[Cap'n Jack Duggins]

I mean real working guides making part or all of thier living at it?

I know of a painter (wildlife) who has a guide license to add credibility to his work but doesn't actually guide.
I know a lot of newbies just got the license for ego purposes, but coudln't guide a dog to food!
I guide every chance I get, which turns out to be nearly full time in the summer, part time in the fall, and even less in the winter.

 

[Guest]

Can't tell ya how much it'll be this year, since this is my first season up here, but in Virginia, it was 3-4 days a week in prime season, 1-2 days per week the rest of the time, except winter, when it was 1-2 days a month. Before that, in Florida, I could stay as busy as I wanted, especially in the early summer, but I had to guide around a real job.

Hopefully Maine will be as good or better than Virginia for business.

 

[Cap'n Jack Duggins]

Just a couple of us here, I guess! Somehow I thought there were more of us visiting this site.

 

[Guest]

Naw, we're just loud enough that we sound like more than just two!

 

[ccobbett]

I guide when I can. I usually take about 15 bear hunters a year and 3-4 turkeys hunters in the spring. I do a bit of guiding in SC, but it just a hobby for me.

 

[Robert L. Brown]

Use the license

Not much of a response on this issue - eh?

Bob Brown
Hidden Paddle Guide Service

 

[Cap'n Jack Duggins]

Hey Bob!Do you have a website? Where are you at? What do you guide for and where?

Good to have you here.

 

[kenton6]

Yeah, Bob! Welcome aboard. Don't be shy if you have a website. You can put a link in your signature. We're not afraid of that. As a matter of fact, we encourage it. We feel that we ain't everthing for everybody and if they land here and find a better place to go, then have a good time.

:mrgreen:

 

[BruceT]

I'm guiding bear hunters right now but will also be guiding deer and moose hunters next year.

 

[Cap'n Jack Duggins]

Hi Bruce! Where are you guiding bear right now?
Where are you located?

 

[BruceT]

Guiding bear hunters right now meaning this past bear season and the last 3 bear seasons.I guide with Frank Murfin out of Benidicta.I live right beside Benidicta in Silver Ridge Twp.

 

[Cap'n Jack Duggins]

Hey Bruce, you're over on Porters site! I didn't make the connection earlier.
Welcome~!

 

[BruceT]

Thats me:thumb:

 

[Robert L. Brown]

Back online

Hey Guys!

Sorry about the long absence - I'm just now getting back online.
A little background: I'm licensed for hunt/fish/rec, but when I get a canoe full of camping gear around me I melt into the Allagash and let the world pass by. I guide part time and work with a number of youth groups for canoeing, camping, and outdoor "Maine culture". I'm a traditionalist in outdoor activities, so flint and steel, reflector ovens, wool, leather, and my ol' 45-70 are constant companions. I have a place on Chebeague Island (NorthEast of Portland in Casco Bay). My guiding activites take me from Falmouth to Lincoln to Ft. Kent, and I do it more for my enjoyment than profit (is there supposed to be a profit in Guiding?). No web site yet.
This forum could be a good place to "swap hash", so I hope the volume picks up.

"To quench your thirst - wet your paddle" Who said that?

I did, just now.

Greetings to ALL,

Bob

 

[BRUINDOG]

BruceT, you must of heard of the famous Silver Ridge Buck?
I guide part time for Bear, Turkey and sometimes Deer when Construction is slow these days, but for the past 5 years I was pretty near full time.
It is a hard living now that the economy is shot!!

 

[Colonel]

Planning for the future

I got my license years ago, just after the testing requirement was added. I think it was the first or second year after they began requiring a written and oral board. I got the license in anticipation of becoming a working guide some day, when I got the time. While I was actually living in Maine, I guided for an outfitter a couple of times, for moose, but that's about it. I already had my commercial pilot license when I got the guide license, so the plan was to have a plane, and guide for back country, fly in hunts. Still might happen, but have another career to finish first.

Gerry

 

[northwoods hunter]

Hi Everyone,

New guy here with my 2 cents. I tested for my license a couple of years ago and since started guiding partime and also help a couple of other local guides. Would love to do it fulltime, but probably not likely.

Scott

 

[KevSMEGD]

I have had my license for a four years now but have really stared using it the past two seasons. Like the colonel when I fininsh my first career in a few years I plan on expanding significantly.

 

[swampdonkey]

hello fellow woods men and women been a master guide since 2000 started guiding right away after guide school for bear and moose with good success and now that i have my own bait sites i'm finding out that its very hard to find clients this will be my first year .the way the economy is right it might be my last. if things dont change soon. I have a web site out there, we are runnig ads , we even ran a bear raffle this year which a banner success. more imfo on that latter.lots of hunters think were making tons of money well we sure not seeing any of that.any help would not be forgotten thanks master guide Alden

 

[Steve27]

Been officially guiding for only 3 years, and you all are right......making money on your own isn't gonna happen overnight......my goal is to cover my expenses.........still not happening yet! Luckily I have a great "real job" that allows for the extra expense. I'm gonna keep at it though.......nothing like seeing the faces of people watching wildlife that they have never seen before......or catching thier first brookie. The e-mails after the adventures from their friends that say they want to come up and see what it's all about.......thats the driving factor!