Hunting Forum

Okay, I have to say it. When did the North American Hunting Club become the North American Whiners Club? Where did all of the red-blooded hunting men and women go and how did all of the crotchity old hens get in here? I go through the forums and the vast majority of what I see is compaining and squawking old hens flapping around about how they did not get enough red on their lollipop! Are you serious?

I became a life member of NAHC back in 1980 and did so just to get the magazine subscription and the chance to read about some others hunter's experiences and maybe learn something. (I am also a life member of NRA from about the same time). The fact that I was offered a chance to maybe receicve some test items or participate in a contest or two or be offered a piece of gear with the club logo on it at group prices were all pluses. Since joining, I have received several test products, including a White Thuderbolt muzzleloader that I still use today. I have accepted and paid for some really nice items and have sent a few back. I have a collection of wild game cookbooks that I use and loan out and I have had to communicate with member services a time or two. But I got everything I signed up for and even some extra things.

The purpose of the club is not to be a clearing house for giveaways or provide thousands of test products every week to the membership, but to help spread the word about ethical hunting and sharing experiences that may enhance your next trip to the woods. To provide a conduit for exchanging ideas and maybe even foster some brotherhood and sisterhood. You get out of something what you are willing to put into it.

I am, like I said, a life member of many years in NAHC. I am also 61, retired military, retired law enforcement and nursing some chronic injuries and medical conditions that make it difficult to get out to hunt, but will not stop me from going out. I am grateful to this Nation and to the good Lord for allowing me to live and hunt in this wonderful country of ours. And I try to be positive rather than negative, although sometimes I do tend to get testy when I hear too much sqawking.

God bless you all and may all of your hunts be happy ones.

FRUlery Welcome on here .I became a lifer in 86 .And I feel the way you do .Come around and have some fun .

Absolutely, Holly.

Very well stated my friend. I have been a life member for about as long. I did not join the club for anything more then the magazine. I have a pretty nice Video collect that I paid for, and a few other things. I never got to field test anything and really never cared that I didn't. I just became a Trophy Life member and got my first field test item. I am just now trying to use the website a little more, so I hope to get to know a few hunters from around the country. Outdoors men and women seem to be a putting good group of people. 

Exactly the same reason I joined in 1977, hell back then there weren't any freebies other than the sign up gifts, so the only reason to join was for the magazine and the hunting lands that were being developed for the members.

Back when I joined they did have land in Krimlin CO and did get to hunt on it one year .then that went away .
RClark welcome on here .Join in and have some fun .

I would have to mostly agree. I joined back in the late 1970's and became a Life Memeber in the 1980's on a promotional campaign that applied all annual dues to the cost of a membership. I knew I would continue memebership because I liked the magazine and the values of the club so I took the plunge into Life Memebership. I have over the years received Test Items all of which were relativily small in value but still a treat to receive because I always considered them as gifts. I joined for the magazine and the information that was available such as the Guide directory that used to be sent out every year and then there was the added benefit of being able to contact memebers in various parts of the country regarding hunting conditions. I remember on one occasion I contacted someone in Montana regarding hunting a certain area and he provided all the information I needed.

With that said I do think the Club has become very commercial over the years, I remember when there were no advertisements in the magazine and the club sent out a notice to members asking for input about adding ads in the magazine. I also recall a time when I received unsolicited merchandise in the mail for evaluation and I had to return the item or pay for it after a set time. I hate when companies do that because I always forget to send it back, in fact I remember one item I wasn't even sure if I received it. To the Clubs credit after a few phone calls I was able to straighten out the lost item and I did get my name off the list of having items sent to me.

So to quote "that's the view from here".

Mitch

Thank you Holly. Hope to make lots of new friends here.

Mitch welcome to you to .Like seeing new and old members on here .

Holly,

Thank you for the warm welcome. I am trying to become more involved in the forums.

MitchR, are you a Charter Member, like I am? If so, I don't know if there are very many of us who are active on the forums. I became a Charter Member in 1977, there were less than 1500 members at that time, and everyone of us had our names published in the magazine as we joined, and there was a big board with all our names on it located at the Club Headquarters and every quarter they would publish the entire list in the magazine. Anyone else remember those days??????????

Yes I do RT .

I too was a Charte member for a bit then figured at the price offered to upgrade in 1981 to Life Member. I figured the magazine was worth the price if the club stayed around for awhile. Never expected it to be around this long. Was also hoping they would continue securing property for members to hun, especially in Calif., well that didn't pan out but still never have had any regrets. Have had a couple opportunities to field test products and consider it a bonus. Also enjoy the opportunity to rub elbows with other members on the forums, another bonus since I never figured on owning a computer, that was a real luxury in the early 80's..lol So all you whiners need to suck it up and enjoy what's here or pick up yer toys and go home...

RThomas,

I had totally forgot about the names being published in the magazine, which if I remember correctly only came out 9 times a year. I have all those old magazines stored away. I have been racking my brain trying to remember when I joined and I think it was either 1978 or 1979. I remember I had transferred to Narcotics Division, which was in October 1977, and one of the guys told me about this new hunting club and he got me the application forms, I remember the guys name but can't recall when we talked about the club. I sent the application in and the rest is history.

I have belonged to so many different hunting groups throughout the years I may be confusing the NAHC with something else, but wasn't there and annual get together held somewhere on the East Coast?

Originally there were regional member meetings, but there was never one close enough for me to attend, nor did I ever get to hunt the club lands. BTW, you are correct about the number of magazines per year.

I became a life member in 2000, after my wife died and I moved back to my home town. I've been a member now, for over 35 years, and now that I'm disabled and on Soc. Sec., I can't afford the member hunts and really regret not ever doing any of them back when I was a productive member of the working society!!!!!!!!!

Hey Ron, next time a bunch of of us from that other site get together, you can come help QM, TWERTH and me guard camp----shorter shifts that way...

I joined in the late 90's as a regular member and in 2000 went to LM. I got all the welcome gifts as promised and even had then boz arrive opened and someone along the way had taken out the knife and belt buckle as well as the wooden plaque. I called the Club and explained what happened and they sent another complete box. Was sent a few things that I sent back and after calling the Club and explaining that I was on a fixed income I have never recieved another thing period. I enter the contest and use the BB daily along with getting the magazine. Some folks expect to join and immediately start getting things for free and when they don't they start whining, pizzing, and moaning. I enjoy the BB as I have met ( in person a couple ) some good people who are always willing to offer advice and help. There are some poeple you just can't please and those are usually the ones doing all the whining !!!

RThomas,

I was never able to attend one of the regional meetings. I always thought after I read the recap of the meeting in the magazine that it would be fun to attend but they were just to far away. I also could never afford the offered hunts they were out of my price range. I vaguely remember when the club obtained the land and the
news release that it was the first and more were to come. I guess that didn't work out so well. I also remember when the magazine published the membership numbers after the each drive. The club has certainly changed in many ways since those days.

Good to see some positive feedback for a change. Mitch, Holly, RT, Tom, Big Dawg and the rest are good to go. I also remember the names being printed in the magazine and forgetting to send back some items before the deadline. (They would up as gifts for family hunters). I have been very pleased with NAHA as a whole and hope they keep up the good work.

Tom, I guess since I don't drink anymore, I'd make a pretty good camp guard, huh!?!?!?!?!