LAST EDITED ON Jul-29-11 AT 11:02AM (MST)[p]Well stated nmtaxi and TOPGUN.
nmelkandmuleys, educate yourself and prove yourself in the field or in competition. There are LOTS of great hunters out there trying to garner sponsors and get on shows. Also, there are a few ways to "get sponsored." You can go pro on a shooting circuit, you can kill more giant animals than anyone else, you can write hunting articles, you can blog and write gear reviews, you can submit photography and videography to industry venders and websites, or you can just happen to know someone in the industry. But, the bottom line is that you need to be good at what you do and you need to set yourself above and apart from the other thousands of guys who share your dream.
One of the best things going for you right now is your age. At 17 you are young enough to make a go out of doing what you are passionate about. If you are serious about making hunting your life this is the time for you to make that committment. It won't come easy, but it will come with dedication and hard work.
Start writing about your experiences, lessons learned, what hunting means to you, or just about what is important to you. Better yet, write about your experiences as a kid who lives for hunting but has had to learn on his own and how that has shaped you. I think you do have a unique angle that people might enjoy reading about. For instance, your story about having your mother drop you off with a used bow for two days and meeting up with some old timer who helps you kill a deer is fascinating. But, you need to expand on the very simple story you gave us a glimpse of and combine it with some neat photos and observations. To get started I'd pick up a camera and start documenting your experiences with photos and stories.
Also, go to this website and ask for advice on launching a hunting career.
www.ridgelineoutdoors.com
There are a few "industry" guys on this site who will likely be able to give you some good advice.
-Cody
www.streamflies.com