Outdoor/Environment Magazines That Pay Writers

Outdoor and Environment Magazines enjoy a niche-market dedicated following. Readers who appreciate this type of publication don’t need a hard-sell in order to buy them. This is where you come in. The demand is high, therefore, freelance positions are likely to be open.
Please pay attention to the following publications’ submissions guidelines in order to give your work a better chance of being accepted. Many of the magazines on our list require your work to be submitted within specific formatting. A few of them also work with unique themes or editorial calendars.

Here are 21 outdoor and environment magazines for you to submit work – and get paid for it too!

1. Alternative Journal
Pay: 10 cents
Alternative Journal is a long-running publication, dedicated to the in-depth analysis of environmental issues in Canada and its environs. They follow an editorial calendar and use some on-themed material, so please be sure of where and what you want to submit before approaching them. They like articles that are between 500 and 1,200 words in length.
Payment is 10 cents per word, paid upon publication.
2. Outside Magazine
Pay: Unspecified
Outside is a national, monthly magazine focusing on people, sports, activities, politics, arts, hardware and literature of the outdoors. Their call for submissions is for articles between 100 and 5,000 words – depending on the department. Photographs are also accepted.
This publication welcomes freelancers to pitch the magazine with ideas before writing. Payment is negotiated with the magazine.
3. Alpinist Magazine
Pay: 25 cents per word
Alpinist Magazine celebrates world alpinism and adventure climbing in the simplest manner possible. They encourage writers to submit articles written in the first-person account, and like them to be between 250 and 1,000 words in length. There are several themed sections to the magazine, so please study a few back copies to get used to the kind of content they publish.
They pay 25 cents per word, upon publication.
4. Backcountry Magazine
Pay: 35 cents per word
Backcountry Magazine covers information on hiking, skiing, destinations, avalanche skills and gear. Specific formatting is required when submitting work there. There is no particular word length, but this publication expects you to pitch your ideas to the editor before writing.
Payment is 35 cents per word, paid upon publication.
5. Backpacker Magazine
Pay: 1 dollar per word
Backpacker Magazine publishes content on hiking and other human-powered modes of travel. They expect feature articles to be between 1,500 and 5,000 words in length. Please note that this publication does not accept unsolicited material. They prefer writers to pitch them an idea to get a commissioned article. They have invested time to write detailed guidelines on their site. Please study these before querying.
They pay up to $1 per word, upon acceptance.
6. Central Coast Farm & Ranch
Pay: $1 per word, or $350 for departments
Central Coast Farm & Ranch is dedicated to publishing information on Central Coast agriculture, agri-tourism destinations, local history and edible gardening. They invite freelancers to submit articles between 500 and 1,500 words in length.
Payment is $1 per word for features, and $350 for department submissions. These are paid upon publication.
7. Coastal Review Online
Pay: $200
Coastal Review Online covers a wide variety of information, dealing with environmental and conservation issues and events along the North Carolina coast. Pin down a specific section within the publication before beginning your work, as they have several. Articles should be between 800 and 2,000 words in length.
They pay $200 within 10 days of acceptance. Photographs and artwork are also welcome, but first query what’s accepted and what’s not.
8. Cross-country Skier 
Pay: Unspecified
Cross-Country Skier likes material related to ski resorts, trail systems and winter vacations in North America. They expect freelancers to pitch their ideas to the editor before writing anything. This publication works with an editorial calendar, so do plan ahead when writing for them.
Payment is negotiated upon pitching the magazine.
9. Farming Magazine
Pay: Unspecified
Farming Magazine covers content on farming practices and its effect on the environment. They expect articles to be between 300 and 3,500 words in length. You may wish to query or pitch the magazine before writing. Do study their helpful tips before constructing your article. 
Please pitch the magazine to get a payment quote.
10. Highline Magazine
Pay: Unspecified
Highline Magazine publishes material relating to mountain environment, environment issues and Canada’s rocky mountains. They prefer freelancers to pitch their idea to the magazine, rather than submit a full article. This publication has a specific submissions formula, so please read their site before querying.
Payment is negotiated upon pitching the magazine.
11. Montana Outdoors
Pay: Unspecified
Montana Outdoors is a widely-read publication, which enables the conversation and sustenance of Montana’s wildlife, fish and parks. They invite prospective freelancers to pitch their idea to the magazine to get a commissioned article. More detailed information can be found on their site, and please read a few back copies to make sure your pitch is not similar to something they’ve published recently.
Payment is negotiated, depending the type of article, and made upon acceptance.
12. Mount Baker Experience Magazine
Pay: $150
Mount Baker Experience focuses on the people, sports, activities and gear for outdoor recreation in the North West Pacific. Their call for submissions is for articles between 300 and 1,500 words in length. Photographs are also welcome, but please check the site for guidelines.
Payment is $150, which is made upon publication.
13. Mountain Life Magazine
Pay: 30 cents per word
Mountain Life Magazine publishes content on mountain and culture lifestyle. There are several departments within this publication, so do make yourself familiar with their content before pitching. Articles should be between 350 and 2,500 words in length.
Please send queries rather than full articles in the first instance. They pay 30 cents per word, upon publication.
14. Northern Woodlands
Pay: $150
Northern Woodlands covers topics related to forestry and wildlife in the Northeast. If you wish to write for them, please check their editorial calendar so you know what they want to publish next, and when they hope to wrap up submissions. Feature articles should be no more than 3,000 words in length. Northern Woodlands likes writers to send ideas instead of full articles.
Payment is $150 for articles, paid upon publication.
15. On Nature Magazine
Pay: Unspecified
On Nature Magazine likes material on natural history, conservation and environment issues in Ontario. They encourage freelancers to send ideas to the magazine to get a commissioned article. Photographs are also welcome. Please check their website for more details.
Payment is negotiated upon pitching the magazine.
16. Outdoor Canada
Pay: $400
Outdoor Canada is a widely-distributed publication which focuses on outdoor recreational activities including fishing, hunting and other conservation issues. They invite prospective freelancers to submit articles between 300 and 2,500 words in length.
They pay up to $400 for features. This is made upon publication.
17. Outdoor Oklahoma
Pay: $450
Outdoor Oklahoma is dedicated to content about outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting and wildlife management in Oklahoma. Submitted articles should be between 500 and 1,500 words in length. Photographs are also welcome, but do study their site for full details and guidelines.
Outdoor Oklahoma pays up to $450 per article, upon publication.
18. Outside Bozeman
Pay: 20 cents per word or $100
Outside Bozeman celebrates and explores the outdoor world of Southwest Montana. They expect articles to be between 150 and 1,600 words in length.  This is a seasonal publication with detailed editorial guidelines, so keen attention must be made to their guidelines.
Payment is 20 cents per word for features, and $100 for departments – paid upon publication.
19. The Contemporary Sportsman
Pay: $750
The Contemporary Sportsman covers a wide variety of topics related to fly fishing and wing shooting. They invite freelancers to submit feature articles – no longer than 3,000 words. Please pitch your ideas to the magazine in the first instance.
The Contemporary Sportsman pays up to $700 for features, upon publication.
20. Trapper & Predator Caller
Pay: Unspecified
Trapper & Predator Caller focuses on information that informs, educates and entertains its audience with content that promotes trapping and predator calling. They like articles which are approximately 2,500 words in length. Please note that freelancers are expected to supply photographs with their articles.
Payment will be negotiated upon pitching the magazine.
21. Western Sportsman
Pay: Unspecified
Western Sportsman/Canada’s Outdoor Sportsman covers a variety of topics related to hunting, fishing and conservation. They encourage freelancers to supply articles between 450 and 3,000 words in length. In the first instance, please pitch your ideas to the magazine before writing. There’s quite a lot of information on their submissions’ page.
Payment is to be negotiated when your pitch is made.
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