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Offered here is a collection of 19 original vintage Sports Afield magazines dating from 1961 through 1969.
Sports Afield is one of America’s classic outdoor publications, with a history reaching back to the late 1800s. During the 1960s it was one of the country’s major outdoor magazines, combining fishing, camping, wildlife, conservation, outdoor travel, archery, seasonal field adventures, sporting dogs, wilderness stories and beautifully illustrated wildlife features.
These issues capture American outdoor life during the 1960s. In addition to the feature articles, the magazines contain vintage artwork, photography and period advertising, making them interesting reference material and display pieces for collectors of outdoor Americana.
Notable writers represented in these issues include John Jobson, Jason Lucas, Russell Annabel, Jack Denton Scott, Jimmy Robinson and Erle Stanley Gardner.
ISSUES INCLUDED
APRIL 1961
A strong spring fishing and camping issue featuring high-water bass fishing, spring trout, an affordable dream fishing trip and a guide to choosing the best week for fishing in Florida. Outdoor adventure material includes a bobcat story, while the camping section includes the practical feature “Tenting From A to Z.”
SEPTEMBER 1962
A fall-season issue centered on pheasant and quail, wildlife surveys and seasonal outdoor planning. Includes state-by-state surveys designed to give readers a picture of conditions around the country. Additional material covers deer-season preparation and other fall outdoor subjects. Attractive illustrated woodcock cover.
DECEMBER 1962
An especially interesting issue for literary and outdoor-history collectors. Major features include “The Special Outdoor World of Ernest Hemingway,” examining the famous author’s connection with outdoor life and adventure. Also featured are winter fishing, squirrel-season material and a dramatic true-life grizzly bear story.
MAY 1963
A major bass-fishing and camping issue. Seven experts discuss ways to catch bass. John Jobson contributes an extensive 64-page camping feature covering outdoor travel and camp life. Other features include big brown trout, a swamp adventure and “The Case of the Disappearing Salmon,” adding a conservation theme.
JUNE 1963
Fishing dominates this issue, including “Fish Where the Fish Are,” advice on locating productive water. Other features include “Man of Many Muskies,” Newfoundland wilderness adventure, Jack Denton Scott’s “That Big Bad Bear,” and a special illustrated feature on the world’s wild dogs.
JULY 1963
A varied summer issue featuring a large archery section covering equipment selection, preparation and traditional field skills. John Jobson’s “Return to the Yukon Wilderness” provides northern adventure, while Russell Annabel contributes the story of Tex Cobb. Fishing coverage includes hot-weather techniques and practical outdoor tips, along with a state-by-state and province-by-province elk-season roundup.
JUNE 1964
A strong fishing and western-wildlife issue. Legendary angling writer Jason Lucas names his all-time favorite lures. Other features include hard-fighting smallmouth bass, black-bear adventure and a Montana mule-deer story. The issue also covers a national competitive field-sports team.
AUGUST 1964
Features a large state-by-state section on predators and nuisance wildlife, along with “Bass Fishing’s Tremendous Secret.” Summer fishing coverage includes tricks for catching bluegills. Other articles look at second homes for outdoorsmen, building a homemade beach buggy and “The Weasel Family in Pictures” by Walter J. Wilwerding.
NOVEMBER 1964
A classic late-fall issue with extensive waterfowl coverage, plus articles about mule deer and antelope. John Jobson begins “Trek to the Far North,” a northern travel and wilderness series. Additional attractions include “Winter of the Panther,” fly-tying material and a look at a Louisiana fishing hot spot.
DECEMBER 1964
Begins the major Sports Afield series “The Mighty Challenge of the Mountains,” an extensive treatment of mountain sheep and goat adventures. Fishing readers get “Winter Trout Tactics” by Col. Dave Harbour. Other features cover bear behavior, rabbits and squirrels, the Sports Afield fishing awards program and Frank Delano’s jaguar adventure.
JANUARY 1965
A winter fishing and wildlife issue featuring methods for finding large trout in frigid water, along with a feature following the remarkable salt-water travels of steelhead. Florida coverage looks at bucks, bears and boars in the Everglades. Jack Denton Scott contributes “Remarkable Red Fox.” The issue also includes the Sports Afield Fishing Awards Program.
JULY 1965
A major western wildlife and archery issue. Features include “All About Grizzlies,” summer bass fishing, stalking deer, Nevada mountain-lion adventure and preseason preparation. A substantial archery section discusses traditional bow-and-arrow fieldcraft.
NOVEMBER 1965
A late-fall issue highlighted by Jimmy Robinson’s complete waterfowl guide and additional seasonal duck and goose material. Fishing coverage explains how to prepare for winter fishing. Mystery author Erle Stanley Gardner contributes “Trapped!” Other features include an unusual deer adventure, an illustrated rattlesnake-bite account, information on poisonous snakes and a dramatic encounter with a rogue grizzly.
DECEMBER 1965
A broad year-end outdoor issue featuring a state-by-state late-season chart, Jack Denton Scott’s “Mr. Go – The Grouse,” do-it-yourself outdoor ideas and advice on camp life. Fishing articles include a Christmas Bass Bonanza and the saltwater adventure “Bermuda Express,” covering big wahoo fishing. Another feature looks at a huge concentration of geese.
JANUARY 1966
Includes the new 1966 Sports Afield Fishing Awards Program, together with winter and southern fishing material. Highlights include big-bass fishing in the South, Russell Annabel’s “Under the Caribou Moon,” a winter cat-tracking adventure, “Story of the Bobwhite,” and a colorful game-animal portfolio.
MAY 1966
A bass-fishing issue built around Jason Lucas’s complete guide to catching bass from top to bottom. John Jobson contributes a bonus camping section focusing on mobile outdoor recreation. Also included is practical information on finding employment in outdoor occupations and another B. J. Berry dog story, “Jamie’s Dog.”
AUGUST 1966
Contains a substantial state-by-state wildlife section with contributions from Jobson, Robinson, Brown, Bauer and Dalrymple. Fishing features include methods for finding more big bass, a huge northern fishing region described as a 50-million-acre fisherman’s bonanza, summer trout techniques and striped-bass fishing. Russell Annabel contributes “The Damnedest Bear I Ever Knew.”
MAY 1967
A useful fishing and camping issue. The main angling feature is a large step-by-step guide to becoming a better bass fisherman. John Jobson contributes the bonus section “The Complete Camper,” covering equipment, camp organization and outdoor travel. Other material includes wildlife adventures and period commentary on changing outdoor-sports regulations.
MARCH 1969
A fishing-heavy late-1960s issue focused on getting an early start on the season. Experts discuss early bass fishing, new trout techniques, productive shad rivers, the Coho and Chinook outlook, fly-fishing ideas and approaches for difficult trout streams. The issue also contains additional big-game and wilderness features.
ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Together these 19 Sports Afield magazines provide a fascinating snapshot of American outdoor culture during the 1960s.
Subjects include bass, trout, salmon, steelhead, muskies, bluegills and saltwater fishing; camping and wilderness travel; wildlife and conservation; archery; sporting dogs; northern expeditions; western wildlife; seasonal outdoor adventures; vintage boats and equipment; and classic period advertising.
The magazines also feature colorful illustrated covers depicting trout, bass, pike, woodcock, mountain sheep, grizzlies, waterfowl, bobcats and other North American wildlife.
CONDITION
These are original vintage magazines in used condition.
Condition varies from issue to issue. Photos show normal age-related wear including spine and edge wear, creasing, scuffs, small tears, cover wear, age toning and other signs of handling and storage. Many issues retain their original period mailing labels. Some issues show heavier spine wear than others.
Please examine all photographs carefully, as the photos are an important part of the condition description.
Because these are vintage publications, every individual interior page has not been represented as perfect or individually verified.
This listing is for collectible printed magazines only. No outdoor equipment, parts or accessories are included.
Excellent collection for a vintage-magazine collector, fishing enthusiast, outdoor-history collector, cabin or lodge display, wildlife-art collector, or anyone interested in American outdoor life of the 1960s.
