I just started running the contest last season, so I can't speak from years of experience. What I can tell you based on my experience last year is that the vast majority of guys who vanished were people who happened to be new to the forums when the contest sign up thread was active. They would scramble to accumulate 25 posts, which is easy, and then sign up. In the process of waiting a month and a half for the teams to be assembled they would lose interest and never sign back in. More than a few of those who disappeared had a post count of 26. Some were between 26 and 50. A couple did have over 50. What that did for me last year was this: The teams were assigned and I had a lot of new guys who signed up never check into their team threads. When the team captains called for replacements I had to use all of the alternates that signed up after teams were assigned and I had to actually recruit veteran members who hadn't signed up to participate. Could it still happen with a 50 post minimum? Sure, but you actually have to put a little work into it to get to 50 posts and in the process of making 50 posts you are more likely to develop an actual interest in the forums and in the contest.
Agree, keep raising it till you see an improvement. If nothing else having active members in the contest promotes and sense of community on the forum. Better to have less total contestants that are more active
you may not have won the contest that year, but you sure did win the internet with that moniker coupled with the pic...maybe GOAT internet win.
I'd argue it is also due to the captain of the team. It only takes one or two proactive team members to tag everyone, message everyone on and off again to encourage involvement.
My team last year had several very active folks and for some time we had the most comments of all the teams in the contest. No matter how many tags and DM's we sent one of our team members, he still would not respond even after viewing the forum. AND, he never gave us his buck score. Wouldn't have won it for us, but still. Some folks just flake out and it is hard to tell why. I don't hold any grudge to the guy, nor do I remember the username without going back to look, which I don't care to do.
Yup, some years I've had that same thing happen. I've also had a guy that ghosted us which we later learned went through some crazy and painful real life issues - 100% would have done the same as he and stopped caring about anything like this. Happens sadly
i was on that gut pile team... I have "fallen off" during the contest before, it happened after hunting later and later and not having much luck, posted less and less then pretty much none. Also in last years contest I got the covids so didnt go to the cabin to hunt after that. it is hard to stay up on it when nothing happens hunting wise, i could see it being difficult if you shot your buck opening day too. also do not be team captain unless you're on here dang near everyday. My board usage is seasonal for most part, i get more and more involved as I prep for season. Then everyday during rut then it wanes as we get into late season I would guess that is somewhat typical of a lot of guys.
I don't expect anyone to use this suggestion - but it would be nice if we had a rule in place that a member signed up for the contest, posted in the team forum that they killed a buck - even posted photos. But never bothered entering the buck. That person should receive a lifetime ban from the contest... I've been on at least 2 teams (including the team mentioned above) where some member killed a buck - posted the story and photos but never bothered posting in the score... Maybe they didn't know how to or didn't want to score the buck? I haven't a clue but that ish is annoying as hell.
I won’t say who and I can’t say how long the ban will last but two members who did that very thing last year are banned from this year’s contest.
First camo hats without the mesh back and now this! Customer service is on time around here. Sent from my SM-G781V using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
Very well done! I wouldn’t have thought different if you hadn’t done that - but I agree with that decision very much.
