Anyone going to their local RMEF dinner?

[Fullabull]

Mine is Feb. 23rd. I like going to them for the support it provides to the cause. My only complaint about them is they never have enough and in some cases NO archery equipment for auction or raffle. There are two that I have gone to locally and one usually always has at least one bow (which is how I got mine last year) and the other that I have gone to twice has never had anything archery related (which is why in their survey last year I told them I would not be attending that event again).


There is another dinner I attended for the first time last year hear in WA. it was the Washington Bowhunters Association dinner. It was pretty small but was all archery

 

[indianw]

I'm going next month also, here they have a couple of bows every year I have won a full set of Sika gear which was neat but is not water proof I also won a 24 gun safe and a binoculars strap.its a good time but never enough food.

 

[Lucas in Wa]

I think I will be going to mine this year. Looks like a good time. I do love an auction. My wife, one the other hand, is not fond of my propensity to get caught up in the spirit of bidding. What can I say? It's for a good cause.

 

[Fullabull]

Lucas, which one are you going to?

 

[Lucas in Wa]

Fullabull, I am in Kent, so I'm planning on going to the Tacoma Sportsman's Club dinner. The Sammamish dinner at the Snoqualmie Casino is about equal distance from my house, but I am leaning toward Tacoma. Which one are you going to, and any advice on which might be more archery focused?

 

[buckykm1]

I have missed ours the last few years, it always seems to be when we are down in southern Alabama visiting my in-laws.

Kevin

 

[Kmbingham92]

Looking at all the conservation tags in Utah. I am sure I will hit a few banquets, hopefully one ends up being an RMEF banquet.

 

[Fullabull]

Hey Lucas, I have always gone to the snoqualmie dinner. Never been to the Tacoma one. Snoqualmie has had a bow each year I have gone so far
But this is the first year they have not advortised one in their mailer. I got my new bow there last year, got a good deal.
Everet has never had a bow so I stopped going to thatkone.

Has Tacoma had archery stuff?
I did go to the WA bowhunter dinner last year for the first time and it was good but they need to advertise more. I will hit that one again
For sure.

 

[The_Sol]

I'll be working the Greeley, CO RMEF banquet and MC'ing the Denver event, both in March.
There tends to be little archery equipment at Foundation events, primarily because archers are much more particular about buying a bow than rifle hunters (who will purchase another 300 Win even though they already have 2) are with firearms.  Guys that are really into their Bowtech, Hoyt, Bear, PSE, Martin, etc. will only buy those brands (I'm a Bowtech snob myself), so it makes it difficult to have an item that will drive the margin you need at a banquet. You need items that have interest by the highest # of attendees, and for most events, that means slim pickings for archery guys/gals.

 

[Lucas in Wa]

Fullabull, this is my first RMEF event so I have no idea if Tacoma will have archery stuff. I think The_Sol might be onto something. Archers are probably more brand specific shoppers. Either way it should be a fun night.

 

[Fullabull]

It will be, we should compare notes after the dinners! I believe they are on the same night I thin. The Washington Bowhunter Association dinner I believe is on March 23 but they have not decided on the location yet. I will be going to that one also.

 

[Lucas in Wa]

Yes we should compare notes. Also, I swung by the Washington Bow Hunter's Association booth at the Washington Sportsman's Show yesterday, and learned they may not have the dinner this year. Apparently, not much has firmed up and it may not happen this year. I told them I hope it does as I know of a few people who want to go.

 

[Fullabull]

wow, that would be a bummer. I enjoyed last years dinner and hope they have it again.
What I think they need is help in getting it out there. I wonder if they just do not have enough membership to put it together. There web site is not the best and I never even heard of them until someone else mentioned it on another forum when I was looking for a dinner that was for archery hunters.

 

[Fullabull]

OK Lucas,


The RMEF dinner in Snoqualmie was pretty much the same as last year. They did have more people, I believe I heard him say somewhere over 300.
They did have one bow there you could win with one of the games they had. The bow was a PSE Bowmadness XL. There was one other prize that was a bow site, rest and stabilizer. I didn't win any of them


I did win three sets of rain wear from Helly Hansen though (in camo) so now my dad, son and myself have some good stuff to wear here on the wet side


The only hunt for sale was for doves in Argentina    (went for $2800)
They did have one Unguided Wyoming Antelope hunt (went for 1550)
They never seem to be able to get any elk or deer outfitters to sponsor any hunts.


I think people were spending a little more money this year on things then they have the last few years.


How did things go down there?

 

[Lucas in Wa]

Hey Fullabull,


I had a blast at the RMEF show in Tacoma/Puyallup. I think there were around 200 people there. They had 7 rifles given away by raffles and carnival-style games. One rifle and one handgun in the live auction and one rifle as the key prize. There was a G5 Quest Primal that someone got for only $400 during the live auction. That was the deal of the night and the only live auction item that went for under market value. I was interested in it, but lets just say, my wife would not have been excited by me bringing another bow home.


There was an amazing moose hunt in northern BC in the live auction. However, they sell numbered medallions for a chance to win your choice of the live auction items and the medallion winner snapped up the moose hunt, so no one got to bid on it. But from what I gather it was a $5500 hunt if you booked through the outfitter.


Aside from the bow in the live auction, the only other archery prize was a quiver, sight, stabilizer package in the silent auction.


I did not end up with any winning bids in the live or silent auction, but did win a smaller prize with a raffle ticket, so I did not walk away empty handed.


I had a great time, met some nice people and contributed to a great organization.

 

[Fullabull]

Interesting that they allowed the Moose hunt in the medallion draw. In ours, you could take anything but the Dove hunt in Argentina. The winner took the banquet rifle. Sounds like there were pretty close in what was offered. that was a good deal for that bow, especially when you consider they don't have to pay taxes on it either


Now if the WA bowhunters Association will just have their dinner I would be happy.