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Pennsylvania Game News, the Pennsylvania Game Commission's monthly magazine, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this month.
First published by the agency in July of 1929 as the "Monthly Service Bulletin," it was developed to communicate with officers in the field, and for officers to communicate among themselves.
The first issue was 11 pages long (one side of the paper only) and printed with a mimeograph machine. Now, 900 issues later, Game News is still going strong, and has become a collectible series for many hunters, trappers and outdoor-enthusiasts.
To celebrate this milestone, the Game Commission is offering for sale two collector patches. The first patch, designed by Mark Anderson - a regular contributor to Game News - recognizes the 75 years of Game News, and sells for $5. The second patch, which also sells for $5, is the first of a new series of patches and highlights the popular "Field Notes" section of Game News. Nick Rosato, one of the magazine's contributing artists since the 1950s, designed this patch.
Leading off that first issue in April of 1932, Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot wrote, "The program of the Pennsylvania Game News will help the people of Pennsylvania to learn more about the wild creatures of the open spaces and what they mean to us, and how we can keep them alive in health and plenty for our satisfaction and their own."
Another reason for Game News' uniqueness and popularity is the featured artwork. Among the many outstanding artists who have contributed to Game News over the years, foremost is Ned Smith.
"Ned's first illustration for Game News appeared in the October 1948 issue, and his first cover was on the January 1952 issue," said Bob Mitchell, current editor of Game News. "In 1950, Smith was hired as a staff artist, a position he held until 1953. He illustrated countless features, and is also well known for his "Walking Shoes" and "Gone for the Day" columns, and his art graced 118 covers. Smith went on to earn fame as one of the 20th century's preeminent artists, until his death in 1985."
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