Would you quit a second job to hunt the "Opener"???

[swedishpimple]

Here is a question to see how serious you take hunting. Would you quit working at a second job if they scheduled you to work over the opener weekend????

I know this is a can of worms....lots of well...how bad do you need the money...and could you find other work types of questions...

1. If you don't hunt the opener why even bother...seems like most deer are shot on Saturday.

2. The friends and family of deer camp meen a lot. Opener is magical.

3. I have spent thousands on the land, shack, gear....not to mention sweat equity...it is like having plane tickets and a cruise pre-purchased

4. Working 2 jobs sucks..I have done it for 9 years.

5. Have not asked for any time off except for this....and have been very flexible picking up work for others.

Think my mind is made up.....maybe something will work out.....if not....see ya....I am getting too old for this [PoorWordUsage]!!!! Time to live some

[Fever]

If you've worked at this place for 9 years and they don't know you well enough to schedule you for work during opener, and they won't let you have it off after you've requested it..... I think you know the answer to that one.

[eyedawg]

Exactly fever

[swedishpimple]

About 7 months there....worked at a different outfit for job #2 before. So it is the first hunting season...but it was clearly requested and planned around, pretty much from day 1.

[Bear55]

Short answer YES.

[Musky Buck]

Not so short answer indeedy do.

[TooTallTom]

I pretty much agree with Fever. In this position, I might start the conversation by focusing on my long history with the employer, past "team player" habits, and reinforcing how important the deer opener is to me and my family. (How it's not just going out a whacking a deer, but a true family event similar to Thanksgiving or Christmas.) Make sure they really know how big of a deal it is, then ask if they can do anything for me regarding the opener (which I requested off with plenty of notice) and if not, I'd put in my notice (It's not two weeks any more, I guess.) up to the first day I'd need off (Friday? Saturday?) and call it good.

But ultimately, like you said, none of us can make the call about how much you need the money, or how tough it would be for you to find another second job. I know it sucks to miss it, but deer season will happen next year, too.

[swedishpimple]

Looks like we are a bunch of "Quiters"

[swedishpimple]

It might happen next year.....it might not....some of the party is aging...heart attacks...accidents..one never knows....we must strike while the iron is hot...and not regret missing something

[Cheetah]

I'd be tempted to quit if they were being complete jackasses about it. Especially if you think you can find another similar paying job (assuming it is needed) in a reasonable time frame.

[Chuby Minnow]

Without question. My first job even! My vacation time is mine and nobody eleses. They will not tell me when or for what I can take MY vacation time.

[jerkbait]

Like a great wise friend of mine always said "You can't stop me from going, only from coming back". I live by that right there. But a 2nd job would be pretty easy to say see ya.

[Red Miller]

I quit a job I had for 11 years for less reason than that. Chalk me up in the "quit" column. Sounds to me like you bend over backwards for them and the favor is kindly not returned. Of course it depends on your financial picture. Can you afford to quit?

Just my $.02 worth

[Froggy4371]

I would take into account that if you need the job and you know you can find another if it is need. Quit!!! I only gun hunt deer because of my dad and I would not miss it for the world. You never know when you will not be able to do it with them again. I just lost a hunting buddy due to a accident. This is time that is precious!

Froggy

[archerystud]

I heard the following saying years ago and I totally agree with it.

You'll never read on someone's tombstone, "I wish I had WORKED more hours".

It probably would depend on my financial situation though. If I were in dire need of money then I may work through hunting season for one year but I can guarantee you that I wouldn't be working at the same place the next year.

[Neighbor_guy]

I would vote no.

If you need a second job bad enough to have had it as long as you have, to quit so you can play orange army is a joke.

If I were your employer and you threatened it, I would "encorage you to find work elsewere".

If I were a future employere and you said you quit your previous job so you could go deer hunting, your resume` would find its way into the round file.

If you were in my hunting party I would think you were an _____.

Man up. You are "taking your ball and going home". To quit over deer hunting is childish. I would expect it out of a 17 year old.

My father just took a job knowing he would miss opening day, but he needs the job. That means for the first time in 20 years, I will be soloing it. It is what it is, and its the reality we face.

In todays economy you can not count on being able to replace your job. If you dont want it, there are others who will take it.

[COMMISH]

i'm with Neighbor_guy on this one, man up and be responsible. if your whole life revolves around deer hunting i feel sorry for you. and yes i under stand the opening day and family and all of that. been there done that. i missed an entire deer season once, and yes my dad was getting up in years and not sure how many more times we would get to hunt together. but i did what i had to do.

[John478]

In todays economy most people are lucy to have one job

[reinhard1]

Family comes first and always first. i have missed plenty of openers due to senority at work and a lot of hunters who were ahead of me took that week. i didn't like it but i went the following week and got used to it. later when i got more senority and the others retired i took that week.

i dont know your circumstances, but i assume you work two jobs for a reason. i commend you for that. if your not happy with your situation in your second job start looking for something else. in the mean time i would keep the job until then and hunt when you can. nobody said life is fair. however Family always comes first. good luck.

[TRZ II]

Nobody ever lamented on their deathbed "I sure wish I would have worked more". If you can afford it....QUIT!!!

[suncruiser234]

Call in sick with a bad fever.

[swedishpimple]

It is interesting to get everyones take on this. It would be more fun to know everyones back ground I started the thread...I may go first.

1. Job# 1 Professional (Salary)....# 2 Retail....darn near Min. Wage

2. Age: Early 30's

3. College Educated...(2 degrees, took second job to pay off college)

(took 2nd job the second time due to "Great Recession")

4. Non-Union

5. Homeowner (Mortgage payer I mean)

6. Married..1 kid (in daycare)

7. Votes...right wing

8. Never in the military (they sacrafice lots of hunting..this is so petty)

9. Not underwater on mortgage (Only by sweat equity)

10. Live in the "Outstate"

11. Vacation not used....Over 20 weeks....lost count...never use it

12. Hunt private land.....owned by myself and hunting party

13. Days out hunting or fishing since last Rifle season (2.5...all fishing)

14. Health Insurance?.......kind of....

15. Retirement?.......not anymore

16. Raise?......not in 5 years

17. Self-employed?....no...(Kind of..that is job #3 I guess)

18. Spouse works???..yes (too much too..salaried limited benefits)

Add to the list if you want....maybe you have an idea of where I am coming from

On the fence on quitting...not the right thing to do, but it would be nice to live my own life...working 60-80hrs a week for 9 years..never having vaction or seeing your child grow up is not living free......

[ANYFISH2]

Call in sick with a bad fever.

+1 if you are unable to give notice that you will be gone. and it is not the whole season.

If you are asking for a day or two and they have said no, a call in of deerinitis may be in order.

If your asking for the entire 9 or 16 days, I think your asking a lot if your low on the totum pole. I would try other things and not quit.

[Bear55]

Quit, spend some more time hunting and with your family. Sounds like you have put in your time.

[reinhard1]

that's a lot of vacation saved up. maby you and your wife should sit down and figure out your income vs debt [bills, payments]. see if you can pay your bills and have some extra without the second job. looks like you work very hard and you dont have much time for your family and some time to enjoy with your family.

i owned my own buisness for almost five years with no time off and worked 7 days a week with never a day off or vacation of any kind. that's all the income i had and i lost it all due to change of ownership of the property i leased from. lots of mistakes on my part mostly [ just jumped into a buisness with not knowing how to run a buisness], worked my arse off.

you need to talk this over with your wife and i bet she is ready for that conversation. you may have to sacrifice things but it's important to be with your family as much as possible. i think you have the work ethic and the education to one day own your own buisness, but for now think this thing through with your wife. if it means missing this season it may not mean missing the next one and the one's after that. but think it through and i think you will make the right decision. good luck.