It Feels Like Black Friday But It's Only January.

[oremike]

I'm the opposite, I look through classifieds and don't see anything that's an upgrade to what I've already got. I do believe the correct number of guns is just one more. I'm just being more picky about what the next one is. I do have a couple on the horizon, a CZ shotgun for sporting clays and a CVA 44 Mag single shot as a suppressor host but those I'm buying new.

 

[orygun]

I'm the opposite, I look through classifieds and don't see anything that's an upgrade to what I've already got. I do believe the correct number of guns is just one more. I'm just being more picky about what the next one is. I do have a couple on the horizon, a CZ shotgun for sporting clays and a CVA 44 Mag single shot as a suppressor host but those I'm buying new.

I only see a couple that are an upgrade, but there's a lot of them that I've never played with before and I am easily distracted!
Not anywhere near @arakboss , though!!

 

[Koda]

Started volunteering with the agency when I was 18. I knew the trapper from working at the local gas station as a young man. I basically bugged him tell he signed me up as a volunteer. Then took a part time airport job while I worked my real job (career). 07 the county trapper died in a river accident and I was offered the full time job, the rest is history. Im a wildlife specialist for the USDA

A great opportunity and adventurous job, Im jealous as I sit in a cubicle all day. Your giving me a midlife crisis now... (not really but kinda... lol)

 

[Tlock]

A great opportunity and adventurous job, Im jealous as I sit in a cubicle all day. Your giving me a midlife crisis now... (not really but kinda... lol)

You wouldn't be jealous if you seen my paycheck....to be a trapper you have to learn to live near the poverty line the guys at the state parks changing the garbage make more than us!

 

[Koda]

Re: black friday subject...

Last year I made a bunch of bucket list purchases due to the political pressure looming over us (eg, SB114) and emptied the bucket so to speak. Happy and content for my future "grandfathered" in enjoyment but Ive made an observation.
After several months of glee now, I happened to metaphorically glance into the empty proverbial bucket.... and saw a lonely note at the bottom with a gun written on it.

 

[Koda]

You wouldn't be jealous if you seen my paycheck....to be a trapper you have to learn to live near the poverty line the guys at the state parks changing the garbage make more than us!

Perhaps, I have zero judgement.... I just know the older I get the more I realize those that follow their hearts live more fuller lives. I sit in a cube all day degrading my fitness while longing to be outside.

 

[Tlock]

Perhaps, I have zero judgement.... I just know the older I get the more I realize those that follow their hearts live more fuller lives. I sit in a cube all day degrading my fitness while longing to be outside.

You are 100% correct....that's why I left a 6 figure income to come do this. We are always hiring, it's hard to find good people.

 

[CountryGent]

Oh and how about save some of that money instead of blowing it on more crap you don't need?

^ This. Good for the budget, good for the soul.

 

[Koda]

You are 100% correct....that's why I left a 6 figure income to come do this. We are always hiring, it's hard to find good people.

That would be a huge change. Im not even a good hunter (ive done only "fair") and uncertain if I could trap. Probably a ton to learn before I could make such a change. I still havent killed that cougar I keep talking about, I went back one day and did some calling but nothing. (brought home a huge rabbit for dinner though). Im hoping to go up in a weekend and look for tracks now that there is snow on the ground.

 

[Tlock]

That would be a huge change. Im not even a good hunter (ive done only "fair") and uncertain if I could trap. Probably a ton to learn before I could make such a change. I still havent killed that cougar I keep talking about, I went back one day and did some calling but nothing. (brought home a huge rabbit for dinner though). Im hoping to go up in a weekend and look for tracks now that there is snow on the ground.

Our program has changed so much. Most jobs with us are not the typical trapping jobs

 

[Koda]

You are 100% correct....that's why I left a 6 figure income to come do this. We are always hiring, it's hard to find good people.

Our program has changed so much. Most jobs with us are not the typical trapping jobs

I think I found what its all about?

USDA APHIS | Wildlife Services State Offices

www.aphis.usda.gov

 

[Tlock]

That's us

 

[kmk1012]

You wouldn't be jealous if you seen my paycheck....to be a trapper you have to learn to live near the poverty line the guys at the state parks changing the garbage make more than us!

Yeah, but you got a truck with the gig. I'm pretty sure you passed me the other day coming off 226. It'd be like a $700 a month raise for me without fuel expenses.

 

[Koda]

Dont federal employees get excellent benefits and retirement package?

 

[Tlock]

Dont federal employees get excellent benefits and retirement package?

Medical is pretty good but it's expensive. 401k and years severd/top 3 years earned. So if I do 45 years and my high 3 years average out to 100k I'll be getting 45k a year for my pension

 

[Koda]

Medical is pretty good but it's expensive. 401k and years severd/top 3 years earned. So if I do 45 years and my high 3 years average out to 100k I'll be getting 45k a year for my pension

Im in my early 50s so not certain I could capitalize on any retirement plan. But id still be fun to chase critters for a living.

 

[Nosferatu]

We are always hiring, it's hard to find good people.

Consider me intrigued...

 

[Ruger Rich]

I've been doing really good so far this year...I haven't bought a single gun all year long! Big step for me

Yeah and it's already the second week of Jan

 

[orygun]

You wouldn't be jealous if you seen my paycheck....to be a trapper you have to learn to live near the poverty line the guys at the state parks changing the garbage make more than us!

It's a shame that people in some skilled, important positions receive poor compensation.

That would be a huge change. Im not even a good hunter (ive done only "fair") and uncertain if I could trap. Probably a ton to learn before I could make such a change. I still havent killed that cougar I keep talking about, I went back one day and did some calling but nothing. (brought home a huge rabbit for dinner though). Im hoping to go up in a weekend and look for tracks now that there is snow on the ground

This is one of those situations that I could say, "If I was 20 years younger... "
Twenty years ago I was in a pretty good position, but I rode a desk. The rare day I could help take up someone's slack in the shop was a treat.
These days I am my own boss and am too close to retirement, and I do what I'm skilled at.
But to have a job working outdoor involving wildlife sounds like a dream. A cold dream on days like today, but a day out of "the office."

 

[orygun]

@Koda What I meant to add is that I'm in your shoes as far as qualifications and would have loved to had the opportunity at the right time.
In fact, about 35 years ago I made a career change that didn't work out, so I went back to what I knew. Had I known about the job and had to go thru the process like @Tlock did, I would have jumped at the chance.