Making Money Outdoors

Dateline 11/02/98

I almost became a game warden in 1974. At that time I was teaching school and making about $8000 per year working 190 days. I could have gotten on with the Georgia DNR as a new game warden, working 365 days per year and making about $9000 per year. I decided to stick with teaching!

If you want to work outdoors, you can contact state DNR offices in Georgia, South Carolina, Florida and other states to find out job requirements and opportunities in each state. You can expect long hours, low pay, and lots of time outside! You will know the best places to fish and hunt, but you won't have a lot of time to take advantage of them!

Outdoor writing is lots of fun but extremely hard to break into. There are so many folks wanting to do it that pay is very low for even successful writers. Check with your local newspaper about doing a column for them - that is how I got started. You can also check with state magazines in your state - like Georgia Outdoor News in Georgia. If you want to write, pay attention to spelling, grammer and deadlines!

Being a pro fisherman is exciting and some make a lot of money from it. Your chances aren't very good to make it, though. You can read profiles of the Bass Master's Classic contenders and see how they got there. You can also be a fishing guide - that is the route most pro fishermen take. Anybody can become a guide just by saying you are one - you had better have good people skills, as well as be able to find fish and help others catch them - if you want to be successful.

Working on a fishing boat is tough work, but can be high paying. You can also run a small commercial fishing business on a local lake catching catfish for sale. You can even catch turtles to sell! Some people make a living fishing like this but, for most it is a good way to pick up a little extra money and work outside some of the time.

If you are serious about a job outdoors, consider all the possibilities. A fisheries biologists requires a degree from a good college. Other jobs are easier to get - but most that are easy to get are extremely hard, or don't pay much.

Work outdoors - if you can. If not, get a good job that allows you to enjoy the outdoors during your vacation!

List of links:

Chronical Customer Service
Information about becoming a fishing guide, as well as other outdoor jobs.

Florida DNR
Check with them for any openings, and job skills required.

Georgia DNR
Press released from this state agency list open jobs.

Seattle Times
Article on outdoor opportunities in the Seattle area - deck hand on fishing boats and others.

South Carolina DNR
Contact them for outdoor jobs in South Carolina

Make money catching turtles - contact rept@dmv.com (Mike Johnson) - Mike will pay you for snapping turtles and can arrange shipping. Email him for details - might be a good extra income for a guide, marina operator, teenager, retired person looking for a little extra income or anyone that wants to spend time outdoors and make some money!

Any comments on working outdoors? Tell me about any experiences you have. Do you have an outside job? Do you have any stories about it? If so, you can also post information about it for others on my message board - you must register to post but can read the board as a guest. Also, if you have a story aboutworking outdoors, let me know about it at fishing.guide@about.com. for a "Fishtale"or discuss it in the chat room on every night at 8:00 EST. Tell others what you like.

Check out Coming Next Week - Next week's column topic, contest prize and new additions to the resources lists.

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