Accurate and Complete Hunting Coverage

HUNTING, brought to you by Petersen's, provides comprehensive coverage on virtually every type of hunting. Featuring regular columns on common topics, HUNTING serves almost as a reference resource instead of simply as a fairy-telling of hunts you could never afford.

PROS: Everything. For starters, there's the price. You get 12 issues per year for $11.97 with no hidden or extra costs. Each issue is approximately 105 pages long and includes the usual product advertising. The writing is exceptional. Colonel Craig Boddington, John Wootters, Bob Good, Tom Gresham, and Dave Campbell are just a few of the regulars. HUNTING has numerous departments, each of which contribute an article each month about their specific topic. SHOTGUNNING, HUNTING OPTICS, HANDGUN HUNTING, WHEELS AFIELD, BOWHUNTING, and GUNS & LOADS are my favorites. In the GUNS & LOADS department for example, each month the reader is introduced to various models of firearms or a specific caliber bullet. It is so interesting, because the average hunter has heard about the .220 Swift, but few have ever fired a rifle in that chambering. But in GUNS & LOADS we learn about its history, performance, advantages/disadvantages, ballistics and even some basic reloading data. Next month it might be the .45-70 government. And so it goes with all of the departments. In HUNTING OPTICS, we see full write ups on new models of binoculars before they're even in stores. Did you know that the wording choice of your warranty is not accidental--there is a huge difference between 'water resistant' and 'waterproof' (waterproof is better by the way. It means just that--waterproof. Water resistant means that the manufacturer just designed the item to resist water. If it leaks, oh well).

As for the features, the reader feels like he went along on each and every hunt. Thanks to HUNTING, I have been to Alaska to hunt Coastal Brown Bears, to Canada to hunt caribou and to Texas for trophy whitetail deer--all without leaving my living room (or bathroom). Other features ponder the best all-around combination deer and elk round, or why still-hunting is a lost art. All the articles are accompanied by superb photos. I could go on forever and almost have. On the administrative end of things, delivery is always prompt, billing is accurate, and I rarely find a typo.

CONS: The only thing I have noticed is that the editorial staff and the product reviewers go light on criticism of various products. I get a sense that they don't want to offend their advertisers and avoid saying anything negative about various products. Instead they will simply state what the manufacturer claims about a product and then leave it up to the reader to determine if the product lives up to the manufacturer's bragging. To the magazine's credit, if a product simply stinks, HUNTING will tactfully tell the reader to try something else. Other than that, I have no criticism of HUNTING (except that it should be published weekly).

CONCLUSION: Top-notch publication. Pure and simple. Better than Field and Stream because it doesn't have to split time with fishing. It's filled with useful information, presented in an entertaining style. That's a tough reputation to live up to month after month. I have subscribed for about 5 years. Highly recommend it.