Dedicated Stalking Magazine

Hi All, I am new here and have posted a brief intro in the relevant section but thought I would say Hi here as well.

I have been a forum reader for quite a while but never got round to registering and getting involved. What made me take action and get involved was the discovery of a couple of editions of Stalking Magazine in some old boxes of shooting mags that I got out of the loft. I chucked the rest but kept the stalking mags and sat down to have a flick through. To say that reading this magazine was a breath of fresh air is an understatement. Fantastic artwork, stunning photographs and insiteful and well written articles are contained within a magazine with very little commercialism. This has got me thinking.

I used to read quite alot of the sporting magazines available such as shooting times, shooting gazette, sporting rifle and fieldsports magazine. I only buy fieldsports magazine now. I have given up on sporting rifle, as much as I like lamping there are only so many articles you can print about lamping foxes before it gets boring. Also, there seems to be a constant emphasis on clothing and equipment, with product side bars, info boxes and advertising everywhere. I bet I'm not alone in yearning for a quality magazine without the commercial edge. However, as everyone knows, advertising revenue is what makes magazines profitable so I would like your opinions and ideas on what would be most preferable in a dedicated stalking magazine; would it be monthly, quarterly? glossy or cheap paper? advertising throughout or only in a dedicated area at the back of the mag or should we embrace technology and put the whole thing online; free with plenty of targeted advertising or no ads and paid subscription only? What do you think?
 
Up at my land in the boarders I have a caravan and we all take shooting mags up to read. The last shooting sport/rifle whatever, I counted 15 product reviews and non had a bad review, the price was fantastic at xxx amount and of course I need it to be a better hunter, plus there was nothing bad to say about the products.
I would like to see produce review not as an advert but a proper review with all the ups and downs no bull just honest. But I dout this will ever happen
andrew
 
I would agree with buckbones i would also like to see this. aswell as product range reveiws from the lower end of the scale that normal working people can afford without having to commit a bank job! But to answer the op question put adds in their own section so if you want a product you know where to look
 
It would be great to see such a mag. Target sports has gone to an on line mag with great success. If anyone has the know how to do this I would be happy to help.
 
Ironically, you get pretty honest feedback on items here on SD. This is a good magazine actually, features advice, ads, and in a format that is easy to read and free......
 
I have a few years worth of "Stalking Magazine" in a box somewhere - great magazine. Was wound up as it wasn't making money.

Seems the only way for a niche magazine to survive is to pimp for the advertisers.

I think the only way such a magazine might survive is as a digital only publication. Even at that, who would pay for it?

These forums used to be a great source of unbiased information. While this is still the case at times, the general standard of discourse is dropping steadily here.

I note a number of regular posters here whose contribution is less that positive.
 
Thanks for the quick response, much appreciated. Like Claret_Dabbler said, maybe the only way is a free digital publication which is payed for by advertising. Supposing the mag was free, advertising on a website would be acceptable and maybe less intrusive than advertising and commerce woven into and around articles in a print mag. Otherwise, the only way I can see it working is to go the top quality route, glossy mag, great content, artwork, advertising only at the back ect. This would have to be subscription only, with a price tag that reflects the way the whole thing is put together. I buy Fieldsports Magazine at £5 a time so if a dedicated high quality print stalking magazine was priced around this mark I dont see why i wouldn't pay the same. Similarly if an online mag has decent content and is free, I would put up with banner and click type advertising, no problem.
 
There's a magazine that's called earth dog running dog,its got Nowt to do with stalking and is more to do with terriers and lurchers (not really our thing on here) but the point I'm making is that this mag has a loyal following,it isn't an expensive glossy advertising gizmo although it has adverts related to the topics and its by subscription only,isn't it about time we had something like this related to stalking and rifle shooting in the UK
 
There's a magazine that's called earth dog running dog,its got Nowt to do with stalking and is more to do with terriers and lurchers (not really our thing on here) but the point I'm making is that this mag has a loyal following,it isn't an expensive glossy advertising gizmo although it has adverts related to the topics and its by subscription only,isn't it about time we had something like this related to stalking and rifle shooting in the UK

It was tried a few years ago mate , remember. It failed due to the fact that stalking folk will not purchase mags or books on deer.

As you say though bring out a book regarding lurchers or terriers and it sells out straight away :eek:
 
Strange Gremlins on here !
I did not post that last sentence, it just added itself !

HWH.

My reference was :- SPORTINGSHOOTERMAG.COM.AU
 
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OK then.
Lets see where we can go.
I have a bit of experience in desktop publishing, am willing to put in some time. Are there any businesses out there who would support an internet based magazine. We would need people willing to submit articles, loan equipment/clothing etc for reviews.
If it takes off you will kill yourselves if you miss the chance to be in at the beginning!
Your call, is there enough interest?
 
Hi pilgrimmick, I would really like to get involved with a project like this. However, your reference to equipment/clothing reviews is the exact thing I don't want to read about. If I want a new jacket I don't buy magazines to get a review from one person, especially when people who review items for magazine articles can rarely be relied upon to give a completely honest opinion (I have never seen a bad review of anything in a shooting mag). If I want a product review I use google and access peoples opinions via forums and publications from all over the world. If I buy a dedicated magazine I don't want equipment and clothing reviews. Why not a publication that focuses on people and their personal experiences and passion of for deer and stalking. Articles could be anything from amateur anecdotes of a single stalk to technical infomation from deer industry professionals but the over riding content must be high quality, insiteful and entertain as well as inform. If it was a free online mag then advertising on the wesite would be a nessesary evil to make it pay but the actual articles should be product free.
 
Hi All, I am new here and have posted a brief intro in the relevant section but thought I would say Hi here as well.

I have been a forum reader for quite a while but never got round to registering and getting involved. What made me take action and get involved was the discovery of a couple of editions of Stalking Magazine in some old boxes of shooting mags that I got out of the loft. I chucked the rest but kept the stalking mags and sat down to have a flick through. To say that reading this magazine was a breath of fresh air is an understatement. Fantastic artwork, stunning photographs and insiteful and well written articles are contained within a magazine with very little commercialism. This has got me thinking.

I used to read quite alot of the sporting magazines available such as shooting times, shooting gazette, sporting rifle and fieldsports magazine. I only buy fieldsports magazine now. I have given up on sporting rifle, as much as I like lamping there are only so many articles you can print about lamping foxes before it gets boring. Also, there seems to be a constant emphasis on clothing and equipment, with product side bars, info boxes and advertising everywhere. I bet I'm not alone in yearning for a quality magazine without the commercial edge. However, as everyone knows, advertising revenue is what makes magazines profitable so I would like your opinions and ideas on what would be most preferable in a dedicated stalking magazine; would it be monthly, quarterly? glossy or cheap paper? advertising throughout or only in a dedicated area at the back of the mag or should we embrace technology and put the whole thing online; free with plenty of targeted advertising or no ads and paid subscription only? What do you think?


Hmmm hope this is not a punt for a new website. No disrespect but we have had this kind of thing before on the SD Site, by trying to use this site, which is now well established as a launch pad. One might add that an approach to Admin might not have gone amiss!!
 
This is not a new idea I am afraid. I have already been approached by someone who is currently developing something on line with a view to going to print eventually. they have a huge blog following so it makes sense to step it up to the next level. I know the person and they were just asking my view on what I thought would work, content, intervals of publication etc.

That does not mean healthy competition would not be a good thing though...
 
Perhaps this is something the SD could actively get involved in ie a SD quarterly publication featuring articles ,scientific research Ect and the odd garment /equipment review .
just a thought
norma
 
Sikamalc, hmmm, great way to make somebody new feel welcome. I know you are the head man and you have alot invested in this site but come on, this is my first time on here and I am trying to engage with others on an issue which interests me and hopefully other people. In no way, shape or form am I going to, have thought about, may, could or might be looking to start a new magazine, website ect but if i did want to do so and wanted peoples opinions why would I have to approach admin, it an open forum? If my first post reads like I am here to take advantage of this site then apologies all round, I am just trying to engage with others about an issue which I hope other people have an opinion about which they would like to share.
 
Personally I think that printed media is dead in the water. Every time I open Shooting Times (and that's a weekly) I have heard all the news via the forums.

If you want reviews start a thread or have a look on here or other places. People will tell you if something is crap or leaks like a sieve after 3 months.

What we don't always get on here are new products and that is interesting. I do find myself tempted at times to buy new things, and it's only through these outlets that I knew they existed, but that is quite rare.

I think you'd be wasting your money starting something as you wouldn't get a return on your invested time, and these things eat time.
 
Sikamalc, hmmm, great way to make somebody new feel welcome. I know you are the head man and you have alot invested in this site but come on, this is my first time on here and I am trying to engage with others on an issue which interests me and hopefully other people. In no way, shape or form am I going to, have thought about, may, could or might be looking to start a new magazine, website ect but if i did want to do so and wanted peoples opinions why would I have to approach admin, it an open forum? If my first post reads like I am here to take advantage of this site then apologies all round, I am just trying to engage with others about an issue which I hope other people have an opinion about which they would like to share.

Everyone is welcome on this site. And I am one of three owners of this site. And you are correct we have spent and do spend a great deal of time moderating and running this site. Needless to say it has also cost us financially as well. The trouble of buying and saving this site over 4 years ago had to be seen to be believed!!

Therefore my post is mearly pointing out that we have had certain individuals who have tried to take advantage of 4 years of hard work to get the site where it is today. These are the facts, and having spoken to one of my colleagues this afternoon he is of the same mind as myself.
 
Everyone is welcome on this site. And I am one of three owners of this site. And you are correct we have spent and do spend a great deal of time moderating and running this site. Needless to say it has also cost us financially as well. The trouble of buying and saving this site over 4 years ago had to be seen to be believed!!

Therefore my post is mearly pointing out that we have had certain individuals who have tried to take advantage of 4 years of hard work to get the site where it is today. These are the facts, and having spoken to one of my colleagues this afternoon he is of the same mind as myself.

I will withdraw my offer to set up a stalking on line magazine if it is contentious. It was a genuine offer to help out other interested parties.
i have no axe to grind, nor do I wish to enter into stalking politics.
 
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