Up for auction is an all-inclusive black bear hunt donated by Bowsites very own TSI, otherwise known as Trophy Safaris International. The winner of this auction will receive a full service bear hunt, winners choice of spring or fall, and which week (provided there is an opening). Once you get to camp the entire cost of the hunt is covered- including license. (does not include taxidermy or meat processing) 100% of the winning bid will go directly to the Rarey family.
This hunt will take place in southeastern New Brunswick, Canada out of TSI’s newer, modern lodge. The winner will be eating incredible home cooked meals daily, and will not go hungry. They hunt on both private and Crown land.
What will this benefit?
Many of you know my friend Joe Rarey by his Bowsite handle steve_jo. Joe is a Navy Veteran who served this great country for many years with honor and distinction. Due to his military service he has been suffering for quite some time with PTSD. This disease has put a tremendous strain on Joe and his family. Joe, his wonderful wife Ann Marie, and their two kids Thomas (6) and Maggie (1.5) have all been seriously affected by this and at this time Joe has been basically completely incapacitated. I first met Joe back in 2009 when he, myself, and fellow Bowsiter NvaGvUp (Kyle Meintzer) all met up in Idaho for an archery Elk hunt. Joe is one of the finest men I have ever had the pleasure of sharing a hunting camp with. It has been an absolute pleasure to watch him transform from a great man, to one of the most inspiring husbands and fathers you could ever imagine. Joe loves his family like they deserve to be loved, which is why I think this has been so tough for him. Right now he is unable to care for them, or himself for that matter. He is getting the treatment and medication that he needs, and is hopefully on the road to recovery.
They have applied for financial assistance with the VA, but in typical bureaucratic fashion, help isn’t coming very quickly. As a result, they have been crippled financially, and are in desperate need of our help. I have setup a go-fund-me account for their benefit, and between this auction and the donations we have received on that page we will be able to relieve some of the financial stress that they have been dealing with, and allow them to concentrate on Joe’s health. If you would like to help them but the bidding has surpassed what your able to contribute, you can checkout the go-fund-me page here- https://www.gofundme.com/help-the-rareys-battle-ptsd?ssid=834563822&pos=1
If Joe is feeling up to it, TSI will donate a second all-inclusive bear hunt for Joe to accompany the winner. Yes, a second totally FREE hunt to Joe if he is able to go with.
When does the auction end?
This auction will run from right now, till December, 24th at 10 pm central time. At exactly 10 pm central time Christmas Eve the highest bid will be declared the winner. I will contact the winner and make arrangements for payment. Once payment has been received I will notify TSI and the winner will then be able to make arrangements with TSI.
To bid on this hunt simply go onto this thread and make a post with your bid amount. If you would like to bid on this but wish to remain anonymous simply contact me with your bid, and I will post it under anonymous bidder #1 ,#2, etc. You can contact me either by pm here, email at [email protected] or call/text to 218 330-5632. I will keep a running tally of all bids on the second post on this thread. This will be updated often, but obviously not in real time so be sure to scan the last few posts to see where the current bid is.
Bowsite has been very gracious in allowing us to run this benefit auction here, but they are in no way affiliated with it, and can’t be held responsible should any issues arise. Thanks to Bowsite for allowing this, and a very special thank you to David Cole, owner of Trophy Safari International whom without this wouldn’t be happening. TSI is a sponsor here at Bowsite and you can check their website out at www.safarisinternational.com
Sportsmen have always led by example and we have always taken care of our own. Please join with me and bid on this great hunt for a great cause.
These pictures are some of the bears taken at TSI-
This is from my brother who is going through the most difficult time of his life - and believe me - he hasn't had it easy up until now.
"Can I have your attention please?
I am not an exceptionally lazy asshole indifferent to the suffering of my family.
I do not need tough love
Motivation is not what is missing
A job will not fix me
What has happened is very hard for me to accept. To become incapacitated, like this. To be unable to do even the simplest of tasks.
To watch my family stay with me as we have lost everything and hang now from the thinnest of threads.
It is very hard for me to accept that they would be better taken care of in my absence.
It’s hard to see that it’s me, my scarred personality which has alienated nearly everyone and seeming able bodied presence that continues to drag this out for them.
This is the point where the majority who are similarly affected as me kill themselves. They cannot swallow the shame of who they are.
I choked on it for a long time, but I’m staying.
Please don’t punish them because of me. I am getting treatment and medication for PTSD. I don’t know what the future holds. But as of right now, we need real help. We’re drowning and it is not fair to them."
That's my brother..... I know it's the holidays and everyone has a million things going on, but I ask please - whatever you can do. My brother, my sister-in-law, my 5 year old nephew and 1 year old niece live in a small RV on a friends property - no income, no ability to work. He is waiting for disability to come through but it is a long drawn-out process.
Anything they receive will be used for food, warm clothes and repairs to their RV. Help spread the word!
Mn_archer- $500
lineman21- $1,000
Hunt man- $1,100
greg simon $1,500
Medicinemann- $1,600
Pav- $2,000
Mark Watkins- $2,200
Mark
Mark, thanks so much for the bid!
michael
Mark
I did receive a text with a bid but have been unable to reach that person and unless I do Mark Watkins is the highest bidder.
About 33 hours left if you want to get in on this special opportunity
Thanks again
Michael
Mark I'll send you a pm tomorrow with payment instructions. Once the a rareys notify me that payment was received I'll notify TSI
Again. Thank you all
Michael
Mr Mark Watkins won the hunt at $2600. He will be sending payment off soon but in the interest of generating as much money as possible for the Rarey family he has donated the hunt back, for us to auction off again. There is only once caveat- we need to reach a minimum bid of $1300 on the second auction. If the auction ends and we haven't reached a minimum bid of $1300 it falls back to Mark. If we reach the $1300 amount we will have generated a total of $3900 from this one bear hunt!
So starting right now, and ending 10 days from now, Wednesday 1/4/17 at 10 pm central time you have another chance to win this great hunt and help out the Rarey family.
thanks again to Bowsite, TSI, and Mark Watkins for all their generosity and help
michael
Well done! My hat's off to you!
Kyle
TSI will know.
But as I recall, if your preferred date in the spring of 2017 isn't available, he'll move you back until your preferred dates are available
What dates do you consider as the most productive for having a chance at a big bruin?
If you want to see exactly what Joe has gone through read his post on "a bowsiterrible needs help" thread.
One more chance on a great hunt for a great cause
Michael
I can't find a thread with that name.
Gotta' link?
http://forums.bowsite.com/tf/bgforums/thread.cfm?threadid=459351&messages=79&forum=36#4335368
Congratulations Kyle thanks again. I got your private message and I'll take care of that tonight as she said we had an Unexpected death in the family. I'm not sure if dying when you're in your 90s is all that unexpected but surprising I should say.
I wanted to just take a quick break and check in with you guys and let you know that I really appreciate what you done and I'll get in touch with you TSI and you Kyle shortly here when I get out of here and get back home
Matt
A friend just did a 180 mile ultra this weekend in northern Wisconsin on his fat bike on snowmobile trails. Finished in 23 hours 58 minutes. I think the temperature never got above 10F. 3 years ago he was 280 lbs, today he is 170ish and owes it all to biking and motivation such as mine.
I just wanted to thank you all one more time. Joe has been a regular poster on facebook lately and he has sent me several messages. He has helped me as much as we have helped him in dealing with some issues. He has a tough road ahead and you have all done a great thing to help ease the burden. TSI, Mark Watkins, NvaGvUp, and the rest of you have all done far more than was expected especially having this all go down over a time of year when finances are a little snug for everyone.
Again, thanks for everything- especially to Pat and Bowsite for giving us a place to make a difference.
michael
