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Scott Haugen
Hunting The West Magazine
PO Box 275 Walterville, OR 97489
sthaugen@yahoo.com

WRITER'S GUIDELINES

What Is Hunting The West?
Hunting The West is a quarterly publication, released each winter, spring, summer and fall. Our focus is on the 11 western states, with some inclusion of Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia and west Mexico. It is a magazine by hunters, for hunters. The western sportsman is largely one who likes to do it all, and as such, we try to cover the best hunting opportunities the West has to offer. Approximately 75% of each issue is devoted to big game, 25% to upland birds and waterfowl, and 25% to predators and varmints.

We are a magazine devoted to quality writing and solid photographic support. Packed with factual, firsthand information from hunters who devote their lives to being in the field–and have the ability to convey their experiences in writing–this is the foundation of our editorial makeup. Our writers know the land and the animals they pursue and what it takes to carryout a successful hunt. Our pages avoid getting caught-up in aspects that lead readers astray from their passion of being in the field, hunting. We are a hunting magazine first, not an outdoor periodical who spreads itself thin in an effort to cover politics, advanced ballistics, food plots, engine maintenance and so forth. We strive to capture details which will allow readers to experience the ultimate hunt of a lifetime. Sound game management, preservation and promotion of the sport as well as fair-chase go together when it comes to Hunting The West, and we do our best to convey this. Our readers range from the hard-core, do-it-yourself sportsmen who live for hunting the West, to those who venture into or beyond the Rockies but once a year on a guided hunt. Our style, quality, attention to detail and comprehensive working knowledge of what we represent define who we are and the audience we serve. There's no fooling this crowd of readers, so writers must intimately know their topics.

Submitting A Query
Writers are encouraged to submit queries on feature article ideas. Columnists are hand-selected through our staff, and assignments given specifically to them. Our features are very specific, and as such, queries should be kept short, three to five sentences. Should we require more details, we will be in touch. It's a good idea, when submitting queries by email, to include a few low resolution sample photos for us to look at.

We are searching for the complete package, tight writing and thorough photo support. Without the photographic support, it will be very difficult for us to accept a story. Queries should be clear on what makes the potential story so unique and what sets it apart from what other writers are proposing. We want fresh, cutting-edge ideas, not ones that have simply been reworked from previously published writings. Assignments are often made up to six months ahead of time, leaving room, of course, for that special feature to run. That said, it's never to early to submit queries, but make sure to specify what time of year they may best fit into the cycle. The best way to submit a query is by email, sending it to the editor's address given above. Note that our editor is on the road a great deal, and may take several days, even weeks to respond. The other option is to mail us your query to the above stated address, but be sure to include an email address where we can contact you.

Submitting An Article
Once a query has been accepted, submission of the story, upon speculation, is preferred to be done via email. Send the story as an attached Word document, or pasted in to the body of the email. In the upper left corner, provide author's name, address, phone number, social security number or EIN, and word count. At the end of the story, include any sidebars. At the very end of the manuscript, include the photo captions. Photos are to be sent to the physical address above, along with a printed copy of the caption sheet. If wishing to send photos through UPS or FedEx, our physical address will gladly be provided upon request. If submitting digital images with your manuscript, include a disk as well as a contact sheet, preferably 9 photos to a page so we can check the overall clarity. We work with color transparencies as well as digital images. Digital images should be least 1 MB in size. Though we prefer a wide photo selection (at least 20 per feature), please avoid submitting numerous digital images for us to pick through. Such submissions will be returned. The best articles are those that are concisely and professionally written, which educate the readers and motivate them to get into the field. We want to entertain, but we also want to learn. If the readers can't be enlightened from it, we won't print it. This also requires quality photography. The photos should tell a story in themselves, or at the very least, bring the story to life. If photo submissions are weak, the story will likely be renegotiated or rejected altogether. Once a formal assignment has been made–often times, not until the entire package has been reviewed and meets the standards of Hunting The West–an agreement will be issued to the prospective author. We buy first North American print Rights. Feature articles run 1,200-1,500 words, including sidebars. Sidebars can range from 150-300 words, whereby highlighting topics such as gear used on a hunt to additional animals which may be available in the area to fish and game contacts to helpful points; be creative and take this space to teach our readers just a bit more. On a final note, many manuscripts are rejected due to the writer's mindset being, "I'll let the editors catch any mistakes." If we struggle through a story, it won't get used. Take the time and effort to polish your work, the way you want it to read and which best represents you. Payment Payment is made prior to publication in which the assigned article is designated to appear. Pay for features range up to $400, depending on the overall quality of the package and if we have to outsource for support images. Payment will come from the offices of Frank Amato Publications in Portland, OR.

PHOTOGRAPHER'S GUIDELINES

Hunting The West is always looking for photographers who specialize in capturing animals and stunning scenery from this part of the country. Color transparencies and digital images are preferred, and will be the only mediums considered for cover shots. When looking for full page spreads or cover shots from digital images, a minimum of 4 MB is necessary. For covers, the larger the better, say 12x18 at 300 dpi or larger, saved as JPeg files. Cover shots are currently paying $400; $200 for two-page spreads, $100 for full page shots, $75, $50 and $25 for smaller images. Be sure to package photographs so they will not be damaged in the mail. Photos can be sent through standard mail, to the address above, or via FedEx or UPS (our physical address will gladly be provided upon request). Each slide should carry your name, and preferably your address or phone number. Payment for photos comes after publication. For more details, don't hesitate getting in touch with the editor at sthaugen@yahoo.com