What did you major in college?

[Brett Neffendorf]

Ok so what did you all major in in college and what is your job now? I really want to own my own business maybe an outdoors store/shop or something like that so that I am on my own schedule and I am able to get away a couple days during the week to hunt. But what jobs do you do that allows you to get away and hunt during the week? Thanks

[Mike Hungle]

Hey Brett,

I have a Degree in Business Administration, with minors in marketing and statistics. I work for our provincial government and supervise a fuel rebate program for farmers. The program peaks between January and June, giving me lots of time for the fall. In addition, I do outdoor writing and photography for magazines in both Canada and the United States.

My advise to you is to go to college, get a degree and to always remember that a good education opens lots of doors. In fact, the more doors you open, the better your chances of finding a place of employment that suits your life style. While it may take a few years to get into a comfortable position that suits your life style an education and job will allow you to earn money and pay the bills. Which in turn will lead to time afield.

[WesternWingshooter]

College...wish I would have gone. Instead I took the quick money and went to work operating heavy equipment. Making $15 an hour in the early 90's and being 19 years old was really nice. Nice trucks, parties, huntin and giiiirls. Bad part about it is that now I'm 32 married with kids and guess what...the money aint much better. I started working within the hunting industry 7 years ago, I didnt have an "in" or money so I created my own niche, I basicly made myself the top of my heap because no one else was doing it. I have worked hard on my websites and ventures for 7 years and am now beginning to reap some reward. Now if I had spent those 7 years in school I would be a plastic surgeon creating BayWatch wannabes. If you dont have an education you better have some imagination and motivation. Don't roll the dice, go to school.

[Jeff-Widgnwhacker-Wallis]

Couldn't afford college , so I went into the United States Marine Corps :eek: :D

Spent 8 years as a 7051 MOS ( Military Occupational Specialty ) Aviation Crash Fire Rescue Technician.

Now working for the Department of Defense as a Firefighter / EMT / HMT for the last 15 years. Ah only 5 more to go until I can retire and become a Duck Bum :D

WW

[Brett Beinke]

I double majored in Marketing and Management. It allowed me to get rolling into pretty good jobs quickly. Before the computer industry tanked I was working for a company that sent me all over North America doing sales proposals to multi billion dollar companies. I was a victom of downsizing and lost my job but gained a son at about the same time. My priorities have changed and now I am doing mortgages in Minnesota. I love it because I have a lot of flexability and it is starting to pay very well. For fun I really love Pro-Staffing for Avery. I also am a Conceal Carry Handgun intstructor here in MN.

[Duckpoor]

Major in Biology
Minor in Communications
Had Big plans...

Went to work for Big Blue (IBM)
25 years in March.
Function as Project Manager .. mile wide and inch deep.. LOL.

R Green

[Chris Downs]

I majored in History and am now teaching in a jr. high school.

[JEDJR]

I did not attend college either. Went to work in a family business and married at 19. Take these guys advice,GO TO COLLEGE, and get your education!

[Thráinn E. Skúlason]

I graduated from business college. Today I am a maritime fire and rescue instructor, go figure :D
Do´nt get me wrong I love my job, which in my opinion is a prerogative that not many people have today.

[Brett Neffendorf]

Well I was looking at going to college and doing 1 of 2 things...

Business- own a sports/outdoor shop/boat shop ect...
Education-Become a teacher

What types of things in business allow you to hunt alot? Im talking some during the week and the weekends. Thanks

[Ben Duff]

Success.

Ben

[WesternWingshooter]

Brett, theres a lot of people on this forum who will tell you that the quickest way to limit your time hunting is to become invlolved in the hunting industry. If you go into retail your busiest time will be the hunting season. Boat shop ownership means you'll spend the waterfowl season buried with repairs to guys boats who are out there hunting. If you REALLY want to get into a hunting related job and still be able to hunt then go into writing or broadcasting. The good writers get invited to hunt good clubs and go on hunts. The downside is when hunting is your job it becomes less of a way to get away from things and relax because there is a requirement of success to keep your job.

[Brett Neffendorf]

Ok that makes more sense now. Thats proly true lol. I really enjoy writing and I totally tought of that as an option at one point. But I figured if your writing about hunting, then you cant be hunting lol. Basically I figured that if your writing on hunting, then during the hunting season would be your busiest time and you wouldnt be able to get out due to it. But I am not a writer lol so I wouldnt know. Thanks for all of the help guys I totally apreeciate this!

[jolle]

Still in school, senior at University of MO Rolla, studying Computer Engineering. I like the stuff, but its still work not play. So, hope to find something thats flexible that lets me take off enough to satisfy my outdoor desires.

[Hest]

Well..as much grief as I'll probably get from this..

have my degree is Secondary Choral Music education...certified to teach the little ones, but that is not going to happen. I teach 7-12 grade choir here in Rockford, along with music theory, music history, and vocal pedagogy

[Duckpoor]

Hest,
That Magic stuff you do with a Goose Call.. was that taught in SR101 ??? Ssssorry couldn't resist.

R Green

[Brett Neffendorf]

Hey Hest. Whatever makes you money man tongue.gif

[Allan Stanley]

I majored in Vocal Pedagogy.

"Really?"

"No...not really, I can't back that up." smile.gif

What I majored in doesn't matter because it has not put a dime in my pocket. (OK, it was "Natural History" (Biology), but there were few to no jobs in that field when I got out of school.)

I now wish I had majored in Business. That is what I would suggest, unless you have a burning desire to do something specific. A business degree will come in handy in almost any field you enter, including something to do with the outdoors.

I have known a lot of people who thought getting into a hunting related business would insure they get to hunt more, only to find out it was like any other job, AND most of their work happened during hunting season!

I also did the outdoor writing thing, about the time I got good at it, I got jaded on it. Tough gig, and the IRS is tough to convince why you need to hunt so much!

Get a degree if the opportunity is there. Hunting will be easier in the future if you have money.

Allan

[BIG DOG]

I majored in Agri-Buisness, but I haven't finished, MY WIFE DID IN DECEMBER THOUGH!!!

I plan on going back 1 day, Boy go to school, if not you'll have to train dogs, guide part time,
be really good at poker, and work at a chemical plant!

[Rob Jepson]

Hest...Please give Belding some attention. He can't carry a tune in a bucket!

As for education, I fell into and finished getting a B.A. in Pyschology. Have I made any money with it?...Not really. Have I profitted from it?...Absolutely!! Every job I have ever had has involved varying degrees of personal interaction with others...lifeguarding, insurance sales, retail sales (18 years)... and THAT 4 year education, both formal and social, at college has been invaluable!

As for a career in the hunting/outdoor industry...that's great, I wish I had set goals/targets when I was your age. But I will reitirate what many have already said on this thread. Don't do it because you like to hunt. Because, whatever job/profession you decide to do, it is first and foremost a job! As such it requires a level of commitment and professionalism to do it successfully. You'll find time to hunt...just be prepared to miss allot of opening days!

Rob Jepson
Avery Territory Manager

[Decoyer]

I don't have it yet, but I am working on a bachelors in Mechanical Engineering with a possiblity of minoring in Construction Management.

[Decoyer]

oops

[Chad Buehler]

I'm a junior at Bowling Green State University majoring in Fine Art with an emphasis on 2-D studies. I am hoping to take this on to the University of Michigan for a Master's degree in Medical Illustration and to also start my own wildlife art studio.

I got married at age 20 and have 2 kids now at age 26. It isn't easy, but I am sticking with it so someday I will be done eventually. Get an education Brett, it will pay off big in the end.

[buckduck]

Wildlife ,fish and forestry management.

[Southern Boy]

I graduated with a magor in Accounting. I continue in the baning industry where I was working while in College. After 16 years in the industry, I am a Vice President in Commercial Lending. Basically I make loans to businesses.

Go to school and get your education. Hunting is expensive and its takes a good job to afford all the toys you "NEED". success will afford you the opportunity to hunt. With that said though, with success comes reponsibility and you will never have enough time hunting that you wish you could have.

If you have the opportunity, go to college and make the most of it. Alot of people don't have that opportunity to go for whatever reason. It will affect the rest of your life.

[niceshot]

I just finished College (spelling and grammer is something i did not learn) :D Here is the honest truth that most will not say. 1st thing is all you get is a piece of paper that says your trainable. If you know what you want to do and can get into it you will learn twice as much from on the job training than any school would ever teach you. You will come away from college with what you put into it. By this i mean I screwed off and did not study that much and there for did not learn everything that was available.
Now for Jobs. If you love the outdoors then go into something like forestry or becoming a game warden. Realestate has it advantages but then you will bust your azz in the off season. Firefighting is great since you work shifts that will allow you to have multiple days off.
I will tell you this, College is the best 5-7 years of your life and it is worth all your parents money :D tongue.gif

[David]

I'm at NCState now and am working on a Civil Engineering Degree. Sometimes I get real tired of school but everyone tells me to stick with it so I guess I will. I hope it pays off and i'm sure it will, my cousin and I have already started making plans for our own business when we're older so we'll have time to spend outdoors.

[BIG DOG]

David,
I not sure what type of engineering degree my buddies nephew will get in May but he already has a job making over 50g's waiting on him (it's in writing and he interned there)So do what they say "STAY IN THERE"
BD

[Joshua Folkerts]

Well, I majored in Networking as a network specialist and minored in web design. Now I own my own business doing web development and custom business software. Fun but a hell of alot of headaches. If you see Site by: Page Technology, It was done by me!!! :eek: :eek: To much to do without alot of time to do it.