Anyone a Huntin Fool Member?

[huntntrail]

Just wonderin if any of you are subscribers to the Huntin Fool. I can't convince my wife that it's worth the 100 bucks, but would like to know if it's possible to get my hands on some of the magazines...ecspecially the Dec. state by state issue. Anyone have any idea?

 

[chasendeer]

I'm a member. The December issue does not till you alot about the units.
Jay

 

[huntindude]

I've been a member for years, I'd say it's worth the money if you put in for a bunch of states like I do. like any information you need to check it out yourself, most things in there are good but I disagree with some of it at times. my biggest gripe is the way the Carter's have turned it into a all out campain to sign up every hunter in North America, sure I understand the economics of it for them but telling 5.73 million hunters to put in for the same 2 tags defeats the purpose of being a member. I just renewed my membership anyway if that tells you anything.

 

[prn]

I've been a member for the past three years. My subscription is up this month, and I will not renew. The talk of the advantages you'll get from being a member are not true. My suggestion would be to save the $100 and put it towards applying for other states. If you would like specific information, send me a PM.

Paul

 

[Craig]

I renewed my membership this year. Right now I mostly put in for points in a couple of states tell I can afford to hunt them I usually renew every-other year just to see what has changed.

 

[bigbull1]

LAST EDITED ON Dec-14-06 AT 05:31PM (MST)[p]I agree with prn.

I have called the Carters on two different occasions for hunt services help, and it was like I was bothering them. the magazine seems more about how to take trophy pictures than anything else.

I'm done after two years of subscribing.

The best application service in my opinion is www.huntodds.com with Kirt (aka: Oddnut1) here on MM.

Ed

 

[325wsm]

The $100 bucks it kind of stiff, but the mag has more info then any other service out there. I have called carters for info on hunts numourous times, sometimes they can help sometimes they cant. I will stay a member till something better comes along

 

[mdbrown]

been a member 3 years , im not renewing. same story here i called them 3-4 times they couldnt wait to get me off the phone it seemed. i looked at the amount of magazines they print out it is something like 10,000 and change if i rember right. they told me they had 6000 plus members 3 years ago. theres some real secret info there. i only wish i could find out there top picks so i know where not to apply. its huntodds.com for me too ,premium services.

 

[coyote13]

I'm also a member but I dont think I'm going to renew after calling them for info on ID and Jason say " why would you want to hunt there" and this is after I read their recommendations on ID Moose and I also got the feeling that they couldn't get me off the phone fast enough. For the most part you can the same info on MM or Bowsite.

 

[huntntrail]

That's interesting, maybe I'm better off not having ever subscribed...I really only ever wanted the magazines...anyway to get those without being a member?

 

[YukonDall]

I'VE BEEN A MEMBER FOR 3 YEARS ALSO, WHEN IT RUNS OUT I'M DONE WITH THE CARTER MAGAZINE/ NOT WORTH A 100.00 BUCKS. YD.

 

[Prism]

I've been a member for 5-7 years. A buddy got it when it first came out and I've still got the first few copies of his.

It is kind of a bummer that there are sooooo many people that get the magazines each month. In that respect it's lost some of its "member" appeal.

I don't think one media outlet has driven up the draw odds and brought so much attention to the better hunting units.

That being said, I think it's well worth the $100. The Carter's have been very successful, and have made themselves a household name in Western hunting.

Sure you can spend hours and hours on the internet (which I do), but it's nice to have it all compiled into one magazine.

Which BTW works a lot better than the computer when I'm in my office doing my best thinking

I don't think a serious Western hunter can have too much information. It takes a lot of info to be successful these days, and I'm all for getting as much info as possible.

 

[Wanted]

I'm a member, and I will keep subscribing. It breaks down to $8/month. Go try and get Eastmans or Trophy hunter to give you info on good units/area's. Won't happen. I have talked to several other members and have shared and recieved good info from them-not the Carters. The service is to get you in touch with other hunters who have actually hunted the unit your after.

 

[riddleone]

Just subscribed got the December issue, I'll say for a hunter just starting out with the out of state hunts this is a good first choice a lot of information all in one place. We'll see how the next 6 months go.

 

[isayNUNYA]

I'll secon Prism's post. You can't have to much info. Its well worth the $100. Most of you guys drop that on a Sat. night drunk.(J/K)
I know Jason, Garth and now Adam will point everyone in the right direction. You still have to do your own leg work. I know in some cases they have had people call them when they pull into their hunting unit the day of the hunt and want to know where to go. You can't blame them for wanting to get off the phone with someone like that.

 

[kilowatt]

One year for me and that is it.

Brian

 

[REDDOG]

I really dont need the mag. but i get it,like others have said cant have too much info! i used to put in for some of the units they recommend,but shy away from them now! you can get the units they recommend without the subscription, just look up the draw odds, they will be the worst!

 

[High5]

Huntntrail,
I get "huntin fool" & I enjoy each issue, I just can't seem to get enough info on draws & articles about hunting.
My saved issues go back to 01 but I remember when they were nothing more than a stapled together flyer, maybe 98 or 97?
I know they(Garth & Jason) motivated me to apply for up to 9 states each year. I have points built for all species in several states and am now reaping the the benifits of drawing at least 1 good tag every year.
I call for advice at least once a year & yes they are busy but they always take my call & always give me good advice.
As a businessman I applaud thier success! They are doing what they love and as of late they are doing it in style.
It's good information and well worth the 100.00 per year it costs. Just keep in mind that all thier member are getting the same informantion as you.
High 5

 

[PleaseDear]

Ditto High5....

I've got mine back 3-4 years and have called guys in the drawn tags section a couple of times after I have drawn a tag.

Different states/units/species/weapon choice. I think it is a very valuable source of info.

I renew with a christmas card every December. I feel like they have earned to be on my list for a card.

Robb

 

[DonVathome]

I like the magazine, but partially because I love math. I also try to avoid his reccomendations.

Many times his odds are very decieving FYI. Very decieving.

He lists lots of NR goat odds at 8:1, ain't no such thing! If you look really close his says NR odds with 3 points, then he takes the number of applicants WITH 3 POINTS and ignores everyone else! Odds are 5 times worse, or more.

Just keep that in mind, I too also am annoyed they tell everyone to sign up and keep toting someone has to draw. True but when odds are 1000:1 it probably will not be you!

All in all I get it every other year to save a little $$$ great pics and stories, every day it arrives I read it cover to cover

 

[MNHunter]

LAST EDITED ON Dec-15-06 AT 07:05AM (MST)[p]I've been a member for a few years and I am going to drop my renewal in the mail today. Do I need the info? No. I know most of the stuff they print. I do enjoy the mag, the articles, gear review and what not. I wouldn't get it simply for the draw info but the overall package in worth the $100 to me. As Prism said, you can't have too much info.

"Whatever you are, be a good one."
- Abraham Lincoln

 

[ElmerFudd]

Keep in mind, that counting friends and family, you can probabally at least triple the actual membership numbers for tag applications. I bet subscriber numbers are around 10,000 now. If you apply in most western states, you are putting out something like $1500 per year in nonrefundable tag, license, and application fees. A DIY out of state hunt is roughly $1000, plus a week or more of vacation time. In reality, $100 is in the noise. Sometimes calling those who have drawn in the past helps. And you might even look at units he does not pick for better draw odds.

And also, figure something like $80 (profit, I assume the magazine and postage is $20) per year x 10000 memberships = $800,000. Add in the application service and tag and hunt commissions, and you can likely double that. Not sure how many family members and employees that gets divided between, but it is likely they are getting paid more than many executives. Good to know someone can make a good living in the hunting buisness.

 

[Elkcrzy1]

Ive been a member for the last three years at least and have enjoyed their magazine and services. I drew a sheep tag and they sent me past hunters in that area which was invaluable info. I've called them and maybe they were a bit short on the phone but so what, they answered my questions and Im happy. They also put an ad on their website for a landowner tag and didnt charge me to do it. When you guys find a better magazine I will listen but Im not aware of any better out there right now. Ive been a subscriber to eastmans and eastmans bowhunter and nothing compares with huntin fool yet. Gary

 

[Aaron]

Been a member for 4 years. I Dont think the info on the phone with those guys is really is that great but the member list they send U when U draw a good tag is worth the 100 dollars. When its a hunt that u dont think u will ever draw again i found out alot of good info from members. They will push a unit where they have lots of landowner tags in so watch that one. CO is the worst state for that. The only bad part is they have a huge impact on draws for units that they push for trophys.

 

[johnb]

If you think your going to hear someone freindly on the phone when you call them think again. They may be the nicest guys ever but on the phone they come across with the personality of a brick. I've thought about trying to talk to garth at the hunt expo just to give them another chance to be decent.

When I've called them they have given little or no info. A typical phone call last 20-30 seconds tops. The years after I've called them on a particular unit the next year they give my name out. I've spent 5-50 minutes talking to people about units I've hunted. The one time I called three diferent "members" about a unit all were kinda short and almost rude. I asked if ther was a better time for me to call. Most acted as if they were hiding a honey hole when they can't even draw the unit again for years.

I think keeping up with the changing rules info is good but it is not a information "service". I've heard they once were very customer oriented. With the money there, the customer service is gone. I guess thats why they have to do membership drives and not repeat customers and word of mouth.

 

[TheHunt]

I subscribe to Huntin Fool. I have found the best Wyoming unit from Jason. I also found one heck of a place in Idaho from a specific question I asked them.

I also put in for Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming every year. The Wyoming unit is a high success rate for the high quality animals in it. Everyone already knows about most of the Utah, Nevada and Arizona units.

I would also suggest that you know something about the unit prior to calling them up. You should have already called the biologist prior to calling them for the second call that you give them.

One last thing, Asking the right questions! If you call them up with "tell me the best unit to hunt in Arizona". Jason or Garth will ask, what weapon are you going to use. They will give you the top three or four units. End of phone call...

 

[Zim]

I subcribed about 5 years ago, then renewed last year. Mostly I know where the good units are, but there have been quite a few changes in state's draws and I wanted one central source to keep up. The other good reason was so I knew what their top 5 picks were so I could avoid them. The draw odds have really been skewed by them in recent years as their reader base has expanded. I'd been applying for deer unit 21 CO for years but not last year when it went to #1 on their list.

I do not have subscriptions to any other magazines. For a new guy getting into the appl game it's a good idea. After that, I don't know.

 

[chasendeer]

I'll say after yesterday morning that my view is changed. I was able to talk to the new guy Adam for 17 min about a Ut general hunt. Before then I don't think that I would have reuped.
Jay

 

[mtsheep]

LAST EDITED ON Dec-19-06 AT 09:34AM (MST)[p]I like the magazine, and have only talk on the phone once when I drew a "good tag", didn't get much information from them about the area. So I would say,, is the magazine worth $100.
It does help when applying for more than one state.

 

[dwalton]

Excellent magazine, and been a member for many years. That being said, I don't think I'll re-new this year. Nothing against the Carter's. I've used their service quite a bit (Jason set me up with an outfitter that gave me a smokin' deal on a Dall sheep). The reason I probably won't re-up is the devaluation of the non-resident application in general. Two years ago, it cost around $600 in non-refundable fees and licenses. Last year, I spent $625 in Wyoming alone. The ever-shrinking non-resident quotas in the premium areas caused me to drop several states. For what I apply for, I can do the research on my own.

I do wish they would offer the newbie a bit of a disclaimer stating how far behind they are in the points game, and what astronomical odds that they face by being a Johnnie-come-lately.