• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Why we're going to a membership

@redsquirrel I'm in for $15 no questions asked.

Between this site and Eberhart's books, my aptitude and capability as a hunter has increased immeasurably.
 
Myself, among other members, have in the past offered/discussed various ways to compensate Mr. squirrel for what he has built and continued to provide for us, for free. He has always took the high road and humbly declined any efforts. I am happy for Red that he has made this decision for himself and his family. Let face it, with this extreme growth, he could have turned this into a money grab. How many of us, if in Reds shoes, would not have jumped on the opportunity to make money from this site years ago? He has kept the same passion and drive to keep this place what it is and other than adding moderators has taken nothing in return for his efforts. I respect that. With growth comes change. Red deserves change for the better and I fully support that. If in the long run Red profits from this change, I say good for him, he deserves it.

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One thing that I admire both about RED is how humble he is. If he does something and someone else comes up with a better way, he considers it, even if it wasn't his idea. That's a special quality today.
 
Another way to pay to this site is to offer your experience, ideas and thoughts.

Like i said before, Red can certainly correct me if I am wrong, this site was NOT created to sale things, that was just a nicety that happened along the way. If that becomes the primary reason for this site, I think that would drive most away faster than charging the few that want to sale and buy things. Frankly, I miss how we used to banter one another, goof off, share ideas and it was almost like a family site - yep some of us had some disagreements and stuff (I've been warned by moderators a few times) but in the end we were all here trying to grow something we love. A lot of what we now have available came from the early days of this site. 5 years ago it was extremely hard to even find a saddle much less all the innovation that has come since this site was created.

I still hate seeing grown men in diapers and crocs - yuk ;)
For you Dave, free Crocs with membership! LOL
 
Im all in- love this site.


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I say as a show of appreciation to Red, as many of us as possible show up to his house with a dish to pass and throw him a surprise party that will last for days!!!!!!!!! That's right I said days. BYOBs (notice the plural on bottles)Everyone loves a surprise party hey Red. Let's do it. hahahahahahahaha
I think you spoiled your own surprise.....
 
Personally, I don’t think this is going to workout. I think less people are going to pay just for the classified section than is realized. I don’t think a fee will keep scammers away either. Is there some kind of protection being offered for deals gone bad? What does the $15 get you that free classifieds on other forum sites or facebook does not?

You would be better off charging a smaller fee for access to the site altogether.

I think you are overestimating how many people @redsquirrel expects to pay a membership.

He is trying to set the membership up in a way that it starts to cover his costs and some of his time/headache but doesn’t hamper access to his formation for those who want it. He isn’t trying to become “for profit”.

I haven’t used the classifieds more than a couple times in 5 years, but I assure you I won’t miss a membership year as long as I’m active on this site... just so I can support red and all he has done for us.
 
Another way to pay to this site is to offer your experience, ideas and thoughts.

Like i said before, Red can certainly correct me if I am wrong, this site was NOT created to sale things, that was just a nicety that happened along the way. If that becomes the primary reason for this site, I think that would drive most away faster than charging the few that want to sale and buy things. Frankly, I miss how we used to banter one another, goof off, share ideas and it was almost like a family site - yep some of us had some disagreements and stuff (I've been warned by moderators a few times) but in the end we were all here trying to grow something we love. A lot of what we now have available came from the early days of this site. 5 years ago it was extremely hard to even find a saddle much less all the innovation that has come since this site was created.

I still hate seeing grown men in diapers and crocs - yuk ;)

I’m still gonna get you a pair of crocks one of these days. Maybe for our scouting trip in February.......
Matching crocs for you, @Scoutman, and Me. Lmao
 
I think you are overestimating how many people @redsquirrel expects to pay a membership.

He is trying to set the membership up in a way that it starts to cover his costs and some of his time/headache but doesn’t hamper access to his formation for those who want it. He isn’t trying to become “for profit”.

I haven’t used the classifieds more than a couple times in 5 years, but I assure you I won’t miss a membership year as long as I’m active on this site... just so I can support red and all he has done for us.
The issue that I see is over time the number of people paying to see the classified will drop off. Right now you can sell stuff quick because everyone can see it. If there are 9000 members now( not sure how accurate that number is) how many are going to pay $15 for the classified section? Once it becomes harder for people to buy and sell stuff because of less people that can see it then the following year that number will be even smaller. Especially if you can go somewhere else and buy and sell gear for free and have a larger audience. I understand red isnt trying to make a profit but this looks to me like a very short term solution. I also understand that the classifieds was not the main point of the site. Personally I think selling ads would be the best way to go. Yeah nobody likes seeing them but you cant get on any site now without them. Its almost just normal now. Plus if they are all for hunting products I dont mind seeing them so much. I might find the next thing I cant hunt without!
 
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