Outdoor Life

Outdoor Life

June/July 2009 issue of Outdoor Life featuring the magazine's redesign.
Editor	Todd W. Smith
Categories	Hunting/fishing magazine
Frequency	Monthly
Total circulation (2011)	755,103[1]
First issue	January 1898
Company	Bonnier
Country	United States
Language	English
Website	outdoorlife.com
ISSN	0030-7076

Outdoor Life is an outdoors magazine about hunting, fishing, survival and camping. It is a sister magazine of Field & Stream. Together with Sports Afield, they are considered the Big Three of American outdoor publishing. Outdoor Life launched in Denver, Colorado in January 1898. Founder and Editor-in-Chief (1898-1929), J.A. McGuire, intended Outdoor Life to be a magazine for sportsmen, written by sportsmen, covering all aspects of the outdoor arena.

History

The first issue covered topics including a moose hunt in Alaska and advice about Native Americans. Some of the original sections were titled, "Photography", "Trap and Target" and "In the Game and Field".

Outdoor Life was an innovative publication. In 1903, the first photograph was printed on the cover in black and white. A short time later, in 1906 the first color cover appeared on the magazine.

In 1934 Outdoor Life moved from its original location in Denver to New York City, where it remains today. For many years, Outdoor Life was owned by the Popular Science Publishing Company, which was purchased by Times Mirror in 1967. Time Inc. bought the Times Mirror magazines in 2001. In 2007, Time Warner sold Outdoor Life and several other publications to Bonnier Corporation, which owns the magazine today.

Outdoor Life's editorial coverage followed its audience's interests in new developments, such as aviation, motor vehicles and boating. However, it stayed true to its original focus: the outdoorsman. Over the years, many notable people have contributed to the magazine. Ernest Hemingway was accompanied by an Outdoor Life writer on a marlin fishing trip to Cuba in 1935; Zane Grey, a well-known adventure writer and big game fisherman was a common contributor between 1918 and 1932; former President Teddy Roosevelt contributed from 1901to 1904. Other famous contributors include Amelia Earhart, Clark Gable, and Babe Ruth.

Other media and awards

The magazine licensed their title to the Outdoor Life Network cable channel from its 1996 launch until 2006, when the network dramatically de-emphasized programs about fishing and hunting, and changed their name to Versus. The Outdoor Life Network name was retained on the Canadian version of the channel.

The Outdoor Life Conservation Award was first given in 1923 to those who “accomplish the greatest good for the sportsmen’s cause in the United States,” said founder J.A. McGuire. Jimmy Carter is the most famous recipient. There is also an Outdoor Life Conservation Pledge. It was established in 1946 and then revised in 1993. It has been taken by thousands of people including Harry Truman and Al Gore and it runs on the letters page of every issue of the magazine. The pledge reads: “I pledge to protect and conserve the natural resources of America. I promise to educate future generations so they may become caretakers of our water, air, land and wildlife.”

The editorial content of the magazine has been critical of PETA and other Animal Rights groups, and anti-hunting groups.

References

1. ^ ABC

External links

• Official website