The spirit of Elk Camp was alive and well from afar through the Elk Camp Online Auction this year. RMEF’s national convention didn’t go forward in the physical sense, but RMEF supporters still rallied to fund on-the-ground work in elk country through a 5-day, online sale.
The support was swift and literally overwhelming, as 11,000 people logged in to check out the auction.
“When we initially opened the auction up, the website traffic created just from that auction bogged down our entire network for roughly three hours,” says Tim Monahan, RMEF director of membership and fundraising operations. “That shows how excited people were about the items, and also to just be a part of this concept.”
Bidders queued up online for almost every product available, illustrating the rallying point that Elk Camp serves for RMEF members and supporters. The auction opened on August 26, and when it closed on August 30, approximately 50 items ranging from a rare elk permit and hunts to trips, firearms, artwork, hunting gear and much more, had sold with the click of a mouse. The featured item, a rare, northeast Nebraska bull elk permit, soared to a whopping bid of $45,000 before the close.
Overall, the auction went as well as planned and maybe even a little better. The combined gross earnings from the auction reached more than $169,000 with preliminary net income looking to be in the $120,000 range. This well exceeded the goal of $100,000 net earnings that field staff and marketing staff held going into the auction.
RMEF extends its thanks to all our sponsors and supporters who bid or purchased items at the Elk Camp Online Auction, and we hope to see everyone back at Elk Camp in person next summer.
“We greatly appreciate the support we receive from our volunteers, members, conservation partners, sportsmen and women, and so many others during these unique times,” says Steve Decker, RMEF vice of marketing.
Below is a list of some of the items that sold at the Elk Camp online auction:
2021 Nebraska bull elk permit open to residents or nonresidents
Alligator/hog combo hunt with Easton Corbin
Five-day Colorado elk hunt
Commemorative rifles by Ruger, Savage & Winchester
Bronze sculptures
Five-day Bob Marshall Wilderness fishing retreat
YETI ‘surprise’ coolers full of mystery contents
Custom acoustic guitars signed by John Rich & Luke Combs