Page 39 - 2020 Jan/Feb Outdoor Oklahoma

diamond

anniversary!

Outdoor Oklahoma’s 75th Naturally Worth Celebrating

By Don P. Brown, Associate Editor That first issue contained details about the new deer
Like many folks raised in Oklahoma, I had wonderful trap-and-transplant effort, articles on basic conservation
times enjoying the outdoors. Mom and Dad took us kids principles, reports on biologists and game wardens, and
camping and fishing often. And when I got old enough, a passionate editorial that envisioned the end of World
I was gifted my first Remington pump shotgun and got War II (to come later that year) and the happy days that
to tag along on quail and duck hunting trips. Those were would follow.
the days. By 1946, the Southwestern Association of Industrial
But if I had to name one thing that fueled my appreciation Editors recognized Outdoor Oklahoma as the most wide-
for this state’s great natural resources through my formative ly-read publication in Oklahoma, with a circulation of
years, it was Dad’s copies of the latest Outdoor Oklahoma 7,500. Ten years later, the magazine was reaching 31,000
magazine that was always there on the coffee table. people, and a subscription fee was needed to help with
This magazine has been a part of my life, well, almost production and mailing costs. Subscriptions were $1.50
all of my life (54 years). This month, it’s been a part of the per year.
Oklahoma scene for 75 years. In September 1957, the magazine adopted a new look,
Just as hunting, fishing and respect for nature are near with full-color throughout, and a new name: Oklahoma
and dear to the hearts of so many Oklahomans, the same Wildlife. But just eight years later, in September 1965,
can be said of the flagship publication of the Oklahoma the name changed again — to Outdoor Oklahoma.
Department of Wildlife Conservation. In 1980, the magazine trimmed publication to six issues
This magazine was born in January 1945. It was per year but increased the number of pages. That’s basi-
called Oklahoma Game & Fish News and was among cally how Outdoor Oklahoma remains today.
the first public education efforts of the newly created Now, Outdoor Oklahoma has a circulation of about
Information & Education Division within the state Game 8,500 copies for each 52-page issue. And our goal
& Fish Department. remains the same as it has for 75 years: to inform sports-
In those initial years, each issue was 16 black-and-white men about their wildlife agency.
pages. Monthly, 5,000 copies were printed and mailed Join us in celebrating our diamond anniversary with
free to people who wanted it, along with a request to cir- an entertaining trip down memory lane as we republish
culate the magazine among their friends. some of the magazine’s covers on the following pages.
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