...outdoor mags were works of art? And the insides were beautiful too, not "25 Surefire Ways to Land Big Bass," but meandering, sweet tales of fishing with friends and family and how that felt. I was talking to a Field and Stream editor once and we both wished such storytelling and artwork would return. Anyway, here are some from my collection. You can see I favor canoeists, women fishing, and color. They look better in person than these photos with their glare. The second one is one of my faves, but it has the mailing label because it's a hard one to find in better condition as lots of people love it:

That is quite the collection! Even though my wife hates it when I stash my magazines in a closet there's something about them that I just can't throw in the recycling when I'm done with them. I love looking back at some of the old outdoor magazines my uncles have given me, Fur-Fish-Game is one of my favorites. It's pretty easy to look back at them and day dream about a much simpler time.

Wow, certainly works of art as you say, Miss Molly. Very nice to see these old outdoor covers.

Very nice collection, I love those old magazine covers and ads inside.

Who used to do the fishing facts covers?

Love those magazines.... I was born 50 years to late... would of loved to been exploring the northland in the 30's, 40's, and 50's ...

Loved Fishing Facts........artwork was ....well, inspiring, drawing on the viewer's imagination to complete. It would been complete if it included a scratch and sniff edition!! Brings me back to a time of learning....about what makes a fish tick. Imagination is what makes a human tick....what manner of lunker is hiding next to that log, that bulrush, making that sluggish swirl.....

quote AmarilloJim: "Who used to do the fishing facts covers?"

If it was like most mags, I'm assuming many artists. Did they all seem to come from the same brush to you?

@bassnet The stories were inspiring too. Writing isn't as fun today. Every story has to be supported by more and more dazzling photography and those photos gobble the pages, leaving less and less time and space to tell a story. Bullet points have replaced storytelling.

@walllee Me too!

If you like the old fishing stuff, here's a guide sign and a bait sign.

Very nice, I love the old stuff!

I like that second fish sign. It has inspired me to carve one.

quote plexmidwest: "I like that second fish sign. It has inspired me to carve one."

It has rusty square cut nails for the teeth and the fins are rusted too. I love the rust!

quote missmolly: "

quote plexmidwest: "I like that second fish sign. It has inspired me to carve one."

It has rusty square cut nails for the teeth and the fins are rusted too. I love the rust!"

You sound like an American Picker :)

My dream now turned fantasy was to add a room the length of my abode in which I would have cedar floors and walls and all sorts of old outdoor stuff but classy if you get my drift. Some of those magazine covers would of been perfect.

That would be cool, MT. You should do it!

Ha, QM!

Wiley Miller was the cover artist for "Fishing Facts" magazine. The story behind that publication is an interesting one. Google it and see for yourself.
~JOE~

Been humming Alan Jackson since reading this post this morning. :).
I'be kept a few covers and pics and ads over the years ( Sports Afield, Fur Fish & Game, Outdoor Life, Far Cry) but none that old. Never heard of some of them. I love the pics and ads from the 30's and 40's. The old Hamm's ads are cool too.

I spent many winter nights before I could drive sitting in my room reading my Dads old Field and Stream, Outdoor life and Sports Afield of which we had stacks and stacks. My favorite writers were (of course) Gene Hill and Ed Zern.

Trivia Question. What Lake were the Old Hamm's Ad's made?

Seagull?
~JOE~

Close,but not Sea Gull.

I've heard the answer before.....hhmmm, I used to have one of those signs, with the moving water.....Moose??

I want to say yes,and no to Seagull, I just read that some shots were from Seagull.
The primary location was Saganaga. My friends Dad saw them do filming on Sag.
when he was fishing. He said they used to Have barrels of beer up there. He even saw
the bear that they had.