Dear Friends,

I am an avidbowand rifle hunter and that depends primarily on publicly drawn lottery tags to hunt. Due to the amount of paperwork involved, deadlines and a busy work schedule I decided to enlist the help of Cabela’s and their “T.A.G.S.” program to help me manage my ‘hunt portfolio’. I thought the promises offered and the reputation of Cabela’s would ensure this was a good move to get applied for my precious hunts. I even talked my best friend from childhood into joining the program with me. We paid our entry fees and applied for several archery-only tags in Arizona and New Mexico. What a mistake I made.

When we decided to entrust our application submittals to Cabela’s we were entrusting a lot more than a couple of hundred dollars and a chance for a hunt, we were entrusting our dreams.

Cabela’s failed us miserably. I can understand not getting drawn to hunt. That is part of life. But what I cannot understand is how Cabela’s failed to properly submit us. Cabela’s failure and attention to detail denied us any chance at all in the Arizona Archery elk drawings for which we requested and paid to be submitted. Unbelievably, Cabela’s failed to sign the applications properly and thus they were rejected.

Cabela’s did not even call us to tell us of their failure. Instead I was informed by my best friend that Cabela’s had dropped the ball for us (he is an Arizona resident). When I contacted Cabela’s I was offered an apology, though it was far from contrite or sincere. Cabela’s did offer us our money back. They also offered us coupons for discounts for T.A.G.S in the future! Why they would think we would set ourselves up for their failure again is beyond us. We are outraged. There is no chance we will use Cabela’s again as they cannot pay attention to details for something that is so important to us.

Not only are we out the chance to hunt in two states for 2005, but we also lost the ‘bonus points’ that come from these states when you do not get drawn. This means our chances for the upcoming years are diminished. I caution all readers and hunters out there to think twice about letting someone else manage what is important to you. Do the cumbersome and monotonous paperwork yourself; otherwise you may not ever have the chance to do the ‘fun’ work that comes with getting ready for a hunt. This stings.

I hope you never have to feel like we do.

Sincerely,

Rick Thompson

I feel your pain.A few years back I was on the road and had my wife fill in the info and send in my apps. She mixed up some numbers and well......
Thank god Ican now do them online.
Something as near and dear to me as my hunting I WILL find the time so I will have no disapointments in the future and will not trust ANYONE with that part of my pleasure.
As far as Cabelas..Spit Happens. I have used them once on a Speed Goat hunt in Wyoming for convienance with good results,but won't trust anyone with a once in a life time hunt and will do the work myself.

Call Cabelas Customer Service Area, if you haven't already. I used to work there a few years, and know how they work. Usually, they'll do everything they can to make it right. They won't be able to replace your missed opportunity, but they'll do what they can do, at the given time. If nothing else write them a letter, heck even the one you wrote here would work. Just explain the situation. Good luck. Sorry to hear of your misfortunes.

I guess this time wasn't 'usually'. I wrote a detailed letter to corporate hq with no results other than having the guy who runs the program and actually dropped the ball call to 'sincerely apologize' and tell me it hardly happens. I've stopped all business with them over this and I'm now going through BassPro/Redhead for the same gear. They lost a customer for life obviously.