While they do send some junk mail occasionally, I don't think its excessive really. I have been a life member for 12 years or so and I can assure you its been well worth the cost thus far. I got a pretty nice leather jacket when I joined. Field test stuff is generally small items but the do send out a few nice things. I got a couple boxes of slugs last year ,several years back I got a tent that fits into the bed of your truck which at the time was selling for like $179 and several things like doe pee (sent in March) and grunt calls to try out. The magazine is good too and I am supposed to get it for life .