Starting a guide service?

[Guy Miner]

On another forum I was asked "Did you ever consider starting a guide service? I bet you could find some adventure seekers right here on the forum."

That's not the first time it's been brought up to me, either online or face to face. It's something I'm considering. I'm a cop in my mid 50's and likely to retire in the next 5 years or so. Am adequately prepared for retirement with my own savings and investments as well as the pension I'll draw as a cop, but I am NOT ready to quit working, sit in front of the computer and grow old reading about other guys hunting & fishing adventures!

I like where I live, here in central Washington, and don't want to move. There's decent hunting and fishing nearby, and literally thousands and thousands of acres of public land to explore. My county is about 85% public land for instance, mostly National Forests, with some other Federal & State land as well. It's a great place to hike, backpack, horseback ride, cross-country ski, snowshoe, fish, hunt, mountain-bike, or 4-wheel.

I don't know horses well. Have ridden a few times, but really don't know them and I don't know that I want to go down that road. There's already a large and successful horse-packing operation here in the area. Great guys. Maybe I could team up with them or something in a few years somehow. I'm no cowboy, but there are some genuine cowboys working for that outfit. I bump into 'em time to time while I'm afoot up in the Cascades and they're packing somebody in or out on a fishing or hunting trip. We always chat a bit. Good guys.

Without horses, it's tough to get "soft" folks into areas like these wilderness areas here in Washington:

Still, there are many, many miles of dirt/gravel Forest Service roads leading deep into the mountains, where a guy can drive to a remote spot, set up a decent camp and hike in from there. Either backpacking, or day-hiking to a fishing or hunting spot. I've got a good old 4x4 pickup that's been taking me into the boonies for years and always gets me out. It would work just as well getting a couple of "clients" in and out too.

Then there's the big "what if" question which arises when I've taken Boy Scout groups backpacking. What if... somebody slips and breaks an ankle two or three days walk from the trailhead? What if somebody has a heart attack back in the wilderness?

How much insurance would a guy need?

Can a guy make money at it, or is it just an expensive hobby job that barely breaks even? Heck, if I'm not going to make money at it, I'll just hike, ski, fish and hunt with my friends and enjoy life!

And, what if I just plain don't like the people I'm guiding? I'm not exactly a Step 'n Fetch it kind of guy - not going to nursemaid people, but I do enjoy showing folks the great outdoors and helping them learn to fish, shoot, hunt etc... If I did this, I wouldn't want to limit it to just hunting, but also include fishing trips, photography trips, and just plain ol' hiking trips into our wonderful backyard here in the Cascades. Start now, and expand it when I retire from my cop job in a few years.

Just some thoughts. What other thoughts/concerns would have to be addressed before starting a "guide" service of some sort?

When I retire, I'd like to do something that's fun for me, not dealing with broken bodies in traffic accidents, drunken bar brawls and homicidal gang bangers anymore. Kind of want to spend some time with "normal" people instead...

Thanks, Guy

 

[DrMike]

I can't speak for Washington, but here in British Columbia a decent concession cost six and seven figures. It is big business, and then there is always the trouble of dealing with clients that think you have to work magic. They may be horribly out of shape, miserable shots and just plain lazy, and yet they expect you to get them a trophy without them breaking a sweat. On the other hand, there are quite a few decent guys who savour the experience of seeing what most people see in photographs on forums! Guy, for all the potential negatives, it is worth exploring in any case. Who knows, you might discover a delightful way to spend the next twenty years.

 

[bullet]

I think it would not be work that one would really enjoy. I would not want to be a guide but I do want to hunt. So you retire or invite me up before you retire and we will hunt, I think that is a much better idea :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Greg Nolan]

Guy
There's Guiding and then there's Guiding.
The Career business type that pay the big bucks for a concession or take it over from the owner after working there for a long time as a guide.
The other type is someone who loves the hunting as a passionate hobby and wants to share his or her knowlege without the hassles and liabilities that come with that sort of business.
My mom and stepdad guided for about 4 years in Idaho. It was his passion to become a guide so when he retired he and my mom went for it.
They burned out when it stopped being a passion and started being a job with clients.
I've had the same passion about guiding as it seems you do. My solution is to, as you mentioned, take people you want to take to places you know to take them and share your knowlege and skills. You don't necessarly have to make it a business with an income you have to depend on. You're retired. Enjoy the trips, guide people you enjoy and they will no doubt help defrey some of the costs. If you don't charge money there is no liability or responsibility to complete the trip with a personality clash.
Either way you go I will be interested in the outcome and may meet you some day. :wink:
Best of luck and I'll be praying for you.
Greg

 

[Elkman]

I am with dr. mike on this one. I have been fortunate to go on three guided hunts in my life time. Two to NM and one in BC at no time during "any" of those three hunts did I see a legal animal.
While chatting and talking with the guides during what turned out to be many long days I found out that most of the hunters they meet are exactly like he said

they think you can work magic. are horribly out of shape, miserable shots and just plain lazy, and yet they expect you to get them a trophy without them breaking a sweat. /quote]
I think that you could find something more fun and relaxing. I know that you fish and last year when I was elk hunting near Avery Idaho, there was an old guy there guiding fly fisherman along the trophy fly fishing stream. You might consider that or even day or weekend backpacking trips into wilderness lakes for fishermen/women.
Just a thought, stay away from them horses they will kill you or hurt you badly.

 

[Guy Miner]

Good advice guys. Am going to mull all this over.

Have no real interest in getting started with the horse-packing business. That's a field I know little about, and I'll leave it to the cowboys.

Am liking the idea of some fly-fishing trips & that sort of thing. It's a lot of fun, and nobody has to quarter an elk and get it out of the canyon...

Who knows? Maybe I will just take some family and friends to my favorite areas and enjoy the time.

 

[DrMike]

Guy,

After an auto crash twenty years ago, I didn't know if I'd be able to continue pastoring. My wife and I discussed combining our love of certain activities. She enjoys hosting people in our home and I enjoyed fishing, having fished most of the streams throughout British Columbia. We considered starting a bed and breakfast type arrangement with the offer of guided fishing trips on selected waters. Events caught up with us, and I found I was able to remember enough to continue pastoring. I didn't give up fishing, and began to hunt quite a bit more. I don't know if I made the right decision to this day. There was (and is) a very real attraction in sharing beautiful rivers with people who appreciate the outdoors, and who are content to catch fish that haven't seen a plethora of hardware. I'll be most interested in seeing which way you move on this.

 

[Guy Miner]

Thanks Dr. Mike.

Am looking forward in a way to something a little more peaceful. Did twenty years in the Marines, and shortly after starting my second career in law enforcement I ended up on the SWAT team, where I stayed for 12 years. Now I've given up SWAT to the younger, faster guys, and suddenly I find myself on a squad specifically set up to deal with drug dealers and violent gang members. Love it! But part of me is looking forward to doing something a little less intense...

Guy

 

[DrMike]

That sounds like a good, productive, action-packed life. Now it is time to derive some of the benefits of a life well-lived by investing all that remains in something that gives calm to the soul.

 

[Scott Spencer]

Whatever you wind up doing I would imagine it will be one of the best guide services in the country. Your devotion/service to country and to the law are a testament to your integrity. I'd pay to hunt with you.

 

[buckfever]

Guy you can take me fishing Its always fun to see new country.

 

[Powerstroke]

Guy,

I think I'd make my first phone call to the Division of Wildlife there. Here in CO Guide Business must be registered, show proof of insurance, first aid class, etc, etc.....

I've always told myself I'd love to figure out a way to make a living at hunting - however - One of my other passions has always been Cars, SCCA type racing and Mustangs. I took that passion and turned it into a job which is now no longer a passion.

Growing up I helped some friends of ours guide and was able to meet some really good people. Others it was apparent that the checkbook was endless and they didn't share the same values, ethics, and passion for hunting as we do.

Personaly I think you'd have to treat it as a "Business adventure" if you went that direction. Apologies for the negativity, but you know the saying - Don't mix Biz with Pleasure.

Now offering your services for some of the previous mentioned posts to share your knowledge, experiences and over all adventures here and there is a different story - Go for it :wink:

 

[SJB358]

Guy, I have the same hopes for when I retire. I have a best friends who outfits in the Frank Church Wilderness and truly loves to guide. He hunts lions in winter, Bear in the Spring, trailrides fisherman in the Summer and guides Elk/Moose/Bear/Deer in the Fall. He has run the gamout of guiding, he started out with other paid guides who worked for him, while he also guided and ran camp and has now throttled back to actually just himself guiding, and his wife being the camp jack. He makes less money, but every hunter that comes through camp, gets him as a guide, and he doesn't ever have the worry that one of his guides didn't do the best they could putting the hunters on game.

I would like to try to make it work once I retire from the Marine Corps, as I think the two of us, could really make a good run at it. WE both like to hunt more than kill, and it really makes you a part of alot of hunting, even though you aren't pulling the trigger. I wish you lots of luck buddy, when you have are making decisions like this, you are doing pretty well. You have done alot for country and LE so now it is your time to do what you like! Scotty

 

[Guy Miner]

Best of luck with that! Sure sounds like good work...