Nearly everyone I know, has asked at least once why I haven't got my New York State guide license. They recognized that I had been guiding friends and family for years, and could generate some income doing so for others. There are many benefits to be had by heading afield with a licensed guide, most of which revolves around education and safety.
For the most part, my past medical issues had kept me from pursuing my dreams. Since middle school, I had aspired to become a licensed guide. After graduating from high school, I decided to go into the medical field with the intention of saving up the money to start my own service. I passed the state boards exam, and immediately got a job. That was when I started to have the first signs of medical problems. The condition quickly escalated, and cost me my job. It also caused me to come to the realization that my dreams of becoming a guide were unattainable.
I spent many years suffering with no option, due to a lack in medical knowledge by our state’s surgeons. Fortunately, I was able to find a facility in Arizona that knew how to fix me. That was over a year ago, and for the past six months I have been certifying and taking all the classes needed to get my guide license. This past week, I finished my last class, and passed the test to get my CPR and first aid card. A special thanks to Matt Asma for allowing me to sit in and test locally. He saved me many miles of trave,l and will be headed down river with me soon. Of course, no charge for his efforts.
While recovering, I was researching what needed to be done to get licensed. I was surprised how many classes and certifications were needed to get one. There are guide schools which aren’t mandatory, but for the beginner, would be quite helpful. I decided to research what needed to be learned, and set out to gather all the materials needed to educate myself. While studying, I found that I knew most everything needed to pass the four tests, except for the orienteering and nautical portions.
There are six categories: Hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, white water rafting and ice climbing. I chose to skip out on the rafting and ice climbing portions, being that I don’t have a death wish. Each portion has its own test that you must pass to become a guide in that category. You must also take a water safety course and receive a certification card to be able to use boats in your business.
I had the choice to get it all done in one shot at the Annual New York Outdoor Guides Association Rendezvous. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the entire three-day program. I opted to only attend and test on the last day. I recommend to all aspiring guides that they attend the three-day program. Otherwise, you will need to travel to many locations across the state for certifications and classes. They will also help you get a much more clear picture of what will be on the test.
I will mainly be focusing on waterfowl, turkey, fishing, camping, and hiking tours for the first few years. My future plan is to procure leases on large tracts of land in which intensive management programs will be instilled for white-tailed deer.
Our state’s early September goose season is the perfect opportunity to make contributing land owners and myself some extra cash. With a liberal bag limit of eight geese per day, the state is attempting to reduce our local goose population. Geese have become heavily populated across much of the state causing many land owners to seek help in reducing their numbers. Deer and turkey hunters who don’t waterfowl hunt have also been seeking help. The waste grains intended for deer and turkey are being vacuumed up by the winged bandits before their season opens. Aside from generating additional state revenue licensed guides and the clients they bring in can be helpful to local farms, private landowners, and hunters alike.
I have decided to offer cut rates for local hunters and fishermen in need of my services. For those who only get a few days a year to get outdoors, it's probably a good idea to hire a guide. A guide will be able to understand what species are available, and where they are that week. This will maximize your odds of a harvest or a big catch. You can also spend a single day on the water or afield and apply the skills learned for the rest of your life.
For anyone in need of a guide, land owners looking to make some extra money wanting – and to reduce their goose population – or anyone in need of outdoor education, I will be happy to accommodate. I will also help landowners pick apart their properties and create stand locations that complement the animals’ travel routines. For anyone in need of my services you may contact Promise Land Guide Service (607) 316-2936 or email me at sheldonsoutdoorbusiness@hotmail.com Thank you.
Good wishes, and when time is limited, hire a guide.