I wanted to share this email with everyone because I get asked a lot about what it takes to make a living in the hunting industry. So read Jordan's question and I'll shed some light on the fact after:
Hi my name is Jordan, I am 18 and a senior in high school, and I love bow hunting whitetail and turkey. I been hunting all my life and have a big dream of becoming a pro hunter on tv. When hunting season comes in im out almost every day in the woods. I love calling bucks in with any calls, snort wezz, true talker, and rattol, I like to make them mad during rut. And see big bucks chasing does.
Do you have any tips on helping me achieve my dream when I get out of school. It will help me out a lot,.
Thank you for taking this time to read this,
Ps… I got my first HOYT last week (hoyt avenger) best bow I ever got .. cant wate till I get to turkey hunt with it this year.
Well, making a living as a professional hunter is not easy. Many people have the misconception that because you appear on TV, then that means you hunt all the time; that is just not true. I have a full time job and so do the majority of faces you see on the tube. So Jordan, to try and answer your question, you have to be able to entertain and kill big bucks. Once you prove that, then you have to round up enough money to buy airtime, which usually comes in the form of sponsors. Then you'll have to prove you can turn out 13 episodes a year.
Hunting on camera is so much more than people realize. It's tough and takes a lot of practice. And we all know how difficult it is to kill big bucks.
I hope this helps.
Travis
Hi my name is Jordan, I am 18 and a senior in high school, and I love bow hunting whitetail and turkey. I been hunting all my life and have a big dream of becoming a pro hunter on tv. When hunting season comes in im out almost every day in the woods. I love calling bucks in with any calls, snort wezz, true talker, and rattol, I like to make them mad during rut. And see big bucks chasing does.
Do you have any tips on helping me achieve my dream when I get out of school. It will help me out a lot,.
Thank you for taking this time to read this,
Ps… I got my first HOYT last week (hoyt avenger) best bow I ever got .. cant wate till I get to turkey hunt with it this year.
Well, making a living as a professional hunter is not easy. Many people have the misconception that because you appear on TV, then that means you hunt all the time; that is just not true. I have a full time job and so do the majority of faces you see on the tube. So Jordan, to try and answer your question, you have to be able to entertain and kill big bucks. Once you prove that, then you have to round up enough money to buy airtime, which usually comes in the form of sponsors. Then you'll have to prove you can turn out 13 episodes a year.
Hunting on camera is so much more than people realize. It's tough and takes a lot of practice. And we all know how difficult it is to kill big bucks.
I hope this helps.
Travis
Hey T-Bone,
That young man has the dreams of most of us but you are right and seeing some interviews changed my mind also. It would be nice to hunt on tv and have sponsors pay your way but you also spend a lot of time on the road and away from your family if you have one. Ive heard that after the season is finished there is editing to done and with sponsors comes commitments to do shows and commercials also. I guess there is always ups and down but there could be worse jobs out there. I want to be a family guy hopefully in the near future and I would personally value that time more. I am an addict like most out there but it is a tough life.
Todd-NC
p.s. wheres that MB 16?
I would suggest Jordan pursue a career in the outdoors industry, ideally with a product manufacturer, big box retailer or even a non-profit. Use that position to network with the purpose of creating a roster of potential sponsors. Be sure to check out opportunities with the production companies behind the shows as well.
If you want to skip all that, then take an inventory of the sponsors on these shows. Who is not there that stands out to you? Put together a demo and pitch a show to them. The big names already have a presence and are (presumably) happy with their personalities.
Lastly, get an education. Know how to write an effective sales pitch, how to relate what an investment in a tv show will mean to a company's bottom line, and make that the focus.
Good luck!
It is awesome to see an 18 year old with that kind of dream. Someone did there part introducing him to the Outdoors.
All I have to say Jordan is about anything you do in your life, if you do it well, is going to be very difficult. The important thing in life is to do what you love to do, and not do something you hate to do just because it pays good. Doing what you love to do for a living will give you more happiness in life than money. If you love your job, the money will work itself out.
I would like to say there are more jobs in the hunting industry than just being a TV personality. So keep some of them jobs in mind if the TV hunting doesn't work out right away. You could be a professional hunting guide, go to film school and be a camera guy, learn editing and marketing, work as a conservation officer or biologist, or maybe in a bow or gun shop. All of these can be good experience, and build a nice resume' for your dream of hunting on television.
If you have dreams go for them all the way. Yeah it will be tough, but if you love to do it then that is what you should do. God Bless the USA. To many good men died so you can have the freedom to go after your happiness. So honor them and go do it!
Todd - Indiana
Hey T-Bone,
My dream is to hunt with Realtree one day. I have told you that a lot but its true. I know its a lot of hard work but I am willing to do what ever it takes to help Realtree out. I know that there are lots of hunters that want to hunt for a living. I hope that I get to hunt with y'all soon. :) Talk to ya later.
God Bless & Good Gobble Gobble Huntin'
Kristle Oberlander
PS REALTREE'S BIGGEST FAN :)
Amen brother!! Well said T-Bone. Right on the money.
ML
Wow that sounds just like me when I was in high school. I must have sent realtree 1,000 emails. that is all I ever wanted to do, and still is, but I am 25 now, married and just had my first child (a boy) 7 months ago, so there is more on my plate now.
I used to stay up all night watching MB videos. I can still repeat every word from MB 4 through 10 I think. All I ever wanted was to work for realtree so I thought if bill knows how big of a fan I am, and how big of a hunter he will definitely hire me. But the truth is after going to shows and hearing the crowds of people ask the same thing over and over "how can I work for realtree". (and I thought I was the only one) I began to realize the chances were a lot smaller than I had hoped.
Jordan if your out there and you are seriouse about it, develope your hunting skills! when I was 17 I thought I had this whole hunting thing down cold, and I was pretty good, but mostly because I never left the woods, so eventually your going to have some bucks walk by you. I see now that I made many many mistakes and didnt even realize it. just like 10 years from now I will pry look back and think, I cant believe I did things that way. Watch videos, read every book you can on hunting, or just about deer in general. Watch deer as much as possible, even in the off season. Go to shows and meet as many people in the industry as you can. The last thing I would say, is film every hunt you can. Get a buddy, your dad, whoever you can to film, and try to to get as many clean kills on tape as you can. In the hunting industry that is pry the best resume you can have, and make sure you are interjetic and as likeable as you can be. I dont know about you but I would much rather watch Waddell than dave watson, he seems like a nice guy and all, but not to exciting on tv.
So good luck man. I hope some of the responses on here help. And hopefully we will see you on tv in the future.
Scott Withers-MI