When we published the first issue of Rack magazine 10 years ago, we mailed a trial copy to several thousand Buckmasters members in hopes that they'd love the concept and take a chance on trying out a subscription. The results were wildly successful, but for Buckmasters publications, it was a huge gamble as well, for several reasons.

First, we'd decided to take Buckmasters Whitetail Magazine off the newsstand for fiscal purposes. Thanks to our nearly 400,000 loyal readers, we were comfortable in doing that. So when we launched Rack, we knew it wouldn't have the benefit of newsstand exposure, which is so vitally important for a brand new magazine.

Second, 1999 wasn't a very good year in the publishing business. Many longstanding titles went belly-up, as advertisers cut back and subscribers whittled down non-essential expenses.

Considering these two disadvantages, the risk with starting a new magazine seemed awfully big. We didn't want this publication to be a Buckmasters clone; we wanted a unique publication that would leave hunters slack-jawed with stories about gigantic bucks, as told by the hunters who had the pleasure of taking them. We also wanted to treat you to tales of other big game species -- trophies we've all dreamed about hunting.

Apparently, we've given y'all what you wanted. A decade after rolling the dice, Rack has close to 100,000 subscribers. And if that weren't a kick in the tail to all the naysayers who thought we were crazy, Rack's  renewal rate -- the best way to judge how good a job we're doing -- is about TWICE the national average for hunting magazines -- all thanks to you.

We're so grateful for the support you have shone these past 10 years. Without you, we wouldn't be celebrating this milestone.

Here's to the next decade of world-class buck stories and adventures in trophy hunting!

Good Hunting and God bless,
Russell Thornberry
BTR Executive Director