Ever since he was just a young boy Ironton resident Bill Allen has had a love for the outdoors.

Now, he has been able to share that passion with the entire Tri-State after the premier issue of Bill's Outdoor Magazine hit the racks last week.

"We are focusing on what is going on right here in the Tri-State," Allen said. "Hunting and fishing is the backbone of the magazine but my objective is to go further and provide regular features on camping, local people and businesses, veterans, boating, sports, special programs for those with disabilities, skiing and much more."

After more than four months of work on the 50-page first issue, Allen is excited that the September/October issue of the bimonthly magazine is finally out because he has realized this life-long dream.

"I had thought about this for years," Allen said. "It is kind of like having a child, if you wait until you can afford it you will never have one. So, I made the decision just to move forward."

With

a $3.75

cover price or a

$20 per year subscription cost, Allen hopes that the public will take a look at the magazine that includes features by locals including Jackson Dr. Paul Sydow, Irontonian Margaret Banfield as well as world famous outdoorsmen such as Hank Parker.

"If you are interested in the outdoors or what is going on in the Tri-State, I think it would be a mistake not to give us a shot," he said. "We have got some of the best hunting and fishing in the country right here in this region. We have also got some interesting people here with stories to tell."

Allen is looking to distribute his magazine across the three states, hitting gas stations, country stores and newstands as far away as Columbus, Lexington, Ky., Charleston, W. Va., and everywhere in between.

He said he couldn't have done it without all the help from his wife Barbara and everyone else involved.

Overall, everyone did an excellent job on the first issue and it should only get better, he said.

"We depend on a lot of people," he said, adding that he did not know everything that goes into a magazine. "There is no way I could do this by myself."

Tim Gearhart, owner of Tim's News and Novelty in Ironton, said he has a few issues on the racks.

Although he didn't think any had sold yet, he said the magazine may take off after people hear about it because outdoor magazines are fairly good sellers.

"These things usually take awhile for the word to get out," he said. "We sell a lot of things on deer hunting, which is included, so I think it stands a fair chance."

Allen is already hard at work on the 66-page November/December issue that he plans to have 20,000 issues printed for and to be on the stands by October 28.

For that issue he hopes to expand his focus to include sports, more local accomplishments, political cartoons and more.