My 15-year-old son has always been crazy about hunting and firearms. He is homeschooled and it's time to start directing him toward a career choice. Can anyone suggest a career that uses firearms and/or hunting? He's thought about the military (his dad is a retired Marine) and I don't think police officer is for him (maybe). To be honest, I see him as a Top Shot competitor/speaker/advisor kind of person. We live in East Texas. Any thoughts as to a good career for a kid with this interest?
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A career in firearms?
- Thread starter texcalif
- Start date
oneounceload
Moderator
One of the more versatile positions that he can take to a lot of other jobs if needed would be marketing - as one friend used to say - sales is sales - and if you are good at it, you can make a great living. There are folks who do the trade shows type, others who are regional and take care of the local dealers in a designated area, to those who work at corporate for media marketing campaigns. I know a gent who worked for Browning for a long time as a sales rep - he traveled his area with a trunk full of guns, went to gun clubs, let people try them, went to the stores and took orders to get them in there for sale, etc. he loved dealing with people on a daily basis and he fit right in
Another possibility would depend on his computer capabilities and that would be to use CAD/CAM software and engineering background in design of guns - most likely as a mechanical engineer - another job that will have a future in many areas so as to allow flexibility in the job market
Another possibility would depend on his computer capabilities and that would be to use CAD/CAM software and engineering background in design of guns - most likely as a mechanical engineer - another job that will have a future in many areas so as to allow flexibility in the job market
Welcome to the Asylum texcalif...
See if you can get him to visit (with a bit of support on your part) the LGS, the local range, a local firearms distributor, local gunsmith... anything like that, and see if he can get a part time, after school, weekend job.
Hogtown's suggestion about the game warden is a good one as well... and the local USFS too.
Doesn't have to be anything more than pushing a broom and taking out the trash... but it will place him in the right environment.
oneounceload's comments about computers are well considered... these days, an advanced computer education is a bonus for nearly any job.
Knowledge is knowledge.
Cheers,
C
See if you can get him to visit (with a bit of support on your part) the LGS, the local range, a local firearms distributor, local gunsmith... anything like that, and see if he can get a part time, after school, weekend job.
Hogtown's suggestion about the game warden is a good one as well... and the local USFS too.
Doesn't have to be anything more than pushing a broom and taking out the trash... but it will place him in the right environment.
oneounceload's comments about computers are well considered... these days, an advanced computer education is a bonus for nearly any job.
Knowledge is knowledge.
Cheers,
C
Which does he like better: shooting guns or taking them apart?
If he likes taking them apart more than he likes shooting them, then I'd suggest some basic machining classes at the local junior college, engineering perhaps, gun smithing classes, and trying to find a job with one of the firearms manufactures through out the US.
If he likes shooting guns then he should look at working retail in a gun store, pursuing marketing if he is going to go to college, going through the NRA training classes so that he can become an NRA certified instructor, and look at obtaining his FFL.
If he likes taking them apart more than he likes shooting them, then I'd suggest some basic machining classes at the local junior college, engineering perhaps, gun smithing classes, and trying to find a job with one of the firearms manufactures through out the US.
If he likes shooting guns then he should look at working retail in a gun store, pursuing marketing if he is going to go to college, going through the NRA training classes so that he can become an NRA certified instructor, and look at obtaining his FFL.
Smokey Joe
New member
A caution...
Texcalif--I know that several others have made interesting suggestions for your son re: a career involving firearms and shooting. I am going to suggest something else: Make a career of doing whatever he's good at, that does NOT involve firearms and shooting. Then when he wants a relaxing rest from his job, he can go shooting, or hunting, or reloading, or whatever, that he loves.
I say this as an experienced bicycle salesman, who quit selling bikes because you have to be in the store when people have time to shop, and that precluded ever going on one of those nice Sat. or Sun. organized rides with my friends. I still love bicycling, and now I can do it when I please.
Same is true in the hunting/shooting area. I hunt, and shoot, and love both. I studied wildlife mgt. in college, and considered a career as a warden--Until I realized that during hunting season, wardens NEVER get a day off, they are on duty 24/7. And during fishing season, guess what wardens are doing on the good fishing days--Checking licenses and bag limits, not fishing themselves! The hours all year are awful--poachers don't wait until you're rested up. And, every now and then, you get to go to court and be verbally abused by a defense attorney. Now, if you love enforcing the rules, and being out there managing the hunters and fishers, and educating the young'uns, wardening is fine. Just don't get a job as a warden if you expect to get a lot of hunting/fishing time in yourself!
What I'm saying is, if you love a particular activity, keep that for your own time, and make money at something you can put aside for your loved activity. Unless, of course, your son is a good enough shot that he could actively compete at the national/international level. That's a career, too, but those who are that good, and have the determination to do the necessary and constant practice, are really rare specimens, and can make quite a good living at it. But, it IS a very full-time job. The likes of David Tubb, or Doug Koenig, don't get to go duck hunting very often.
Anyhow, good luck to your 15yo, and I hope he finds a satisfying career.
Texcalif--I know that several others have made interesting suggestions for your son re: a career involving firearms and shooting. I am going to suggest something else: Make a career of doing whatever he's good at, that does NOT involve firearms and shooting. Then when he wants a relaxing rest from his job, he can go shooting, or hunting, or reloading, or whatever, that he loves.
I say this as an experienced bicycle salesman, who quit selling bikes because you have to be in the store when people have time to shop, and that precluded ever going on one of those nice Sat. or Sun. organized rides with my friends. I still love bicycling, and now I can do it when I please.
Same is true in the hunting/shooting area. I hunt, and shoot, and love both. I studied wildlife mgt. in college, and considered a career as a warden--Until I realized that during hunting season, wardens NEVER get a day off, they are on duty 24/7. And during fishing season, guess what wardens are doing on the good fishing days--Checking licenses and bag limits, not fishing themselves! The hours all year are awful--poachers don't wait until you're rested up. And, every now and then, you get to go to court and be verbally abused by a defense attorney. Now, if you love enforcing the rules, and being out there managing the hunters and fishers, and educating the young'uns, wardening is fine. Just don't get a job as a warden if you expect to get a lot of hunting/fishing time in yourself!
What I'm saying is, if you love a particular activity, keep that for your own time, and make money at something you can put aside for your loved activity. Unless, of course, your son is a good enough shot that he could actively compete at the national/international level. That's a career, too, but those who are that good, and have the determination to do the necessary and constant practice, are really rare specimens, and can make quite a good living at it. But, it IS a very full-time job. The likes of David Tubb, or Doug Koenig, don't get to go duck hunting very often.
Anyhow, good luck to your 15yo, and I hope he finds a satisfying career.
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If I were 16 today, I might consider a career in building/designing firearms. I would learn how to weld and use a milling machine, then in college, I might pursue a degree in mechanical design as well as a full business degree. I would take gunsmithing classes and eventually try to get a job with a firearms manufacturer.
Rifleman1776
New member
He needs to become as proficient a writer as possible through education. Then get a good day job that will put beans on the table. Then he should start writing about his hunting and fishing experiences and try to sell those articles to magazines. If he is a good hunter/fisherman or shooter/gunsmith, with his writing skills it could lead to a full time position working for those magazines. As a writer he could be commissioned to test firearms in the field and on hunts. Look at guys like Craig Bodington. He gets to hunt around the world and test guns. And he gets PAID for doing it. A career like that is possible but it must be pursued.
BTW, law enforcement is a bad suggestion. Those guys go through their careers hoping they never have to use their guns.
BTW, law enforcement is a bad suggestion. Those guys go through their careers hoping they never have to use their guns.