Allan Ellis is 52 and married his beloved Kathy in 1988. They have two grown children and two grandchildren.

Allan was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania where his Dad, Lloyd, took him fishing for the first time at age six.

Lloyd was a sergeant on with the Pennsylvania Railroad Police and later became the Superintendent of the Valley View Home – a nursing facility for seniors.

They fished on the Juniata River, Spruce Creek and anywhere else that looked fishy. Smallmouth bass, catfish, pickerel and trout were pursued with equal enthusiasm. Lloyd kept a boat on Lake Glendale at Prince Gallitzin State Park for many years.

Annual family vacations took the Ellises to southern New Jersey where Allan learned to fish for sea trout and winter flounder as well as freshwater fish like bass, crappies and even carp.

Several trips to Quebec found father and son catching walleyes and northern pike.

Allan’s interest in hunting grew in the surroundings of Valley View where he chased squirrels and rabbits. In the mountains and on his Uncle’s farm in Huntingdon County, his passion for deer hunting had its early roots.

When Allan was fourteen, the family moved to rural Somerset County. The farming community provided a steady supply of rabbits, squirrels and a few ringnecks, too. The local Sportsman’s Club offered a bass fishing lake and many hours were spent honing his fishing skills on that lake.

Lloyd facilitated his son’s passion for hunting and equipped them both for the task. Every year, they walked the brushy hedgerows in pursuit of rabbits. They visited the farm for turkeys and they trudged through the snow and pushed through the thick laurel in hopes of harvesting their deer. Allan bagged his first deer, a button buck, with his Browning Cobra recurve bow when he was sixteen

After he graduated from Berlin-Brothersvalley High School, instead of going to college, Allan chose to get married. He took a job as a Bank Teller at Gallatin National Bank in Meyersdale. From that he went on to County Trust Company in Somerset where he worked in the Collections Department. Following that, he was Credit Manager of Somerset Welding and Steel. He began selling wholesale live bait which led to an advertising sales position with Fish Finder Magazine in 1981. His position with Fish Finder led to a couple of trophy largemouth trips to Florida where he captured a pair of 8-pound-plus largemouth bass on the St. John’s River.

In 1983, Allan moved to Maryland and established the Maryland-Delaware Fish Finder Magazine. Maryland’s abundant fish and game was fascinating. Sika deer, waterfowl and both the fresh and saltwater opportunities were right up his alley.

In 1985 Allan met Kathy and they were married in May of 1988. That was a big month. Their daughter graduated from High School, Kathy left her career with the State of Pennsylvania and they moved to Maryland, buying the house where Allan’s aunt and uncle had lived since 1949. Allan and Kathy still live in their Rockdale neighborhood.

Allan’s 10-year career with Fish Finder opened the door to the ‘Maryland Sportsman’ radio show on WCBM in late 1988. That radio show ran continuously until July of 2002. He and Kathy started a business which included being the promoters of Buck Fever! The Hunting Show, a consumer show featuring seminars by nationally known personalities, vendor booths and various calling and shooting contests. Kathy and Allan also established Maryland’s first statewide venison donation program called ‘Hunters’ Harvestshare’.

In 1991, Allan severed his relationship with Fish Finder and originated Fishing & Hunting Journal; a free monthly news magazine, still in existence today. He sold Fishing & Hunting Journal to the current publisher in 1998.

In 1993, Allan began publishing the Maryland Deer Hunting Guide with longtime Evening Sun Outdoors Editor, Bill Burton, as Editor. The 2006-07 13th Edition is now on newsstands. In 2005, the name was changed to the Maryland Deer and Waterfowl Guide and goose and duck hunting articles were added.

Allan’s Dad passed away in early September, 1999.

After the sale of Fishing & Hunting Journal, Allan and Kathy downsized the business and Allan tried his hand at motorcycle and ATV sales at C&L Cycle Shop. He then managed Outdoor Sportsman in Essex for nearly two years.

Allan’s mother, Madolyn, passed away in January of 2002.

In February of 2003, Allan was hired as Promotions Manager of Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World at Arundel Mills. He remains in that position today where he facilitates the region’s conservation organization fund raising efforts, plans events and handles the media inquiries.

The new ‘Outdoorsman Radio Show’ debuted in April of 2004. Now, until mid-2007, the Title Sponsor is Toyota Tundra trucks, courtesy of the area’s Toyota dealers. Allan believes the show should educate, inform and entertain listeners with news and how-tos from the ‘Great Outdoors’. A caller recently suggested a slogan that seems to strike a chord with the listeners – ‘Get Out and Stay Out!’