After getting passed over for an editor’s job due to his lack of a college degree, Richie was inspired to create a magazine that featured all of the subjects that he was immersing himself in, including mountain men history, trapping and survival skills.
Well-known writers also have contributed to the publication including Larry Dean Olsen, Christopher Nyerges, Steve Watts, David Prescott, Mors Kochanski, Tony Nestor, James Ballou and Thomas J. Epel.
Richie Jr. has written numerous articles for The Backwoodsman, including a profile in the July/August 2012 issue of the famous Idaho hermit Richard "Dugout Dick" Zimmerman, who lived off-the-grid in caves, which he dug out on the banks of the Salmon River, from 1948 until his death in 2010.
Richie Jr. traveled to Key West, Florida to visit the Atocha site in the Gulf of Mexico and also interviewed Mel’s son, Kim Fisher for the article.
He has interviewed survival experts Les Stroud, Cody Lundin, Creek Stewart, Dave Canterbury, EJ Snyder, Mykel Hawke, Josh Kirk and musician JJ Grey, who were each featured on the magazine's cover.
For the July/August 2013 cover, former All-Pro world champion NFL defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers Brett Keisel, was painted and portrayed as a mountain man by western frontier artist Denny Karchner.
[4][5] Some of the noteworthy people interviewed by Richie Jr. have become regular contributors to The Backwoodsman, including Creek Stewart, Dave Canterbury, EJ Snyder and Josh Kirk.
An article titled “Rafting In Alaska” by Neil Eklund published in the July/August 2014 issue of The Backwoodsman was the inspiration for the show “Yukon River Run,” which was produced by Gurney Productions for the National Geographic Channel.
American Professional wrestler Brock Lesnar performed a segment on “WWE Raw” on the USA Network on July 30, 2018, where he was reading a copy of the July/August 2018 issue of The Backwoodsman backstage.
The store sells back and current issues of the magazine along with a product line that includes books, knives, camping and survival gear.
The Backwoodsman is sold at Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shop, Kroger Grocery Chains, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, Dick's Sporting Goods and many other businesses.