Just would like to know how many of you have been named pro staffers for hunting companies; I guide 2 weeks a year for 2 different outfitters and would love to know how I can become a a pro staffer for a turkey call company; I hunt alot and kill alot of birds each year and would like to become one; thank you for any information;
Barry aka...........rem
When ya find out let me know ;D
Most have a application process. Contact the company that you would like to promote and go from there.
It can be really difficult to break into the pro staff arena if you don't have a name, i.e. Calling champion, t.v. Personality, outdoor writer, etc. Most companies look for pro staff that are either true experts in a certain type of hunting or a very likable t.v. puppet. Everybody else gets the deals because of the "it's all about who you know" policy. I was lucky enough to join a half dozen prostaffs when I was guiding hunting and fishing trips back in college, but it was all thanks to the outfitter I worked for. The owner was a Big Name in the industry, so if he recommended me for one, it was as good as done. However, once I graduated and drifted away from guiding, I managed to keep a few as I had started writing freelance for newspapers and magazines. I quit writing a couple years ago, and have since lost the perks of the industry.
My advice would be to go to the big shows and call competitions and make some friends. Invite them to hunt with you. Those types of situations can get you into the industry, and if you ever can pick up one
company, others will be much easier to acquire. Good luck.
I am the Owner, Call Maker, and the hunting field tester of the company so what would that make my title "Pro Owner". LOL
Contrary to most persceptions. Pro-Staff does not stand for "Professional" Staff but rather "Promotional" Staff Member. It's not really about how good a person really is but rather about how much a person can "Promote" or "Sell" for said company no matter how good or bad said companies product or services may be. In my honest opinion, completely overrated in many cases.
bird
Everybody wants to be a Pro Staffer
Quite honestly, I don't much care for pro-staffers when it comes to pushing products. They're either being paid, or are receiving free/ reduced cost products to spread the word about the said product. Some pro staffers are polite and tactful, while a good majority of them are the "in your face" type. They're observed spamming forum type websites, and are hocking the wares of their handlers.
If the OP does end up becoming a pro staffer for a company, please don't be the latter type. You'll run off potential customers, and send them packing to other companies who produce similar products.
I'd much rather buy products based on reviews given from people who have paid for the item with their own, hard-earned green backs. It's easy to recommend anything when it didn't cost you a single dime of your own money. I'm much more likely to trust a person's opinion if they bought the product themselves.
The term "pro staffer " is so loosely brandished about , it is on the verge of being meaningless - reminds me of the word "free" in cell phone minutes, as symbolic only in gesture and not backed up with substance. Its almost a disgrace to the folks that are genuine professionally endorsed hunters and the other good folks doing it .
"Prostaff notations" in a profile sig ,are increasingly under close scrutiny in most internet hunting forums -- to the point they are barred in some other places because of rampant abuse .
Quote from: Old Gobbler on January 22, 2012, 02:51:35 PM
The term "pro staffer " is so loosely brandished about , it is on the verge of being meaningless - reminds me of the word "free" in cell phone minutes, as symbolic only in gesture and not backed up with substance. Its almost a disgrace to the folks that are genuine professionally endorsed hunters and the other good folks doing it .
"Prostaff notations" in a profile sig ,are increasingly under close scrutiny in most internet hunting forums -- to the point they are barred in some other places because of rampant abuse .
Is it OK if I change my profile to read "Old Gobbler Pro Staffer"?
Maybe have some T-shirt, hats, and stickers made up?
:TooFunny:
Quote from: CASH on January 22, 2012, 01:36:49 PM
Everybody wants to be a Pro Staffer
Not everybody.
Thank all of you for your responses; after reading them, I guess it would be better just to keep hunting and killing these birds on MY terms instead of someone else's; I have seen that when one turns a hunting passion into a "job" it seems that all of the fun goes out the window;
Thank all of you for a reality check..................rem
I have been on the Mossy Oak Prostaff for 3 years. As a prostaffers were are supposed to go to 10 events a year and support Mossy Oak. During the last 3 years I have seen those "professional prostaffers" and they turn my stomach. They try to get on every prostaff they can and most wouldn't know which way was up on a shotgun or have ever killed much. They want to think they are a professional but couldn't answer a question about a turkey hunt to save their lives. If I didn't use and believe in Mossy Oak I wouldn't be a prostaffer. As a prostaffer I get a break on items that are sponsors of Mossy Oak. I get a break on stuff like Remington guns, Browning, Leupold, etc etc... I have used a few but not many. I get to purchase 2 guns for each Rem and Browning at about half price and in 3 years I bought 2. I also got a few other things for preasants and for my son. I usually teach turkey hunting seminars every year at our local Bass Pro shop so this is where I do most of my events. If I didn't like teaching people how to turkey hunt I would not be a prostaffer for MO. But since there are more people in CA that have no clue how to turkey hunt I have my work cut out for me. I was just at a sportshow in Sacramento CA for 4 days with my turkey call company, Mother Lode Turkey calls. In 4 days I talked to 2 turkey hunters. One of which was from MO but now resides in CA. Not one that I talked to could tell me the name of the turkey call they used much less whether it had 2 or 3 reeds or what the cutts looked like. Not 1 person had ever seen a trumpet, tube call or scratch box much less knew how to use one. One guy wanted to know why I was selling a crack pipe (Trumpet) in the convention. I did see one guy that I had taught an all day seminar to that had killed 4 turkeys, called in 2 for other people and had taken a kid on his first turkey hunt, all since the seminar I had taught. This is the reason I do it.
TRKYHTR
Dang Joe, you're selling crack pipes again? :TooFunny:
Crack Pipe! :TooFunny:
A ton of truth written here and Joe Slaton is my HERO!
se
That "Crack Pipe" comment has made me laugh multiple times today. Priceless. :TooFunny:
If you are looking to do it to get discounts, I will make this suggestion, teach hunters safety. I do and am able to get perks from some of the big name companies along with helping kids get into the sport. I don't do it for the discounts, but it is nice to be recognized by the companies that will sell things to the new hunters that I bring into the sports.
Quote from: CASH on January 23, 2012, 02:25:57 AM
Dang Joe, you're selling crack pipes again? :TooFunny:
:TooFunny: :TooFunny:
Joe, That crack pipe story was a good one !!!
I remember a story of a guy getting pulled over in the car for practicing with one while driving down the road by the police
I have a family member who travels and does educational/promotional stuff for the hunting and fishing part of a big box company. While he loves his job and it's perks are obviously nice, it keeps him from his family a lot and he rarely has time to hunt and fish for himself. I have hit the road with him a few times and let me tell you, there's nothing better than doing it on your own terms.
Quote from: Old Gobbler on January 23, 2012, 11:11:07 PM
Joe, That crack pipe story was a good one !!!
I remember a story of a guy getting pulled over in the car for practicing with one while driving down the road by the police
:TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny:
Quote from: CASH on January 23, 2012, 02:25:57 AM
Dang Joe, you're selling crack pipes again? :TooFunny:
It's an easy way to pay the bills! ;)
I'm with Joe, but I'm also on the Mossy Oak Pro Staff for Louisiana turkeys, and have been since August 2008, If I didn't believe in the product that they produce, I wouldn't be on it, I have always worn Mossy Oak, and, yes, I have a sticker on my truck window, right above the one that says NWTF with the walking turkeys on it, I agree with Joe on a lot of things, I'm not a professional turkey and don't profess to be, I enjoy promoting a great product, no, i don't buy a lot of the things i can get at a discount, i already got all i need to hunt with, yes, we do get some things free also once in a while, I just enjoy doing it and will continue as long as i can, I also try to promote calls for Heirloom Game Calls, Brian is a cancer survivor and a Vet, and makes some awesome pot calls, pens, knives and several different items, all from his garage. He also donates lots of calls to events and youth hunts, he also helps me and another Mossy Oak Pro Staff member, a lady that hunts more than 75% or 80% of all the people that i know with our NWTF banquets and Outreach programs, No, I don't carer for lots of the "Pro Staff" people that don't know what a duck or turkey looks like, but they knew someone, I just enjoy promoting items that I use and believe in
I would love to get with some of the industry's finest companies and be on their staff...most would. I "help" 2 good friends of mine...now whether im considered pro staff or not is on them..don't matter to me. One makes turkeyrama call and the other chokes. I use their products and support their business because the both have products I believe in and know I can trust day in, day out because they are solid. I also support them both because they are both really good friends of mine, now that I have met them and worked with both.
Being in the outdoor industry has been my lifelong dream. Hasn't happened yet...and honestly I doubt it will cause I don't have a clue on how to make it to. I will keep doing my think and killing turkeys or whatever im after. If I do get hooked up with a company one day...great, if not, its still good. Thanks for those of you that do and do a good job at helping others.
I am a Hook's prostaffer and it was a absolute blessing when Scott asked me to be part of his team!!!! This was totally a door that God opened up for me, I have developed some close relationships with fellow believers and turkey hunters that I know I wouldn't have developed if it wasn't for being on with Hook's. Like mentioned before, I believe and have total confidence in Hook's products, and actually did long before becoming part of his team. Yes, I get some free stuff and discounted stuff, and that's pretty cool. But even if all that went away I would continue to stay with them. Scott gave me a chance when no one else would, and I he makes an awesome product!!!!!
God Bless
Quote from: scott ellis on January 23, 2012, 08:14:19 PM
A ton of truth written here and Joe Slaton is my HERO!
se
I met Joe last year in Mississippi. If anyone was ever Genuine it's Joe Slaton ! What a great guy & awesome turkey caller. I want to be just like him when I grow up ! :icon_thumright: