Ann, Saeed, and Fellow Members

Ann and I have come to the conclusion this attempt at having a Buff Raffle should come to a close. We have had this poll out for almost a month and with the number of members responding, selling out will not happen in a reasonable time frame.

With only a 30 percent buy indicator, selling the remainder of entries, seems doubtful.
Too bad, as the proposed hunt would have been a very nice prize for the winner.

From the very get go, Ann and I, decided that we were not going to keep this alive if demand did not warrant. Rusty was saddled with this problem, with the failed rifle raffle, and we were not going to allow this to occur again.

I'm sorry this didn't work out as many here do not have the extra monies to finance a trip to Africa. A $35.00 chance to go and hunt a Cape Buffalo, is a very affordable oppurtunity for all.

Let's all give thanks to Ann for her volunteering in this effort and to Saeed for allowing us to attempt this raffle, at his site.

Again, sorry this didn't work out and thanks to those who participated.

Roger QSL

It is a bummer. I am usually an optimist, but I really think that selling out this kind of raffle will be difficult if not impossible on this board. Raffles need momentum and excitement. If the first one had gone off without a hitch, the excitement would have carried on and we'd be on our third one by now. But, sh*t happens as they say. Reviving sufficient interest and momentum will be a difficult project for sure.

Thanks for trying though.

Cheers,
Canuck

Ah well, sorry to hear that. Still, if it isn't happening, I guess it isn't happening. Thanks to both you Roger and Ann for the work you have dedicated to this.
- mike

Rodger and Ann,

I'm upset that this isn't going to happen! What really upsets me more is the lack of intrest, all these "Big Game" so called hunters on this site! There's more then enough members to sell out the chances, at $35.00 no less. I think it's a dam shame that members don't want to take a "cheap" chance to hunt in Africa!!

Ann, Rodger, thank you alot for taking the time to try and get this going. if you ever try this again, and you want some support, I'll help you out!

Try it again, and this time:

• leave out the requirement of using .45-70
• omit the observer
• specify the outfitter and country up front
• omit the airfare
• refund everyone's money if the hunt doesn't take place

My personal thanks to all who tried to set this up, and also to those who indicated they would buy tickets. It did cheer up an otherwise bleak December and January for me. Thoughts of a buffalo hunt always do that for me.

George has a good idea,

First, The country and place of the hunt needs to be up front - - - people want to know where they're going......

Second, Deside on a price of chances and do it.

Third, Maybe instead of omitting the airfare, observer, and extras. Have a contest in levels.

Example: @ $35.00 a chance: Must sell 400 chances
Covers hunt and trophy
sell 75 more chances
Covers airfare
sell 75 more chances
Covers observer and expenses
****These numbers are just to give ideas, they many be a bit off****

But I think a solid base needs to be started, all the rules spelled out right from the start.....
maybe we could gove it another chance!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry to hear that the raffle will not happen, as I would have bought tickets.

This is not meant to be critical, but I wonder if price plays a part. It's pretty easy to part with 20 bucks for a raffle ticket, but parting with $35 is somewhat harder. Maybe a bare bones hunt with a lower ticket price would have wider appeal and would sell out. And maybe it would have more support if affiliated with a local SCI chapter. But these are just the comments of someone who sat idly by without contributing his own laber to get this off the ground, so please take my post with a grain of salt.

FIRST of all, thatnks to every one who tried to make it go.


NOW


AS A PERSON who once studied marketing and engineering, before I got too smart for that and went for the "action"(what a dumbass the rewards of being an adrenaline junkie, LOTS of stories, not much $$$$)
most will agree that it is easier to sell one million items for $1.00 each vs one item at $1,000,000.00
BUT
it is depending upon the item.
AND
it is depending upon who your target market is geared towards.

Personally on something that is big ticket as an African hunt, you need a very select market to appeal to. Most people who are hunters really have no burning desire to go to the dark continent.(I know this is TRAVESTY, but I have 40+ years of talking to them also) The region is unstable(to the views of many) the travel, the simple fact you are out of the good old US of A or North America. All the unknowns and added costs.



NOW
maybe if you want a raffle hunt that MORE people would probably jump on, I would suggest a good kodiak/grizz hunt in Alaska, which would make folks much more comfortable.

I would look at the response and figure half to two-thirds would actually buy.

I posted on the other Buffalo hunt tail, when the tickets were 3 for $100 with 600 to sell I would buy $100 dollars worth, but when the price went to $100/ticket I would immediately buy 2 tickets because in a raffle of 200 tickets your odds ARE better. As I posted, I would rather the draw be from a barrel where only 198 tickets AREN'T mine, vs, 594 that AREN'T mine.

Don't know how much a good quality bear hunt would run but it should be noticabley cheaper and have more appeal.

Just my .02 on the topic

Not that anyone cares but if I was going to try this again I would

List PH and Country

No observer

No Airfare

$50/$100 tickets - if you cant afford $50/$100 you probably cant afford airfare.

7 day hunt

At any rate I appreciate the effort and hope someone trys again.

John

Thanks for the effort. Perhaps next time. I am going to go on a buff hunt in May 06 anayway!!! Thanks again.

Roger, why not do a 7 day buff hunt with Buzz Charlton in Zim. He has a one on one 7/day buff hunt which includes the buff trophy fee for $8,000.
Keep the airfare for the hunter and a little extra for the charter fee if needed and dip and pack.
Get rid of the observer and his fees.
It looks like you could do a hunt with him for $12,000. Sounds good to me.

BTT so all can see.

What a shame. In four days I should know if the trip I already have planned is a bust. I was planning on buying at least one ticket if it was. Since I can only go on one trip this year, I needed to be honest to my commitments. Unfortunately a couple of the other parties in the hunt I am planning on going on do not appear as gracious.

Alot of SCI conventions will be happening in the next month or two. Afterwards many of these folks will have MBOGO fever . Ticket sales may be brisk in March I hope you try again. This truly was an awesome opportunity you were providing.

Thanks for the work guys! I'm sorry that it didn't work out! This would have been the best chance for a first timer to hunt Africa that I have ever seen. I don't buy into this crap about the ticket cost. We are all hunters on this board, and in this day and age, $35.00 isn't jack $hit for ammo, assy., etc.. Hell, I'm a service manager, as blue collar as they come, and I've been twice. Hell, make it $350.00 a ticket and adjust the number accordingly. I'll buy a ticket! I would slide down a 50' razor blade into a pool of rubbing alcohol for a chance to hunt in Africa again!!!!

BOWHUNR

"But I think a solid base needs to be started, all the rules spelled out right from the start.....

That is what I have said right from the beginning.

Man thats a bummer I honestly cant believe that this hunt didnt get sold out at the tickets prices advertised its a shame. I really do appreciate the efforts of those involved in trying to make it happen and hope that someone tries again it sounds like a damn good deal to me. Better Luck next time.....ALOHA!!!

Ann, Roger,

I am awfully deceived.
First many thanks for your splendid work. I cannot resign, so

WILL YOU OFFER A LAST TRY WITH A DEADLINE, say in one month. Everybody would have to move ones behind and I am sure we’ll succeed.
I am in with 3 x 100$. My aim is to bring an AR pal along who has never hunted a buff, who cannot afford it and especially will shoot it in my place.

I DON’T AGREE WITH SCRATCHING EVERY BUCK OFF, letting the winner alone and overwhelmed by overheads.

WHY NOT ASK NITROX to give a hand in joining in with his Forum. I’ll ask him.

Saeed is dead right "But I think a solid base needs to be started, all the rules spelled out right from the start....."

As we say in France, it’s too bad to turn and go back in the middle of the ford.
Ann, Roger , thanks again

Your target group was too small. Also, too many restrictions. try this

Winner chooses:

All inclusive Buff Hunt in _____ with _______outfitters
OR
All inclusive Brown Bear in AK with __________outfitters
OR
All inclusive plainsgames hunt for two in ________with __________outfitters
OR
$ XXX toward a Custom Double rifle
OR
$ XXX toward a Transferable M16

With many choices, you can sell the tickets in a heartbeat. Heck with the offer of a free M16, you would sell the tickets within a week after the 50,000+ registered users at AR15.com found out about it.

JB

We have many members in common at NitroExpress.com and AR. Nevertheless I don't have a problem in marketing tickets in the raffle as well.


***


AIR FARES - at least the winners air fares need to be covered. In the past I believe one raffle faired badly as many people seem to think it a huge imposition to come up with the cost of an airfare themself when they get a whole buff hunt for free!

I think 30% commitment isn't too bad, but the total costs proposed always seemed very high, and perhaps a lesser target could be accomodated.

Why not aim for a 2006 hunt???? That way the whole of 2005 could be used to sell tickets and if say 70% of the current target was the minimum aimed for, possibly achievable.

BTT

Roger and Ann,

I'm sorry to hear that this raffle has grinded to a halt, as I was looking forward to winning!

Not trying to be critical, but maybe next time a raffle is tried, the standards of living etc. on the hunt can be lowered a bit so as to make the overall cost cheaper. I'm sure that people would rather have a raffle hunt that is less luxerious, than no raffle hunt at all. Even if it means no aircharter, but using a days drive each way in an old Land Cruiser to save some bucks. The same goes for the observer. Yes it would be nice to have it filmed and so on, but it's a raffle, and the winner going on the hunt is the most important thing.

Hope someone tries this raffle thing again. I'm ready to spit in $100 for a ticket...

Many spend $5000 on a chance to kill an elk on a 5 day western hunt, not including airfare. And honestly all you are buying is the chance at an elk.

$35 is more than fair for a chance for a buffalo it's a no brainer!

BTT LAST TIME