Hunter's Sporting Alliance

[Slugshot1]

This is the name that I kind of remember. It was a group that leased private land around the state for its members. Does anyone know if this is still around? I have been trying to find info but cannot. They used to underwrite MUCC's program and advertise in their magazine, but do so no longer.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Slugshot;
It is my understanding that the Alliance went bankrupt and is no longer in business. I checked into becoming a member several years back (I am now glad I didn't!) and membership was something like $800 for the first year, and $600 for each successive year. If you wanted to bring a friend, you were limited to one and the cost went up to $1200. Interesting thought though; what if the members of this site decided to contribute to a fund and lease land for our own needs? Just a thought.

[BEAGLEMAN]

Originally posted by Slugshot1:
This is the name that I kind of remember. It was a group that leased private land around the state for its members. Does anyone know if this is still around? I have been trying to find info but cannot. They used to underwrite MUCC's program and advertise in their magazine, but do so no longer.

The name of the organization was AMERICAN SPORTING ALLIANCE I was a member for 3 years.
It went under about 3 years ago under highly suspicious conditions. There was and probably still is a lot of people looking for Brian Rahn of Allegan Co. he was president at the time of closing. Without getting into the "nitty gritty" of details lets just say we got ripped off for a lot of money. I lost $3,000+ and have talked to a lot of members who lost their money also. Plus the farmers who leased their land never got payed. I tried to get the Michigan Attorney General involved but after investigating the matter we were told we would be better off with a private attorney. Anyone considering a club like this should make sure they have a legal and binding contract before joining.

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[Slugshot1]

So sincerely sorry to hear of your plight Beagleman! I knew this would be the place to find the answer I needed, though. What happened to all the private property? The Alliance took a lot of the land that the DNR used to lease. The "Public Hunting on Private Lands" book used to be 4 times as thick as it is now. The Alliance used that book as a starting ground cutting the DNR out. Now we have yet to get any of it back as far as I can tell.

Seems like there is a huge need for this kind of service. Anyone interested in getting one started?

[Slugshot1]

BTW, Beagleman. How did it cost you over $3k? Never mind if it is too painful!

[BEAGLEMAN]

Originally posted by Slugshot1:
BTW, Beagleman. How did it cost you over $3k? Never mind if it is too painful!

I paid $1,000 each membership to join and had just sent in yearly dues for 2 ($1,000+), and the worst part was he knew when I sent in the dues that it was bankrupt and never told anyone in the organization. The 1 membership I gave to my son when he graduated from college. A lot of the members talked to the farmers and ended up leasing property that they hunted in the past. That is what I did.


[This message has been edited by BEAGLEMAN (edited 11-27-2000).]

[Slugshot1]

More questions Beagleman. If you don't mind sharing with us, what did you end up paying for the lease? What is by the acre? Do you have exclusive rights? Are all types of game included? Do you have a contract and do you pay annually? I know it varies according to particular situations, but it would be good to have some kind of guideline.

[BEAGLEMAN]

Originally posted by Slugshot1:
More questions Beagleman. If you don't mind sharing with us, what did you end up paying for the lease? What is by the acre? Do you have exclusive rights? Are all types of game included? Do you have a contract and do you pay annually? I know it varies according to particular situations, but it would be good to have some kind of guideline.

I don't mind at all if it will help someone out. Actually I would like to hear from anyone else that is leasing to see if I am in the ballpark.
I pay $5.00 per acre for exclusive usage rights to the property. We have a written contract that we renew every year with the understanding that this will be a long term arrangement. The owner had me post the property and control who does or does not use it. This is a very good situation for me even though this is not what most would consider prime property. Even so it provides me with a large hunting farm that I use for all types of hunting. Also the owner and I have a great relationship which makes it even better. I hunted this property when it was under ASA and over a period of time I earned his respect as a hunter and person. He told me when I approached him about a lease that if he didn't know me as well as he did he would not even consider it. I know leasing is not for everyone for whatever reason but for me it works great. I think what makes this arrangement work so well is the owner and his family are as nice as anyone you would ever want to meet.
If I can answer any other questions let me know.

[stickman69]

I live near and hunt on some property near Baseline Road in Allegan County. This property adjoins some property owned by this hunt club. There has been local rumor about this scam and until a friend recently sent me to this forum, I thought it was only rumor. This scam is now living in a house built by the clubs money. If there is anyway I can help any of you , please let me know. I know most everyone in this area and can do any detective work that might help my fellow hunters. For instance I found out today that he hangs out in the VFW or AMVETS bar in Pullman. I guess he has quite a reputation around here (not good).

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"When they took the fourth amendment, I was silent because I don't deal drugs. When they took the sixth amendment, I kept quiet because I know I'm innocent. When they took the second amendment, you said nothing because you don't own a gun. Now they've come for the first amendment, and you can't say anything at all. "

[BEAGLEMAN]

Originally posted by stickman69:
I live near and hunt on some property near Baseline Road in Allegan County. This property adjoins some property owned by this hunt club. There has been local rumor about this scam and until a friend recently sent me to this forum, I thought it was only rumor. This scam is now living in a house built by the clubs money. If there is anyway I can help any of you , please let me know. I know most everyone in this area and can do any detective work that might help my fellow hunters. For instance I found out today that he hangs out in the VFW or AMVETS bar in Pullman. I guess he has quite a reputation around here (not good).

I am suprised he is not more discreet about his wherabouts. There were some people I talked to that had some definite plans for him. That house and property was to be our new clubhouse and hunting preserve known as "BARBER CREEK". It was going to be used for Pheasant and Waterfowl hunting (For a fee). I actually hunted there once and it was a good idea if it would have been run correctly.
It was just after I hunted there that Brian Rahn said we were out of money and split. I tried to get some legal action going against him but was told by Michigan Atty Gen. that I would be better off with a private Atty. We know he used the club money to build that house and purchase the property in his wife's name. We were taken for quite a bit of money by Brian and I agree with you about his reputation . But I think it would be better for me to just write it off as a lesson well learned,I dont think I should be anywhere near the man. That Property is not owned by "ASA" it no longer exists.
Thanks for the information I wish I knew about this forum when all this took place,it might have made it easier to get some satisfaction.

[pheasantguy]

Like beagleman, I also was a member of the ASA. Fortunately for me I was only out ~ $200.00. But more than that I lost the opportunity to be able to hunt and fish in over thousands of acres of land in Michigan that I would not otherwise had the chance to do. It wasn't a bad organization. With the thousands of acres one had available to them the price was actually a bargain when once compares it to the cost of leasing property which would be nowhere near the same number of acres. I was as shocked as beagleman when I received the letter from the attorney telling me that the ASA had disbanded and there were no assets. No explanation. Basically, tough luck moron! I spoke with several former members shortly after receiving the letter and also spoke with some owners of property that had been leased by the ASA. I was able to obtain a few answers. Approximately a year or so before the demise of ASA Brian Rahn leased over 10,000 acres out west, I believe Montana, possibly. There were some property leases in Ohio and Iowa. My understanding is that leasing all that out of state property basically put ASA in the red. No one had any real answers on the Barber Creek property other than that Brian and his wife still lived on the property. One person had told me that he had known Brian long before he formed the ASA and that he couldn't see Brian simply absconding with the club money and property. He gave me the name of a former member from Kalamazoo who was looking into legal action. Unfortunately I lost that phone number and have heard nothing further. A couple of friends and I leased a 145 acre property last year that had previously been leased by ASA. That landowner told me that he had never had any problems with Brian Rahn and always received his lease payments. He never received lease payments the year the club disbanded but other than that never had any problems and thought he had made a good deal leasing to the ASA. I which I knew what really happened as I hate to make judgements but it appears that Brian Rahn ended up the winner and the rest of us got screwed!

[This message has been edited by pheasantguy (edited 12-04-2000).]