The June, 2002 issue of Sports Afield, will be the last, as reported by North American Hunter. Lagging sales and a poor economy were reasons given for the shut-down. Sports Afield was bought by Petersen's Publishing, a couple of years ago to try and regain its faithfull roots of hunters and fisherman, after the previous owner tried to reach a new market with mountain bikers, snow boarding, and and other yuppie sports. I was glad when Petersen's bought the company, but am deeply saddened, as they close the door, after more than a century of writing about the great outdoors. Further proof that our numbers continue to shrink, with each passing year.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jeff

Sports Afield was the only outdoors magazine available in our small town when I was a pup in the late '50s.  So Pete Brown was my gunwriter-mentor instead of Jack O'Connor or Warren Page.  Later I went with Guns&Ammo.  P.O. Ackley, Bob Hutton, Jeff Cooper & Elmer Keith!  Could any gun rag round up a stable like that now?
 
  I've picked up a few issues of Sports Afield lately, but there wasn't enough content to hold my interest.  The old order passes and these forums are speeding it on it's way.

Bye
Jack

You got that right Jack.

I too had picked up a Sports Afield once after the yuppification. Went into the garbage bag after about 10 minutes perusal. Looks like it was too late for Petersons to turn it around.

We had a decent New York State Magazine called NY Sportsman that Peterson had taken over a couple years back. That publication just went belly up a few months ago too. New York Game and Fish magazine has taken them over, at least their current subscriptions were purchased by them. Only new wrinkle is that they have a nice website also which kind of exists in concert with it as a resource with good information and writing.

I think the net is where the action is now and is much more timely information.

Heck, just a year or so ago I was able to correspond through e-mail with Lee Jurras. Interesting to "talk" with a guy I've read about since I was a little punk.

Can't match that in a magazine off the rack.


Regards