just plain love guns, here's a job where having some really smashing guns and getting to use them can be a really fun perk.
But maybe I have the entirely wrong idea about this at all? Maybe this is the absolute most stupidest thing I could possibly think of? I have some doubts. But I think I want to do this, if it's doable.
So yeah, here's me asking for help, advice, suggestions, encouragement. On any topic I've mentioned in this thread, if it'll allay any fears or inspire me to pursue something.
Thank you,
~~W.G.455
This is going to be something of a long post, I reckon. It's as much a request for help and advice as a way to get my thoughts down on "paper" so to speak and lift some weight off my chest. So please bear with me if I seem to ramble a little bit. Here goes.
Simply put, I'm in need of a career change. Except I need more than a change, I need a start. You see, at the moment I'm technically employed by my parents as assistant manager of our rental properties (we own several across my hometown). That's all very well and good, it's money in the bank every month and aside from one person who skipped out on us, we've always had good, respectful tenants, some of whom have been with us for quite a few years. It's pretty lax, really. You don't have hours unless there's an issue, and there rarely is. Gives plenty of time to do other things like working out, spending time with family, and just doing everything else. But it's not a job. It's helpful for my parents, who're both retired, and for myself but it's not a career or even an occupation. I don't want to do this for the rest of my life, at least not as my only form of income.
Now, I graduated from college around five years ago with a Bachelor's Degree in history. At the time I simply didn't know what I wanted to do, and the job market wasn't exactly ripe with possibilities. It also didn't help that I needed to lose weight and get in better shape, because that was affecting my self-esteem after gaining quite a lot at college, and I was uneasy about starting at a gym because of it. I did, however, start working on losing weight and getting in better shape almost two years ago and now I weigh less than I did before I went to college and am physically stronger as well. I'll get to that part in a moment.
Over time I've looked at different ideas for jobs, ranging from work with the Smithsonian (I never found any suitable vacancies) to working for the Federal Government (living in DC or in Virginia just isn't feasible for a gun owner) and I have long considered other museum work or the Park Service at a historic site. I have a deep love for history, in particular military history, and I want to put that to good use. I've also wanted to get into historical reenacting for years but that's probably gonna have to be a hobby, since I've not found anywhere except for Civil War or Colonial American-era sites where you can do that and get paid for it (and that doesn't interest me; I'm into WWI/II or Vietnam-era).
Two years ago, I made the decision to do my damnedest to get into shape and go into the US Army with the goal of becoming a helicopter pilot or, bar that, go into Armor or Intelligence. However, I was unable to get myself in shape in time and coupled with my age, as well as coming to the understanding it wouldn't make me happy to be in the Army, I elected to set that aside but still continue working on myself. I am proud of myself for sticking with it so long and for getting to the point where I do not want to give up on myself no matter how little I feel I'm gaining or how little progress I feel I'm making. I want to keep at it and get myself into the best shape I'm able to.
So... after some thought and after being on this site for a few months now, I ask with full sincerity: What about becoming a PH? Is it doable for someone who's almost 29 and has never been hunting in his life? How do I start? Where do I start? What do I need to do? Is this even a good idea?
Like I said, I have no hunting experience. Shooting, yes, but not hunting. But I'm willing to learn. I want to hunt anyway, so I'll have to learn sooner or later, and why not consider making a living out of it? And so I have more questions, and concerns.
Is it possible to be an American PH and live/work both in the US and possibly overseas on a seasonal or case-by-case basis? Because I'm going to be honest. I do not want to move permanently to Africa. Hunt and visit, sure, but there's one thing about me that makes it... well, less than appealing (outside of the sheer number of horrific and terrifying snakes): Full disclosure, I am homosexual. And while some countries in Africa are OK with that, more of them are not. Some of them are really not okay with that, and depending on the country I wouldn't be able to bring a boyfriend or husband into the country with me safely, and I'd be concerned for him even if we were in a country that was fine with homosexuality.
For those who are or have been professional hunters, how did you get started? Why did you pursue that career path? For me, I think it'd be a chance to have an enjoyable career that allows me to go places and do things that others only are able to do once in a lifetime. If I'm not stuck in a 9-to-5 job all day every day, it would give me the opportunity to keep up with working out and hobbies. True, there's a part of me that craves the adventure of it all and wants to follow in the footsteps of some of the hunters, sportsmen, explorers, et cetera who've made names for themselves in history. Not that I have any illusions about my name joining them but I'd like to help people fulfill some of their dreams the way I want to fulfill my own. And, after all, since I just plain love guns, here's a job where having some really smashing guns and getting to use them can be a really fun perk.
But maybe I have the entirely wrong idea about this at all? Maybe this is the absolute most stupidest thing I could possibly think of? I have some doubts. But I think I want to do this, if it's doable.
So yeah, here's me asking for help, advice, suggestions, encouragement. On any topic I've mentioned in this thread, if it'll allay any fears or inspire me to pursue something.
Thank you,
~~W.G.455
). Maybe try hunting a little first, because that's the fun part of being a PH from what I have seen. The rest just looks like a lot of hard work for not a lot of cash.
) . Maybe try booking a one week hunt with a sponsored ph here with a stipulation that u wake up when he does, tag along every step of the,way then part ways at night when he goes to bed. I am in awe of these professionals and their job isn't easy or taken lightly. I wouldn't trade places with them.
