Muddy Outdoors announced the expansion of its apparel lineup with female-specific camouflage hunting clothing, introducing the DV8 and TRX collections designed around women's biomechanics. Available this summer, these systems feature tailored articulation, strategic insulation mapping, and advanced camouflage patterns engineered exclusively for female hunters.

GunBroker.com and The Gun Crew announced a landmark post-sample machine gun auction event tied to Mike Dewitt's retirement, featuring approximately 150 items starting at $0.01 with no reserve across weekly drops through June 21, 2026. This rare liquidation window allows qualified SOT dealers to acquire post-sample machine guns without a law letter, including notable pieces from Dewitt's "ChuckBuster" and "RangeToys" YouTube channels.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission celebrates Bird Month in May with the theme "Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter." Activities include the Nebraska Birding Bowl competition, nature center programs at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park and Platte River State Park, and a bird-inspired kite-making workshop led by Dominique Ellis at the Schramm Treehouse Classroom.

The emergency order restricting motorized watercraft operation above idle speed on Lake Wawasee has been rescinded as water levels have lowered. Normal boating operations may resume on the lake.

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department's Green Mountain Conservation Camp still has openings for youth ages 12-14 this summer. One-week sessions at Lake Bomoseen and Buck Lake offer hands-on learning in wildlife conservation, archery, canoeing, and more, with tuition at $300 including meals and lodging.

Montana's Department of Public Health & Human Services, Department of Environmental Quality, and Fish, Wildlife & Parks issued updated PFAS fish consumption advisories based on 2023-2024 sampling. The study detected PFAS in fish tissue at 12 of 14 sampled locations, resulting in 21 new or updated consumption advisories for Montana waterbodies.

The Gulf Council is seeking public feedback on a proposed three-year pilot program to establish a red grouper commercial quota pool for Grouper/Tilefish Individual Fishing Quota program participants, beginning in 2027. Virtual public hearings are scheduled for May 13-14, 2026, to review the proposed changes and collect comments.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission approved changes to the 2026 Wild Bison hunting season in Hunt Area 2, offering 30 Type 1 (any bison) licenses and reintroducing 70 Type 4 (cow/calf) licenses. Applications may be submitted, modified, or withdrawn until April 30, with hunters advised of challenging conditions and limited bull opportunities in the remote area.

Montana FWP reminds hunters that moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and bison license applications are due May 1, while elk B, deer B, and antelope applications are due June 1. Applications must be completed online, through License Ambassadors, or at FWP offices, with instructional videos and the MyFWP mobile app available to assist.

Conservation First USA's Big Game Super Draw offers 17 special hunt permit-tags for $10 per ticket, with opportunities to win bighorn sheep, bison, elk, pronghorn, Coues' whitetail, mule deer, and turkey tags. Proceeds support Arizona Game and Fish Department wildlife conservation projects through the Arizona Habitat Partnership Committee.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks opens registration for its Alternate's List from May 1 to June 1, allowing nonresident hunters to express interest in purchasing returned Big Game Combo, General Elk, and General Deer licenses through MyFWP.

EssilorLuxottica has selected RepSpark as its B2B wholesale ecommerce platform to enhance the ordering experience for retail partners of Oakley and Ray-Ban, including their Meta AIWear lines. The partnership streamlines digital ordering, inventory management, and event administration while providing access to cutting-edge products like Oakley Meta with Ultra HD 3K recording and Ray-Ban Meta Optics with prescription-ready designs.

The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI) has opened registration for its 2026 Ballistics Conference scheduled for September 15-17 in Baltimore, Maryland. The sixth biennial conference coincides with SAAMI's 100th Anniversary and features technical seminars, product demonstrations, and facility tours at Element U.S. Space & Defense.

CNC Firearms is expanding its team and hiring skilled professionals including high-polishing specialists, Cerakote specialists, refinish specialists, PVD specialists, plating specialists, and gunsmiths. Interested candidates can apply through their career page or email resumes to info@cncfirearms.com.

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission approved a closure of camping at Swinging Bridge Fishing Access Site on the Stillwater River from May 1 to July 23, 2026. The restriction aims to increase day-use capacity during peak rafting season while Whitebird FAS remains closed for bridge repairs.

Randy Luth, founder of Luth-AR and DPMS – Panther Arms, was elected to the NRA Board of Directors and NRA Executive Committee at the NRA Annual Meetings in Houston. Luth brings decades of AR parts and accessories industry experience to his new leadership roles.

Breek Arms has launched the Trash Shield, a HUB-compatible blast-forwarding device designed to redirect concussion, noise, and muzzle blast downrange. Constructed from aerospace-grade 7075-T6 aluminum, it integrates with industry-standard suppressor mounting systems and is especially effective in confined environments like indoor ranges and team-based training scenarios.

Streamlight, Inc. introduced the LiteBox 1Million, a rechargeable search light delivering 1 million candela with a beam distance over one mile. The rugged scene light features three white high-power LEDs, weighs 7.0 pounds, and is designed for firefighting, emergency response, industrial inspections, and outdoor navigation applications.

The Montana Shooting Sports Task Force, established by House Bill 899 sponsored by Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crowe, is seeking public input on developing future shooting sports facilities statewide. Coordinated by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the task force will evaluate existing facilities and provide recommendations by October 2026. Montanans can share feedback via an online survey.

CCW Safe announced its Gold-level sponsorship of the 2026 A Girl & A Gun National Conference, taking place April 30 to May 3 in Palisade, Colorado. The event brings together hundreds of women from over 300 chapters for training, competitive shooting, and educational seminars. CCW Safe representatives including Steve Moses will be present to support the organization's mission of empowering women in firearms safety and self-defense.

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission approved multiple projects at its April 16 meeting, including 2026 fish removal initiatives, the Doney Lake Forest Habitat Improvement Project, migratory bird regulations for 2026–27, and bighorn sheep translocations into Bear Creek Wildlife Management Area. The commission also approved temporary closures and restrictions at various fishing access sites.

Wyoming Game and Fish urges the public to adopt stewardship practices during an anticipated exceptionally dry summer, including fire safety, respecting closures, staying on trails, protecting aquatic health, and securing attractants to protect wildlife and habitats.

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet June 12 at the Montana Heritage Center in Helena to discuss mountain lion quotas, elk hunting access agreements, and conservation easements. Public comment is accepted through May 21 via online portal or mail, with in-person and virtual options available at the meeting.

The Schramm Education Center south of Gretna offers May events including amphibian education with state herpetologist Dennis Ferraro on May 2, Little Saplings spring flowers program on May 13, and Homeschool Hikes focusing on snakes on May 20. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and ages 4-12.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources offers free annual entrance passes to qualified foster families for all Indiana State Parks. Families can apply by completing a form at dnr.IN.gov and submitting it to PermitApplication@dnr.IN.gov. Director Brandt Baughman emphasized the program helps families make memories and explore state parks together.

Pursuit Media TV, LLC announces dozens of quality programs airing weekly on its Pursuit UP streaming platform, available to over 120 million users. In partnership with Careco Multimedia Entertainment, the platform features diverse content including offshore fishing, walleye fishing, hunting, fly-fishing, conservation stories, and veteran support programs.

The High Road Group with Keith Warren releases a new episode featuring feral hog control action using JTS Shotguns and an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at their annual viewer appreciation party held at Conroe Taxidermy, which raises funds for Safari Club International's wildlife conservation efforts.

MyOutdoorTV and GAME & FISH TV present a live head-to-head fishing competition between renowned anglers Mark Zona and Kevin VanDam on April 28. The event showcases two Bass Fishing Hall of Fame members competing on familiar waters, featuring tips and techniques for catching bass.

The Michigan DNR, Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, and USDA are sampling deer in Charlevoix and Antrim counties following bovine TB detection in a local cattle herd. Partners including the Antrim County and Charlevoix County Farm Bureaus, Little Traverse Conservancy, Baiardi Family Foundation, and Manna Food Project are coordinating efforts to test and donate venison to local families.

Let’s talk turkey. Specifically, wild turkey.

There was a time when the largest of America’s upland game birds was a distant memory in quaint Vermont towns. Thanks to the vision of biologists in 1969, memories of wild turkeys roaming the hillsides of Vermont’s Green Mountains turned into a much more vibrant present reality. Vermont officials released 17 wild turkeys on Feb. 28, 1969. Those birds are the foundation of the estimated 50,000 that roam the state today.

NSSF joined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and National Wild Turkey Federation to present a marker at the West Pawlet, Vt., Volunteer Fire Department, near the site of the original release of those 17 turkeys over 50 years ago. Several more were released in nearby Hubbardton in 1970 and turkey relocations continued from 1973 through 1986, establishing wild turkey populations in multiple counties. Some of the birds from those successes were later relocated to other states and countries for further restoration efforts.

“The firearm and ammunition industry is incredibly proud to support one of the greatest conservation success stories in our nation’s history — wildlife restoration,” said John McNamara, Vice President of Member Services for NSSF. “The story of the wild turkey in Vermont is a powerful example of what that commitment makes possible.”

Wild turkeys, which were once abundant in Vermont, were nonexistent by the late 1800s. Habitat loss and unregulated hunting pushed them off the landscape. The distant gobbles of toms searching for hens were absent for decades.

Vermont wasn’t alone in that predicament. That was the case across much of America. Nationwide, just an estimated 100,000 wild turkey remained. Turkeys weren’t the only species facing the threat of completely disappearing. Whitetail deer numbered just half a million. Ducks and other waterfowl were few. Rocky Mountain elk numbered just 41,000 and pronghorn antelope were in an even more dire situation, with just 12,000 estimated on the plains in the early 1900s.

That’s when Nevada’s U.S. Sen. Key Pittman and Virginia U.S. Rep. Absalom Willis Robertson had the vision of shifting an 11 percent excise tax on firearms and ammunition to fund wildlife conservation in state government agencies. The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, commonly known as the Pittman-Robertson Act, was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The law shifted the tax money from going directly into the U.S. Treasury to the Secretary of the Department of the Interior to distribute to the states.

To date, that fund has generated over $31 billion, when adjusted for inflation, for annual apportionments to the states for managing wildlife resources. Those excise tax dollars, which also now include a 10 percent tax on handguns, is paid by firearm and ammunition manufacturers and importers. Along with an excise tax paid by the archery industry, those funds pay for wildlife conservation, public land access, public recreational shooting range development and improvement and hunter education. Last year alone, over $1.3 billion was distributed to state wildlife agencies and a total of $804,790,385 is directly sourced to the firearm and ammunition industry.

That’s turned wildlife conservation in America into the gold standard for the world. Vermont’s turkeys, which were nonexistent until those 17 were released in 1969, now number over 50,0000. On a national scale, wild turkeys recovered to 7 million across America today. Whitetail deer number over 32 million, ducks and waterfowl are estimated at over 44 million, Rocky Mountain elk number over 1 million and over 1.1 million pronghorn antelope roam the plains.

“That success is a testament to the strong partnerships behind conservation efforts — state agencies, federal wildlife professionals, NGO partners and the firearm and ammunition industry — working together under the American Model of Wildlife Conservation,” McNamara explained at the Vermont celebration of wild turkey reintroduction. “Most importantly, today’s dedication represents a promise to future generations — that our wildlife, our landscapes and our outdoor traditions will endure.”

– Mark Oliva, National Shooting Sports Foundation