Huntin Fool member? We'd appreciate your vote.

[Umpqua Hunter]

I think she was DQ'ed. Rules for the contest is that you do not solicit votes on other web sites or magazines....... oops

Hi Sea Shift, I noticed that this was your first post on the Eastman's forum.

I'm curious if you can tell me more about what you know? I'm aware of several members who have asked for votes on various "web sites" and forums. I've also read the story contest rules on more than one occasion, and there appears to be no restriction on someone asking for votes. The vast majority of votes that I'm aware of, that my wife's story received, were from people I've worked on developing a relationship with. I've referred dozens of people to become Huntin Fool members over the 15 years I've been a member. My family has provided Huntin Fool four exclusive stories and numerous pictures that have gone to print. Do you know anything about her story being "DQ'ed" or is that something you just suspect may have happened?

 

[Alabama]

Pretty crappy first post if you ask me. Just my $.02.

 

[Sea Shift]

Hi Sea Shift, I noticed that this was your first post on the Eastman's forum.

I'm curious if you can tell me more about what you know? I'm aware of several members who have asked for votes on various "web sites" and forums. I've also read the story contest rules on more than one occasion, and there appears to be no restriction on someone asking for votes. The vast majority of votes that I'm aware of, that my wife's story received, were from people I've worked on developing a relationship with. I've referred dozens of people to become Huntin Fool members over the 15 years I've been a member. My family has provided Huntin Fool four exclusive stories and numerous pictures that have gone to print. Do you know anything about her story being "DQ'ed" or is that something you just suspect may have happened?

I agree crappy first post, sorry for that. However this exact issue is what lead me to the eastmans forum in the first place. I was going to enter a story in the Hunting fool and found that doing this is actually a violation of the entry rule #6.

" If the story submitted, a description of the story, or pictures associated with the story appear in another magazine, website, social media, and forum (excluding the Huntin' Fool Forum and wildlife conservation groups) we reserve the right to revoke your membership to Huntin' Fool, you will forfeit any prizes awarded, and your story will not be entered into the 2014 Story Contest"

I can kinda of understand why. They want exlusivity to the story. Kinda of like a news channel. Not to mention the votes recieved should be fairly recieved for each entrant not by how good of a social networker they are but by those that read the magazine. I think this is the goal of the contest. Don't get me wrong, I am not stupid, everyone will be pounding the pavement and asking friends to vote. But the rules I think were made to level the playing field imo.

It turns out that the current story contest is being led by a person that has also been soliciting votes on not only this web site but also Monster Mulies. That particular story has also been published in the Sept/Oct Eastmans Magazine.

With this information I don't think I will be entereing the contest with our 3 Family Bulls in WY.

So, I do not know anything specific, but when I saw your request and suprise to being second, thought this might be the reason. No inside knowlege.

 

[WapitiBob]

A friend of mine had his son's Ibex story kicked out because he posted a picture on MM. He was informed of the DQ and the reason for it. I see now UH posted a picture of his wife and her Sheep. I hadn't seen that in others forums. I think that's a no-no but I would have also expected an explanation if that was the case.

 

[Fink]

we reserve the right to revoke your membership to Huntin' Fool

Seriously?? I've got a pretty big problem with a magazine wanting to revoke a membership because a story or photo was posted elsewhere.

Does every story that gets published receive a prize?

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

I agree crappy first post, sorry for that. However this exact issue is what lead me to the eastmans forum in the first place. I was going to enter a story in the Hunting fool and found that doing this is actually a violation of the entry rule #6.

" If the story submitted, a description of the story, or pictures associated with the story appear in another magazine, website, social media, and forum (excluding the Huntin' Fool Forum and wildlife conservation groups) we reserve the right to revoke your membership to Huntin' Fool, you will forfeit any prizes awarded, and your story will not be entered into the 2014 Story Contest"

I can kinda of understand why. They want exlusivity to the story. Kinda of like a news channel. Not to mention the votes recieved should be fairly recieved for each entrant not by how good of a social networker they are but by those that read the magazine. I think this is the goal of the contest. Don't get me wrong, I am not stupid, everyone will be pounding the pavement and asking friends to vote. But the rules I think were made to level the playing field imo.

It turns out that the current story contest is being led by a person that has also been soliciting votes on not only this web site but also Monster Mulies. That particular story has also been published in the Sept/Oct Eastmans Magazine.

With this information I don't think I will be entereing the contest with our 3 Family Bulls in WY.

So, I do not know anything specific, but when I saw your request and suprise to being second, thought this might be the reason. No inside knowlege.

Sea Shift, thanks for your reply. That is really interesting. It is impressive the level of detailed knowledge and understanding you have on both last month's and this month's story contests.

When I submitted the article to Huntin Fool in November last year I disclosed in writing that I had posted a photo on various forums including Eastman's. I even spoke to someone from Huntin Fool and they said that would not be an issue. The story was printed with that knowledge.

When I saw winner of the story contest last month, I called Huntin Fool and was simply told the winner had received a lot of votes right at the end of the contest. I've had a long term relationship with Garth and the Huntin Fool so had there been a disqualification, I'm pretty certain they would have said so. Like they told me, the other guy probably just got more votes at the end of the contest, and he deserves to win and we are happy for him.

I've been doing serious research on western limited entry hunts for 30 years. When I was in my late teens, my uncle spurred my interest in getting a grand slam during my lifetime. I knew the only way to make that happen was to draw a desert and bighorn sheep tag. That soon lead to interests in other out of state hunting opportunities.

When Huntin Fool was in it's very early days I met Garth at a trade show and had a long conversation with him about various limited entry hunting opportunities. I recall him saying something like "how in the world did you learn all of that". I told him it had been my hobby for many years. Early on I smelled the opportunity that applying for limited entry tags was the route to some great hunting opportunities in my lifetime. Many years ago, before the existence of Huntin Fool, I toyed with the idea of turning my hobby into a business, but I was involved in our own family business. I have always been supportive and happy for the Carter family and that they were able to turn what they enjoyed doing into one of the leading businesses in their field. That's the American dream.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

Does every story that gets published receive a prize?

Fink, yes we have always received a prize. I recall it is a knife set, hat, tee shirt, and some extra copies of the magazine.

 

[Sea Shift]

UH, sounds like you and the Huntin Fool have a history and that was not the case for your wifes story. That is good I suppose. As for my knowledge, yes I have been looking into the submission of stories. Reason being I was recently successful in harvesting my first elk and it was a dandy. So I spoke with a few friends of mine about submitting. With a little research on line I have been able to find all this information. There is a current contest running. In it I noticed that the front runner is soliciting and posting for votes. Hopefully HF looks into that as well.
That being the case my initial enthusiasm for writing a story for any magazine in the hopes that the story itself will possibly win is starting to dwindle. That’s ok, I have memories that will last a life time of the successful hunt with my father (72) and my brother.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

UH, sounds like you and the Huntin Fool have a history and that was not the case for your wifes story. That is good I suppose. As for my knowledge, yes I have been looking into the submission of stories. Reason being I was recently successful in harvesting my first elk and it was a dandy. So I spoke with a few friends of mine about submitting. With a little research on line I have been able to find all this information. There is a current contest running. In it I noticed that the front runner is soliciting and posting for votes. Hopefully HF looks into that as well.
That being the case my initial enthusiasm for writing a story for any magazine in the hopes that the story itself will possibly win is starting to dwindle. That’s ok, I have memories that will last a life time of the successful hunt with my father (72) and my brother.

Sea Shift. If I'm hearing correctly it sounds like you may have already posted your pics and now want to run a story or you wouldn't be having this conflict. Maybe the best solution is to call Huntin Fool ahead of submitting the story, explain your situation, and see if they have a problem with that. They did not seem to have an issue with that when I asked.

On the other hand, when it comes to a cover story I do have an example. I have an acquaintance that shot a monster Montana ram a few years ago. A magazine wanted to run it as the cover story, and since it would be the cover pic, they wanted no pics to be circulated.

Just a thought…..if you haven't had a story published before…..honestly evaluate the quality of your photos. An article needs exceptional field photos of both the animal and usually other photos from the hunt. Personally we usually spend about an hour photographing the animal taking a couple hundred photos in various positions, various angles, various lighting, just looking for that one gem. Some guys take a great trophy but the only photos they have are with the tongue hanging out, blood all over, poorly composed photos, bad exposure…etc. Without great pics it's hard to get published. Just a thought.

Sounds like you got a super trophy for your first elk. Congrats!

 

[Eberle]

UH,

I just gotta say you have alot of class! Most people including myself would have got mad & defensive. I've always valued your opinion along with several others on this forum. I just gained alot more respect for you & how you responded to this post.

Merry Christmas to You & Your Family!

God Bless, Bryan

 

[Sea Shift]

Actually, I was just looking into it. My story has yet to be published. I'm sure I will, I just won't enter it for any contests.

 

[halfslam]

UH, you are the man and I commend you for the way you handled the HF story. Your family has to be proud of you and you darn sure are setting a good example for you sons. By going into the last day with your story leading the contest by 7% and having lead for the duration then losing on the last day sheds some insight on how these contests are run....possible but unlikley in my book.
Good story, great picture and a job well done.

 

[brooks]

UH, your wife is a winner for sure. Congrats on her beautiful Ram !!
I heard Huntin Fool has been sold ....any truth to that ?