MRS only subscription?

[HuskyMusky]

Thought I would post an idea I had...

Would anyone else be open/interested in the idea of only subscribing to the MRS section? perhaps an online only MRS option? or perhaps just the MRS section in print form, at a discounted rate over the magazine?

Not that I don't enjoy reading the stories and seeing the pictures, but nowadays it seems as if the only time I have is to read the MRS and apply in states, maybe look at some pictures, but reading stories seem to get put on the back burner.

Just a thought, wondered if anyone else feels similar?

 

[Gr8bawana]

I would read the print magazine even if there was no MRS section. I started getting the magazine back in the early 90's for the pictures and stories of trophy animals. I don't use the MRS.

 

[MOHunter]

I would be quite interested in an online MRS only service.

 

[NDHunter]

I would definitely be interested in something like that. More and more of the stories are from guys drawing a glory tag and using an outfitter to shoot an animal. I tend to not read the stories as much anymore.

Also, I honestly feel like at some point in the future, the MRS will move entirely online and you'll have to pay extra for it on top of the magazine.

 

[hoshour]

Also, I honestly feel like at some point in the future, the MRS will move entirely online and you'll have to pay extra for it on top of the magazine.

No plans to do that, although the online MRS is better now than the print MRS because it includes a lot of other hunts in addition to the print information. That additional online info will continue to be expanded.

 

[Gr8bawana]

I would definitely be interested in something like that. More and more of the stories are from guys drawing a glory tag and using an outfitter to shoot an animal. I tend to not read the stories as much anymore.

Also, I honestly feel like at some point in the future, the MRS will move entirely online and you'll have to pay extra for it on top of the magazine.

This is true, I have am seeing more articles in Eastman's from hunters using guides and hunting on private land. Even if the property is not a high fence operation it's still not the same as them getting a trophy animal on public land that anyone can hunt. When you can get a trophy animal from public land then I think that is a real accomplishment.

 

[hoshour]

The last issue of EHJ had 10 DIY hunts and 2 guided hunts, one of which was the drawing hunt winner.

The issue before was the sheep issue and many guys are going to hire a guide after drawing a sheep tag. That issue was 6 and 6 and is by far the highest rate of guided hunts you'll find all year. Looking at the previous issue it was 9 DIY and 2 guided. So, not counting the sheep issue, the last two EHJs were an 83% DIY average.

Not sure how many were on private land, but of course many guys will hunt on private land, especially if it is around where they live.

The last issue of EBJ had 8 DIY hunts and 3 guided hunts and the one before had 10 DIY hunts and 0 guided hunts, so about 86% DIY hunts in those two EBJ issues.

I agree that a B&C animal taken DIY on public land is the pinnacle, especially if it is a backpack hunt.

 

[NDHunter]

No plans to do that, although the online MRS is better now than the print MRS because it includes a lot of other hunts in addition to the print information. That additional online info will continue to be expanded.

I'd argue we're already partly there. You're saying it yourself, to get ALL the content in each MRS, you have to buy an online subscription. Additionally, content is being removed from the print editions like how the draw system works for some states. For somebody new to western hunting that wants to learn about how each state's draw system works, the print edition is fairly worthless. They would either have to learn it themselves or buy the online edition.

 

[NDHunter]

The last issue of EHJ had 10 DIY hunts and 2 guided hunts, one of which was the drawing hunt winner.

The issue before was the sheep issue and many guys are going to hire a guide after drawing a sheep tag. That issue was 6 and 6 and is by far the highest rate of guided hunts you'll find all year. Looking at the previous issue it was 9 DIY and 2 guided. So, not counting the sheep issue, the last two EHJs were an 83% DIY average.

Not sure how many were on private land, but of course many guys will hunt on private land, especially if it is around where they live.

The last issue of EBJ had 8 DIY hunts and 3 guided hunts and the one before had 10 DIY hunts and 0 guided hunts, so about 86% DIY hunts in those two EBJ issues.

I agree that a B&C animal taken DIY on public land is the pinnacle, especially if it is a backpack hunt.

The cover is another story though with 4 of the last 7 being outfitted hunts. It seems like every other cover is a guy who drew a mule deer tag for the Strip and hired an outfitter.

I'll agree though about most guys hiring an outfitter to hunt sheep. I can understand that.

 

[hoshour]

We pulled the basic "how the draw works" out of the print edition to replace it with fresher information more along the lines of what guys want to know about where to go.

A person needs only to go to the G&F website to see how the draw works, and he should. You don't need the digital subscription for that.

Also, we didn't reduce the print edition, we expanded it. The print edition MRS page count last year was way bigger than the year before and included two extra MRS issues besides.

And, many states not only had more pages but went from 12 column tables to 30 columns of info plus a lot of side charts and graphs.

 

[hoshour]

The cover is another story though with 4 of the last 7 being outfitted hunts. It seems like every other cover is a guy who drew a mule deer tag for the Strip and hired an outfitter.

Nope. Not counting the sheep issue, the last 12 issues between EHJ and EBJ have had 10 DIY cover stories and 2 guided stories.

 

[Bonecollector]

You can't expect someone to do all the work for you.
It's one of many different tools that I use to plan my hunts. However, in the end, it is one of the most comprohensive tools out there. And this is coming from someone in eastern Ohio who has to do all research from 2,000 miles away and I've managed to go 4 for 4 so far!
~Bill

I'd argue we're already partly there. You're saying it yourself, to get ALL the content in each MRS, you have to buy an online subscription. Additionally, content is being removed from the print editions like how the draw system works for some states. For somebody new to western hunting that wants to learn about how each state's draw system works, the print edition is fairly worthless. They would either have to learn it themselves or buy the online edition.

 

[NDHunter]

You can't expect someone to do all the work for you.

Nope, and there's plenty of stuff to research yourself. Through a lot of looking at maps, Google Earth and talking to biologists, I've found what I think to be are a few very solid hunts that are very undersubscribed. Just need to go and do them.

 

[Bonecollector]

Right on ND! Good luck to you this fall bro.

Nope, and there's plenty of stuff to research yourself. Through a lot of looking at maps, Google Earth and talking to biologists, I've found what I think to be are a few very solid hunts that are very undersubscribed. Just need to go and do them.

 

[Gr8bawana]

You can't expect someone to do all the work for you.
~Bill

You are absolutely right. I find that in todays world of technology many people, especially the younger ones such as millenials want instant gratification with no effort on their part.
You see all these comercials on tv for medications to treat high blood pressure or diabetes or high cholesterol or many other conditions and it's all because people would rather take a pill than do some exercise and change their diet.
Something that would require a little effort. They all want to take the easy way.

 

[roknHS]

hoshour, Isn't the main reason for going digital so you can $ell iphone apps to generation Xers ? After all, Eastmans is a business and businesses tend to make decisions based on how to make more money. Wrap a new idea in a familiar package and tell the customers how much their gonna love it............I think Coca-Cola did something similiar some years ago.

Might work.

Might not................

 

[badgerbob]

Eastmans is a unique magazine. First it is entertaining. I enjoy the articles by average hunters. That's the reason I seldom read Outdoor Life.....ect. very much. Second is information. MRS is about the best thing going for figuring out the draws. I do use a couple of other sources. I would,however, hesitate to render myself to a MRS subscription only. If you think about it the articles are a source of information, also. In a recent issue, an author stated that he had driven to an area for a scouting trip after work one evening. He even stated the number of hours it took to get there. I live close to his location. Using the information in his article I took a little trip myself and behold. I discovered a new hunting area for elk. I have been curious about this area for some time, and new it held some good mule deer, but never considered it for elk. Not a large population but seems to have some good bulls. Information is information and those articles are chucked full of it. I want the whole thing, not just the MRS> Just my opinion....

 

[Bonecollector]

You are correct. I learn a lot form the stories themselves as well.

Eastmans is a unique magazine. First it is entertaining. I enjoy the articles by average hunters. That's the reason I seldom read Outdoor Life.....ect. very much. Second is information. MRS is about the best thing going for figuring out the draws. I do use a couple of other sources. I would,however, hesitate to render myself to a MRS subscription only. If you think about it the articles are a source of information, also. In a recent issue, an author stated that he had driven to an area for a scouting trip after work one evening. He even stated the number of hours it took to get there. I live close to his location. Using the information in his article I took a little trip myself and behold. I discovered a new hunting area for elk. I have been curious about this area for some time, and new it held some good mule deer, but never considered it for elk. Not a large population but seems to have some good bulls. Information is information and those articles are chucked full of it. I want the whole thing, not just the MRS> Just my opinion....

 

[tim]

wish you could buy the mrs by state. I don't bowhunt, so no need to get the ebj, but I would like to to look at the mrs for states that are not on the ehj.

 

[wa-hunter]

i really like the stories to read in the evenings i don't have tv and they get me pumped for hunting season to come. i am like some of the others and skip over the guided hunts though. the MRS sections are also great tools but would just buy the mag for the stories if i had to.