Hunters Get Ripped Off at Ducks Unlimited Auction
Many pro hunting organizations like Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Quality Deer Management Association depend on money raised at sportsmen banquets to support their mission and their organization. Outfitters, companies and other supporters donate items to be auctioned off to further the mission of the organization and sportsmen in attendance are often willing to bid on these items to help the organization out as well. Imagine what would happen if some of those hunts were fraudulent and you were the hunter who won the bid only to discover you’ve been ripped off. That appears to be the case that happened to a group of hunters from North Carolina who bid on a deer hunt with Big Cedar Hunts out of Oklahoma.
AJ Jenkins is the outfitter who ripped these hunters off and really ripped Ducks Unlimited off and is now a fugitive from justice according to news reports out of Oklahoma.
A.J. Jenkins, a.k.a. James Adam Jenkins a.k.a. Adam James Jenkins, was charged in Woods County District Court in November 2007 with four counts of hunting without permission of the landowner. He was released on a $10,000 bond and scheduled to reappear on court dockets on Jan. 8, 2008, again on Feb. 12, 2008 and March 11, 2008.
A money judgment against Jenkins for $8,731 on the original four charges was entered Dec. 17, 2007. As of May 1, Jenkins had not made payments on the judgment.
Jenkins was found in direct contempt of court on March 11, 2008 and ordered to appear April 10. He was a no-show at that court hearing also.
On April 21, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.
Gary Quigg is one of the hunters from North Carolina that was scammed by A.J. Jenkins and here is what he told the Alva Review;
“The guys that are here in North Carolina went as a group of 12,” Quigg said. “Our feeling is that when you steal from a charity, it’s like stealing from a church. He (Jenkins) deserves to go to jail.”
Quigg said that with his group of hunters, it wasn’t as much a matter of absorbing the cost of the fraudulent hunt, but the way Jenkins went about it.
“It’s the fact he stole from a charity that makes us determined to bring him to justice,” Quigg said.
Quigg said Jenkins “gave” the trips to various wildlife foundations like Ducks Unlimited, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Wild Turkey Foundation. The trips were auctioned off at the foundations’ banquets. Those who bought the trips could take up to 10 people with them at one-half price.
Organizations like Ducks Unlimited depend on these fundraisers and it would only take a few instances like this to hurt the fund raising ability of these groups. I certainly think that DU is as big a victim in this as the hunters and I’m sure they had no idea that A.J. Jenkins was a scam artist.
I certainly hope that A.J. Jenkins is brought to justice and made to take responsibility for his unscrupulous actions. I’m also glad to see this group of sportsmen from North Carolina is not willing to let this drop. We can’t afford to let scammers off the hook especially when it can damage the reputation of DU, RMEF, NWTF, and others. As far as banquets go I’m planning to go to one latter this week so please keep supporting the great work these organizations do.
Story by Dan McLaughlin aka Moose
Canvasbacks are nearly double their population objective, ” Aldrich says. Outfitter
Comment by Outfitter — May 7, 2008 @ 12:46 am
I hate reading stories like this. I can’t understand how anyone could use a charitable function to line their own pocket, but I know it does happen. I hope they catch the guy and he goes to jail.
Comment by Kristine Shreve — May 7, 2008 @ 10:20 am
Just thought I’d add….
Respectfully, the title is a little misleading…. the title should actually read…. “Ducks Unlimited get’s ripped off by a Con Artist”.
From what I gathered, there were several hunts offered to DU National at a discounted price. In turn, DU bought them at a discount and then they distributed the hunts among chapters to Auction at Banquets (for profits to DU).
One of these huntes, was given to the North West Chapter in Hickory, NC (I attended the event when it was auctioned, and hunt with - and know - the chairman well). The hunt was auctioned, and the hig bidder was to an attourney in Hickory (which I also know). When the Attouney started planning the hunt, that’s when he found out it was bogus.
DU has re-embursed the auction price, so actually noone got ripped off, except DU (from what I understand)…. and DU is persuing charges against the con artist, but to no avail (that I have heard of yet).
It leaves a black eye on DU persay, and it takes a low down scum maggot to take advantage of a non-profit org, like this con artist did (IMHO). Hopefully, the Con Artist will be brought to justice, but please harbor no ill feelings to DU - as they are “making it right” to the ones who won the high bids on these hunts.
Thanks,
Troy
Comment by Troy — May 8, 2008 @ 12:31 pm
Oh, and Thanks Mac - for listing this maggots name. Maybe it will keep others from being ripped off by him as well.
Really a sad story, thanks for posting it, and bringing it to peoples attention. There are probably more outfitters like this fella out there. Maybe this will help people be more cautious.
troy
Comment by Troy — May 8, 2008 @ 12:35 pm
Hey Troy
I certainly can see how one may misunderstand the Title to this story but that is not my intent. I clearly spell out in the body of the story that DU and these other organizations were victims as well. The initial story I used (Link is no longer valid) made it sound like the hunters ate the loss there was nothing to suggest that DU ever paid these guys back. As a matter of fact the hunters that spoke to the press made it sound like they themselves absorbed the cost of the hunts. Either way it is pretty sad that there is scammers out there targeting charities.
Comment by Moose — May 9, 2008 @ 8:36 pm
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Pingback by nwtf — May 18, 2008 @ 9:18 pm
this guy is a real problem. there were multiple clients from at least 4 states over the last few years. Jenkins is still selling hunts and has 2 web-sites offering them. here are links to both sites… don’t bother buying one of these. the hunts do not exist.
http://www.bigcedarhunts.com/contact.htm
http://sandyriverwhitetails.com/
I own a real estate company in Alva OK. I first heard about Jenkins when some of his clients came to town complaining that they were cheated.
We are all hoping to see Mr. Jenkins prosecuted. Hopefully the complaining clients will continue to press the issue and see that the court does it’s job.
here’s more info on the story from our local newspaper.
http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpid=348&show=archivedetails&ArchiveID=1324313&om=1
Comment by Shane — June 17, 2008 @ 3:59 pm