North American hunting Club...scam?

[killermarmot]

I just got a bunch of stuff from the North American Hunting Club you probably all know the drill with the promises of free stuff etc. I'm just wondering if this is a legit group, if their mag is worth getting or if it is a total scam. It's only 12 bucks a year but if the mag isn't worth reading or the promises are fake it's going in the garbage.

 

[Balog]

I dunno about the mag or offers. I signed up for free and then canceled. I still receive their e-mail list. It's quite good, and I've not noticed any more spam since I signed up, either.

 

[Mornard]

Personally,
I like the magazine; they have a win-a-hunt or gear contest each month. The mag is nicely done and for $12 a year, what the heck...it's about hunting!

 

[Art Eatman]

There was discussion of them at The Firing Line. Most folks didn't care for the "free gifts", as being not worth the effort. The magazine doesn't appear to offer anything beyond that of "Field&Stream", etc.

A few years back, I got a teaser from them, and okayed a courtesy issue. Even though I cancelled further subscribing, I got dunned. That left rather a sour taste, so I haven't had a lot of use for the outfit...

Art

 

[41mag]

i joined back in the late eighties.the writing was excellent & the articles were well written.they seemed to do more product tests back then as well.
i don't remember free stuff from them but they did offer discounts on knives & etc.(i remember both buck & browning blades).
i signed back up a couple of years ago hoping for more of the same.was very disappointed.the writing didn't have the same feel & my overall impression was of diminished quality.btw they sent me a free tanto lockback that just about fell apart when i opened it.its an o.k.letter opener but belongs in the junk drawer.
the gun give-a-ways are a nice idea(never won though),but they aren't worth my twelve bucks.
p.s.i canceled my subscription & they still send offers months later.

 

[Sisco]

The magazine is worth the cost. I never used any of the discounts and after three years the only product I was sent to try out was a pack of beef jerky. Was pretty good jerky but I was hoping for a new shotgun or rifle. Know what I mean?

 

[stevelyn]

I've been a member for a couple of years now. The magazine is great. Jim Shockey's articles are worth the cost. The organization is pretty adept at organizing and deseminating (sp?) information on pending legislation/policy regarding hunting issues.
Not sure what their stance is concerning RKBA outside of hunting specific firearms and whether they would sacrifice EBRs to save their over/unders.
I recently received my renewal notice and with it was an AOL CD.
Last time I checked, AOL was an anti-gun company. Just wondering why an organization that claims to look out for hunters and shooters would be party to distributing an AOL disk.

 

[Smokey Joe]

NAHC

Read a couple of the mags. The articles didn't apply to me mostly. The ones that did, didn't offer anything new.

The testing stuff is IMHO a great scam: They send out for test, 5000 cans of oil or pieces of beef jerky, one rifle. NOt real good odds on getting anything good. Did you notice that they almost never post a negative review, even of the cans of oil?

As to exchanging use of hunting lodges, guide services, etc, I don't own one to exchange. I suspect this is true of most of the NAHC membership.

So my conclusion was, save your money. I see the NAHC stickers on people's vehicles once in a while. I guess it's right for them. It sure isn't right for me.

 

[killermarmot]

seems like an interesting mix of opinions I think I'll ask around and get ahold of a few issues and see if it's right for me, seems like a hit and miss operation.

 

[greyghost]

NAHC

I've beeb a member since it first started along with the North American Fishing Club. Supposedly a charter member of both groups. I've been a life member of NAHC since about 1995, (Got a free bomber jacket) Haven't bothered to sign up for the evaluation program. Seems to have a fairly broad range of views within the membership. They have a bb and chatroom set up. The mag is now a quarterly publication and isn't much to brag about in my opinion. They do seem to be on top of contentious subjects and gun control legislation.

 

[Iwaki Hunter]

Highway Theives Targeted at Farmers and Hunters

While the internet is a great tool for learning about these thieves, I believe it is in NAHC benefit to make their own favorable posts. Like all the other victims who thought i was special because i was "chosen" to be a member, and ohh all the free gifts, gear, and stuff to try out. I never even received the Knife. A hard cover book about elf, coins, and a patch, (cheap degraded stuff). So today April 12, 2011 i received a "Dues Rebate Certificate" for my Vest size. But the micro letters in the bottom says " by returning this Dues Rebate certificate in the enclosed envelope, you will activate your life membership". Basically, in order for you to get a vest you must send this form back, but wait! just sending the form back will automatically obligate you to higher fees in being a lifetime membership (which i didn't want) They also sold my name to another scam from Florida that claimed i won a huge sum of money in some magazine club.
All indications are that North American Hunting Club is an absolute scam, targeted at stealing from poor farmers, hunters, and older people. Shame on you. I just got back from the Iraq War and i had to come home to this.

 

[Liberty1776]

I've gotten the mag for ten years. I think it's a good hunting mag. I've received three knives, a high-buck Mossberg three-color lens flashlight, and some rubber thingie for spray cans.

 

[oneounceload]

I was a "Charter Member" WAY back over 20 years ago. If you live in the upper Midwest like Michigan, Wisconsin, etc., you MIGHT like what they have. I lived in NV at the time and it wasn't worth reading - even less than the typical NRA rag. As for "free" stuff, it seemed to be folks in those states who got the stuff to try out.

IMO, NOT worth the money

 

[alsaqr]

i've belong to the NAHC for about 8 years. They have sent me nothing to test. Every year they send out these coins and other stuff that you can keep if you pay for it. NAHC is constantly hassling me to become a life member. In their brochures they never say how much life membership costs.


IMO: NAHC is not worth it. Next year my subscription expires: i will not renew.

 

[Justin Holder]

While I was a member I got their book set, I forget how it went but every now and then they would send you another volume, I ended up with six total. "The Game Rifle" by Bob Hagel alone was worth the trouble, a pretty good read.

But nowadays I wouldn't bother with the organization. They seem to have gone down hill since the '90s.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Zombie thread, zombie thread!!

NAHC = SCAM

It was then, it still is now.

I see fewer of the stickers on back windows of vehicles, but there are some members yet. I do hope they're happy and feel that they are getting value for money.

 

[jmr40]

They publish a decent hunting magazine for the money. They do try to sell you everything in the book. Videos, books, Knives, you name it. Often they will send you things you don't ask for. You can pay for it or return it. Some of the thing I returned and they had a hard time understanding that I did not have to pay for it.

If they start doing that there is a simple solution. Simply write "REFUSED" in big letters on the box and put it back in the mail. After paying postage both ways a few times they will stop.

In order to get free stuff to test you have to write them and request to do it. They won't just send you something. The 1st item they send you will likely be something very inexpensive. You use it in the field and write up a review on a form they send with it. If you don't send in the review they will never send you anything else.

Each time you send in a review the next product you get to test generally is a bit more expensive item. I did this several times and actually got some pretty good stuff after a while. Jackets, pants, shirts etc.

Look at as a magazine subscription. If that is worth it to you they are OK. Just be prepared to deal with them trying to sell you stuff you may not want. Just send it back on their dime and they will stop pretty quick.

 

[oneounceload]

Often they will send you things you don't ask for. You can pay for it or return it. Some of the thing I returned and they had a hard time understanding that I did not have to pay for it.

Incorrect - if a company sends you goods you did not order, they cannot make you pay for them - they are yours to keep - this came up years ago

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/CreativeConsumer/story?id=2532869

Federal law makes it illegal for companies to send you something you didn't order and then bill you for it.

 

[One-Time]

was a member for a while but they kept sending me unsolicited stuff, then demand i pay for it or send it back, followed with them declaring me as being dishonest and not a straight shooter blah blah blah, canclled

 

[45Fan]

I have had a membership a few times over the years, but its not really my thing.
The magazine is OK, but seems to be geared more for someone who travels to hunt for trophies, and my time and budget tend to find me hunting the local woods to lighten the grocery bill.
The free stuff isnt all bad, but it gets pretty annoying getting stuff in the mail that they expect you to pay for that wasnt ordered.

I also read that someone actually reads Jim Shockys articles. I did, at first, until I caught a few of his anti-gun statements. Unless its about muzzle-loaders, he is about as helpful to the 2nd amendment as the Brady Campaign. He may have a few new ideas about muzzleloaders, but I dont find the trade off worth while.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

see fewer of the stickers on back windows of vehicles, but there are some members yet. I do hope they're happy and feel that they are getting value for money.

I have been a life member since sometime in the 1990s and yes I fell that I have gotten and am getting my money's worth. I have the bomber jacket,member ring and belt buckle as well as several books and videos. I only cancelled the book series because 3 wild game cook books in a row was enough(since I didn't cook). If I remember correctly you have to ask to be a product tester,it isn't automatic. They aren't a scam nor a bunch of thieves. If you are a member and are dissatisfied with the club,just let them know. BTW,they have a pretty good TV show too.

 

[x_wrench]

it is a decent magazine. but in order to get any of the real good stuff, you have to sign up to be a life member. they will also try to "hook" you into buying a bunch of their hard covered books, in order to get other stuff. that is all fine and well. the books are a good, well writen and informative books. but if you have already been hunting a while, you probably already know most of what is in there. i have gotten a few free items from them. the best of which was a folding lock blade knife. it is a GOOD knife, that holds an edge way better than it has any right to. it is my every day pocket knife, and i abuse it quite a bit. in the two years i have had it, i have sharpened it 3 times. the first time i sharpened it, i took it to my water cooled grinder, and ground off the serrations at the back end of the blade. if i wanted to carry a saw around, i would. but i want a knife in my pocket. anyway, if they gave that out as an enrollment gift, it would be worth joining just for that.

 

[B1gGr33n]

I signed up just after college, been a member for 5 years now. They've done alright by me. The first thing they sent me to test was some bug repellant, but it continued to get better every time. I've got a nice Rapala fillet knife, Gerber Gator knife, and a Mini-Mag. Plus the stuff they send you when you pay for life membership (vest, range bag, belt buckle, etc). Nothing spectacular, but darn good for freebies.

 

[scythefwd]

The mag is ok. The rifle case, while over estimated in value, is very well built. The vest is also pretty solid.

I have gotten a set of cardboard strips with some sort of off gas that is supposed to prevent rust... They actually work. I washed some dishes with some steel wool (cast iron) and then left them out in a sandwich bag wet. The half without the strips rusted... the other didnt.

I have gotten a couple of cheap knives. One is a folder with no belt clip... will do as a general purpose knife. The other is a fillet type knife and it works pretty well, but it is cheap steel. The flashlight I got is awesome.

B1g - your luckier on the draw than I am. I've gotten two freebies, and they were ok.

 

[jerry46]

I have been a member since the 90s and I must say, I enjoy their magazine. Early on I received some of their hardback books, but when I told them to stop sending them, they did. I also have gotten probably 6 or 7 items to test over the years, the first being a box full of different muzzle loader cleaning supplies. The last item I got to test was one of the new 3-9x40 Redfield scopes. For the money, I felt it was a very good scope. To each his own, but I will continue to send in my annual dues.