Life Coach/Hunting Coach

I’ve dabbled in the idea of hiring a life coach, but I haven’t pulled the trigger for several reasons:

1. I was never really sure what they did – part psychologist? part cheerleader?  What makes someone a life coach?

2. I couldn’t validate the hundreds of dollars per month they wanted (and yes, you have to buy more than just one month)

3. Isn’t this what a mentor is for?

Haley & G.O. Heath, hosts of "Family Traditions with Haley Heath" always try to have their kids with them when outdoors

Have you noticed the increase in life coaches infiltrating our blogs, books and conversation? I’ve read two blog posts this week on Men with Pens who were written by life coaches. I was at a recent WICT panel and two of the women said they’ve hired “executive coaches” for their careers. (Executive coach means the same as life coach, only focusing on your career)

So I started wondering if there is such a thing as a “hunting coach” or “outdoors coach?” What about the folks that have visited their tree stand no less than a dozen times each season only to come up empty-handed? Or what if you want to take part in some outdoors activity, but don’t want to do the group thing, like “Becoming an Outdoors Woman” and would much prefer private coaching as you catch your backcast on the brush for the umpteenth time? Maybe you just need encouragement to get outside. Not a guide, mind you, but a real coach.

Is there such a thing?

Someone who knows a little of psychology, is positive and doesn’t tie your fly for you or carry your equipment to the stand (because that would be too ‘guide-ish’ and not ‘coaching’). This person would share their wisdom of the particular activity and review your goals for the season. Is your goal to finally get your first buck? Or to cast on your own and actually catch something?

A hunting coach, as I see it, would have a pre-hunt call to go over strategy, which may include a trip to the woods to view stand placement etc. Then, the next visit is the actual hunt with a final follow up for review. Perhaps this person does this cycle with you two or three times before leaving you to your own devices.

Of course, this begs the question – is there also a mental game to fly fishing or hunting etc? They say golf is 90 percent mental. You can psych yourself out of making a putt, or be your own cheerleader during a string of birdies. Is our lifestyle the same way? I think having someone in your corner who isn’t a competitor, whose sole purpose is to help you reach your goals, could be a breakthrough for many outdoorsmen and women.

If such a “job” existed, would it get more people involved in the outdoors? Maybe these coaches become certified by NSSF or some governing board.

Most importantly, would people buy this sort of thing? Or would they ask the same questions as I did in the beginning of this post?