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

[vitalshot5]

The question I have is, if you quit, whose gotta work your shifts? are you screwing that person out of his/her vacation? There is just more than you that it affects when you quit.

[hotrod1]

Put a request in for a raise if they make you work. If they refuse your request, go hunting.

[Boar]

i have watched my wife for 15 years, miss weekends, holidays, birthdays, wedding, ect. all because of the needs of the family. i guesse if you can afford to quit, go ahead. but if its money thats depended on, why?

[wannafish2]

My first inclination is to say "Heck yes I would quit" but, there may be some considerations. Maybe the scheduler made an honest mistake and forgot you requested it off? If not, then I would ask why your request wasn't approved? and why you weren't told ahead of time so you could find someone to work for you....If none of these scenarios fit the situation and they just plain didn't give you the time you have requested (the reason really shouldn't matter why you want it off)then I would not only quit, I would tell them to KMA...

One of the many reasons I took up archery is due to similar reasons. I had a job where I was low on the seniority list, and too many others requested opener off and only 2 could be off the same weekend...yadda yadda yadda, so for many years I had to hunt the second weekend. Not nearly as good.

I hope the person who does your schedule made a mistake and you can have the time off and keep your job, but if not...we do have our priorities! and your personal well being and your family should come first.

[Red Cabin]

I would wait until it's time to leave for hunting then tell them the truth, I have to leave town for a funeral! (They don't need to know it's a funeral for a deer!)

[walleyehunter80]

you only get one chance at life................you better do it right the first time!

Me, Im hunting with my family opening day, would not miss it for the world. Live every day like its your last.

[jay83196]

I would be honest tell them I requested it you hired me knowing his I have money invested ( tell em rented cabin etc) other people counting on me so I won't be coming in do what have to do places may not fire for one day missed.

[harvey lee]

I agree with jay above.

[picksbigwagon]

Okay, I will take a stab at this SwedishPimple,

1. Job# 1 Professional (Salary)....

2. Age: Early 40's

3. College Educated...(2 degrees, 1 BA and 1 MA. Ed., still paying off the MA)

4. Union (technically by name only, if you ask a real union memeber, we are a loose association)

5. Homeowner (Mortgage payer I mean)

6. Married..3 kids ( 1 in daycare)

7. Votes... Don't see why you need to know this but I vote, not the way I am told to either

8. Never in the military

9. Not underwater on mortgage

10. Live in the "Metro" but as my friends like to say, you can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy.

11. Vacation (I am a teacher, I really don't want to get into this debate)

12. Hunt private land.....I hunt in Iowa on private land, yes I pay out of state licenese fee's to hunt with friends and family

13. Days out hunting or fishing since last Rifle season (we moved into a new house last year 2 weeks before deer season in Iowa, therefore it has been two years since I have gone deer hunting)

14. Health Insurance?.......Yes, family coverage and a nice chunk of my salary too

15. Retirement?.......yes

16. Raise?......not in the last 2 years, doubtful the next two years as well, and I understand that

17. Self-employed?....no...

18. Spouse works???..yes (travels a lot as well, works for a Berkshire Hathaway owned company and has horrible benefits)

Life, that is the answer to your question Swedishpimple, your life does not revolve around you anymore, you are an adult and a family man. If you have a second job to make ends meet at your house, you work that second job. Does that suck? Yep, life sucks once in a while. Talk to people my fathers age (82) and tell them what you are planning on doing, and ask them for their opinion, my guess is they will call you a few choice names.

When my oldest was born, a friend who was older and a father of two said, "be ready to drop down the totem pole about 5 or 7 spots" I thought he was kidding, but it is the truth. You have responsibilities that clash with your desires, EVERYONE DOES! Work you opener weekend, take the next weekend to hunt and enjoy it. In ten years when your kids (yeah you only have one now, wait until more "show" up) want to go hunting with you, you will be in a better place to make demands of your employer.

Not the answer you were looking for and I seriously doubt those who say quit yer job or call in sick would really jeopardize their family and their career (you said you were a salaried PROFESSIONAL right?) to go hunting. Just my 2 cents

[MNice]

I would talk to your wife & family about this... not an Internet forum

[swedishpimple]

I think I will be able to work something out......it is just interesting to see the passion and priorities we all have.

For those saying to discuss with your family.....well....I will invite you over to chat with the 3 yo then...see where that goes...I hope you like Thomas the Train, and we all know how a spouse can be. Anyways...this fun and thanks for you opinions and thanks for sharing what you have done.

[bigbucks]

Not in your financial situation which is the ultimate decider, but if you can live with possibly losing that job I'd hunt. If they knew you were going to be gone, I wouldn't quit, I would just remind them you are not going to be able to make that shift or those two shifts, whatever. If you wanted the whole week off, that might be too much to ask, but if you worked out that weekend ahead of time I'd call their bluff if you can live with the possible fall out.

I was in that situation probably 20 years ago with my primary/only job. It was a salaried, professional position. I had a week of vacation scheduled to duck hunt. My employer over scheduled during a time when we were shortstaffed. There was a newer supervisor higher up that wanted to have me cancel my vacation, as long as I didn't have any nonrefundable tickets or anything like that... He wasn't a hunter, at least not a very serious one. Fortunately another supervisor ruled that out because he didn't want to set a precedent like that & also I'm quite sure he realized I was prepared to quit. That scenario was different in that I was single & the company already had turnover issues. I was pretty sure I wouldn't have to, but I was dead serious. They couldn't afford to let a reasonably happy employee walk away over one bad personnel decision.

[pooly_31]

i guess i would look at it this way, if you quit the job to hunt, how much fun is the hunt really going to be with that hanging over your head? Are you going to be able to let that go and focus on having a good time or will you have that nagging voice on your shoulder the entire time?

[Coach1310]

Like others have said.... you'll never hear an old timer or someone whose days are numbered say..... "If I'd only worked one more shift".. time is precious and gifts even more precious.... some folks spend so much time doing the "responsible" or "professional" thing, they forget about the "precious" and "personal" things... family, kids, traditions, passions, etc.. a lot of folks on this board grew up with Dad working a lot or always sacrificing their time to earn a living and provide for their family, etc.... while very respectful and selfless-- I know, my Dad was one of these... it doesn't mean if you choose to do something else it is the wrong thing.... you need to weigh the options and make a decision... for some it is only one weekend, but to others... it is something you may only get to do 50 times in your life... experience an opening weekend.. if the minimum wage job is that important to your family and financialy , then I guess you miss out, if not I think you go hunting... time is precious and to let the "professional" principle get in the way of quiting a minimum wage job where they will lay you off tomorrow without thinking twice is a bit "comical" in my opinion...

[bogwalker]

They might want you to quit.

[Bear55]

Good post coach, I very much agree.