Kentucky Afield magazine, the official publication of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resourceshttp://fw.ky.gov/navigation.aspx?cid=105&navpath=C741C547, is a quarterly periodical devoted to the fish and wildlife resources of Kentucky. The magazine covers a broad range of outdoor topics, including angling, hunting, conservation and land management. Department writers, biologists and artists produce Kentucky Afield. Readers should be aware of attempts to hijack or misrepresent the Kentucky Afield name. The only authorized entry points for the magazine web pages are: http://www.kyafield.com, or http://fw.ky.gov. The magazine does not have its own Facebook page. All department news feeds come through the department's main Facebook page site at http://www.facebook.com/kdfwr.

History

Kentucky Afield magazine began publishing as Kentucky Happy Hunting Ground magazine under the leadership of Editor Harry Towles in December 1945. The initial press run was 15,000 copies, with the subscription price set at 50 cents a year. The magazine was published bimonthly, or six times a year.
The first issue featured a hunting dog on the cover, and a drawing of pioneer Daniel Boone in the upper left hand corner.
In 1992, the magazine’s name changed to Kentucky Afield. The name change not only mirrored the names of the department’s television and radio shows, but it emphasized all the outdoors, not just hunting.
Since 2000, staff artist Rick Hill has painted the covers of the magazine. The exception was 2004, when the magazine switched to photo covers while Hill painted “Kentucky Fish,” a department poster featuring 27 of the state’s most recognized fish.
Kentucky Afield concentrates on hunting and fishing topics, emphasizing how-to articles, features on places to go, and helping readers to more fully enjoy their outdoor experiences.

Format

Kentucky Afield is a 44-page, four-color publication. Standing one-page columns at the front and back of the magazine cover such topics as hunting, fishing, habitat, destinations and ask the experts. The two-page center spread is set aside for Nature Notebook, an artist’s sketchbook of fish, animals or behaviors. The magazine accepts advertising.

Editors and Artists

1992 – Spring 1994 – Editor - Norm Minch

Artist – John A. Boone

1992 - Rick Hill joins magazine staff as Artist

1995 - Editor – Norm Minch

Artists – John A. Boone, Rick Hill

1996 – 1999 - Editor – Carolyn Lynn

Artists – John A. Boone, Rick Hill

Mid 1999 – Editor – Norm Minch

Artist – Rick Hill

2000 - Editor – Norm Minch

2000 - Artist – Rick Hill

Rick Hill begins consecutive Cover Art for magazine

Summer 2000 – Lee McClellan starts as a staff writer

2001 – Present - Editor Dave Baker

Artist – Rick Hill