50 Years Of American Hunter

by
posted on May 9, 2023
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
50 Years Of American Hunter

An announcement of the launch of The American Hunter magazine appeared in the pages of The American Rifleman a half-century ago this month. The following month, the new title’s first “issue” was bound within the pages of this one.

The American Hunter magazine cover and inside page description screenshot

A few months later, in October 1973, the first discrete issue of The American Hunter arrived to NRA member readers.

The American Hunter magazine cover man hunter camouflage ducks water boat canoe grasses outdoors river pond lake

By way of explanation, an editorial in the June issue of The American Rifleman stated, “Hunting reading is always in season, as the NRA discovered by several samplings of opinion among its million members.”

magazine excerpt overlay cover yellow hunting guns hunter outdoors adventures stories announcement new magazine the american hunter

Today, American Hunter is the second largest NRA Official Journal, accounting for about that many NRA readers on its own, and it is, without doubt, one of the most highly respected titles of its kind in the world.

American Hunter magazine cover blacktail deer

Latest

Keltec KP50 01
Keltec KP50 01

KelTec's KP50: The "Next Evolution Of The PDW"

KelTec has been a consistent innovator in the 5.7 mm firearm market, and its latest design, the KP50, utilizes a bottom-mounted, P90-style magazine that provides an on-board capacity of up to 100 rounds.

The Role of the Pocket Pistol

A backup gun deserves your best effort and attention. Here’s why.

The Future Of American Rifleman

Greetings! As you are no doubt aware based on the cover wrap of this issue and your January edition, big changes are afoot at NRA. American Rifleman will now publish a quarterly print magazine and a monthly digital edition.

The Armed Citizen® Feb. 23, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Prices On Rifles, Ammo, Optics & Suppressors Dropped In 2025, According To Retail Report

The average price enthusiasts paid for ammunition, rifles, optics and suppressors dropped in 2025, according to a recently released RetailBI Report.

Preview: A-Zoom Snap Caps Instructor Pack

Firearm safety is a primary concern for all gun owners, which is a substantial part of what your NRA strives to ingrain into the shooting public, and products like Snap Caps help make this training both easier and safer.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.