I know what you may be thinking… Didn’t I just do a review on Peterson’s Bowhunting magazine? Actually, no. I did a review on a similar publication called Bowhunting World. I, too, get them confused a lot because of the similarity of their titles. Peterson’s Bowhunting is also a magazine devoted to the sport of hunting and archery, much like its competitor. This magazine, however, has more substance.
Bowhunting is a bit longer on average than its rival, generally coming in the neighborhood of 100 pages. Its layout and design is very efficient. The issue I have in hand is the July 2002 issue, which features a head-on picture of a moose on the cover. Inside the magazine, the text flows very neatly in a three-column format, and occasionally accented by blurbs from the article printed in large, colored type. You would think that there would be more pictorial elements, but they keep the photography to a minimum, but they do make up for it in other ways. Although there is probably an even mix of editorial and advertising, it feels like there is very little advertising, because of the way most of the articles are done.
The best thing about Bowhunting is the quality and quantity of the articles. Like most magazines, you have main features, and regular columns. In the July 2002 issue, there are eight articles in the feature section, and all deal with some type of game hunting. Reading a few of these is like reading prose. The articles fondly relate experiences of hunting success (and failure), in the pursuit of all sorts of wild game, big and small. One article, titled Rogue River, could be published as a Faulkner-esque Man vs. Nature narrative. If you are an avid hunter, these articles are sure to excite. Another very interesting article, provided a list of many different locales that provide hunting challenges. An index of locations or regions, along with information on what kind of game can be found, difficulty level, best season for the hunt, price of the trip, and even contact information, are provided. Skimming this article, I found a few surprises, like I never knew you could hunt deer in Hawaii. (It’s true!)
The regular columns are more functional and informative than entertaining. The Departments section includes letters to the editor, a trivia quiz, and other short columns written by the magazine’s field editors. Another section, Gear, features product reviews, like a comparison of various brands, manufacturers, and models of hunting binoculars. And lastly, a regular section called High Grades is a product review section which very thoroughly examines the technical aspects of all sorts of hunting equipment.
Overall, this is a great hunting magazine, which I would recommend for any avid gamesman. I could totally picture rocker Ted Nugent reading this magazine. It is written for enthusiasts, but it is accessible enough for novices. I actually thought about buying this magazine for a few hunter friends of mine. Published nine times a year, an annual subscription runs about $13, and a two-year subscription will cost you about $24. The cover price is listed at $3.99. This magazine has a lot of quality substance for a very affordable price. If you read my previous article on a similar publication, Bowhunting World, I will just say that this magazine is everything that one is not. It has more of everything, for a lower price. It beats it hands down on all counts.
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