Cadre Holdings, Inc. has agreed to acquire Alien Gear Holsters from Tedder Industries, LLC for $10.3 million through bankruptcy auction. The transaction, expected to close in Q2 2026, will add the established holster brand to Cadre's portfolio alongside Safariland and Med-Eng.
Whitewater Fishing has launched the Horizon Lightweight Jogger, a technical fishing pant featuring 4-way stretch poly/spandex double-weave construction designed for active anglers. The jogger combines active-cooling fabric, zero-bunch engineering, and tactical storage with a 28.5" inseam, available in Charcoal and Steel Grey at $79.99.
Team Lapua's Erich Mietenkorte won both smallbore and high-power titles at the 2026 Bernd Meier Silhouette Invitational Championship in British Columbia. Mietenkorte used Lapua Midas+ rimfire ammunition and a custom 6BR rifle with Lapua brass, Vihtavuori N140 powder, and Berger bullets to secure victory.
Buckmasters and Realtree are partnering to host their second annual golf tournament on June 3, 2026, at Robert Trent Jones Golf Course, expanding to 200 participants across two courses. All proceeds benefit Big Dreams Outdoors, a nonprofit providing outdoor experiences for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The inaugural event raised $25,000 with support from sponsors including Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Yamaha, and others.
The Association of Collegiate Anglers will host the CrushCity Hartwell Slam presented by Sufix at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, SC, featuring nearly 290 elite college fishing teams competing for over $20,000 in prizes. Twenty-three of the nation's top 25 ranked teams are registered for this no-entry-fee, nationally televised event.
Bassmaster Elite angler Dakota Ebare previews the Bass Pro Shops Texas Team Trail presented by Progressive at Sam Rayburn Reservoir, highlighting how lower lake levels and multiple fish patterns create wide-open competition. Ebare emphasizes the importance of technology like Garmin LiveScope and the Spy Pole, paired with his Nitro boat and Mercury power, for success in this unpredictable event.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recognized 122 Michigan communities, seven college campuses including Michigan State University and Wayne State University, and seven healthcare campuses for their tree care efforts in 2025. Five new communities—Caro, Glen Arbor, Hamtramck, Laingsburg, and Canton Township—earned Tree City USA designations, while 14 communities received Growth Award recognition.
Waypoint TV announced the launch of Waypoint Insider, an exclusive membership program, partnering with Hawks Cay Resort and Saltwater Experiences for a giveaway featuring a 3-night Florida Keys stay, full-day fishing charter with Rich Tudor or Tom Rowland, sunset cruise, and $250 resort credit.
The Mzuri Wildlife Foundation renewed its grant support for Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors, a nonprofit founded in 2002 that provides mentored hunting and fishing opportunities to youth. The funding will expand youth hunting events, mentor recruitment and training, and gear provision to foster the next generation of hunters, anglers, and conservationists.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks opens online vehicle registration April 1-19 for shed antler hunters accessing the Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA on May 15. A new 2025 law prohibits nonresidents from shed hunting on WMAs during their first seven days open, requiring a $50 Nonresident Shed Hunting License.
Protect Liberty PAC, founded by NSSF, launched a patriotic t-shirt collection featuring hand-drawn designs including George Washington AR series, Patrick Henry, and James Madison quotes to celebrate America's 250th birthday. All proceeds support voter education efforts in key battleground states ahead of the November 2026 election.
Daniel Defense launched the "Sic Semper Tyrannis" campaign on March 18, 2026, to support the Virginia Citizens Defense League's legal efforts defending Second Amendment rights in Virginia. Proceeds from AR15, AR10, and PCC sales, plus limited edition merchandise, will fund VCDL's ongoing constitutional litigation.
Target Sports USA announced Nathan Godin's appointment as IT Manager. Godin brings expertise in systems administration, NetSuite customization, and workflow automation from his previous role at Oma's Pride, where he managed Shopify and Google Suite integrations.
Remington announces the availability of its 2026 Limited Edition Bullet Knife, King of the Mountain, now shipping to dealers nationwide. This collector-focused release features a fixed 440A stainless blade, authentic stag bone handle, and genuine leather sheath with an MSRP of $179.99.
Federal Ammunition has begun shipping its new Heavyweight TSS Rob Roberts Limited Edition turkey loads, developed in collaboration with legendary choke designer Rob Roberts. Available in No. 7 and No. 9 shot sizes, these loads feature 18 g/cc tungsten-alloy shot and FLITECONTROL FLEX wads for extreme range and pattern density.
Kinetic Development Group announced a significant update to its SideLok optic mount line, shifting to a footprint-based product structure that expands compatibility across red dot optics from manufacturers including Aimpoint, Trijicon, Leupold, Holosun, SIG Sauer, and Steiner while maintaining core performance features.
The Boone and Crockett Club will host two women's retreats in 2026 at the Rasmuson Wildlife Conservation Center near Dupuyer, Montana. The Outdoorswomen Skills Retreat (July 24–26) and Women of the Hunt Skills Retreat (September 4–6) will provide hands-on instruction in outdoor and hunting skills, ethics, and community building for women 18 and older.
Delta Waterfowl launched a new Planned Giving Department led by Bob Benson and J. Pierce Shields to help supporters create lasting legacies for waterfowl conservation. The initiative expands opportunities for philanthropic impact through estate gifts, bequests, and charitable trusts to fund Delta's science-based conservation programs in perpetuity.
CZ announced a partnership with Ace Virtual Shooting (AceVR) to introduce a virtual reality controller modeled after the CZ Shadow 2 pistol. The innovative controller replicates the feel and handling of the competition pistol for immersive digital training. CZ and AceVR will showcase the new controller at the 2026 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits.
George Daniel, instructor at Penn State University's Joe Humphreys Fly Fishing Program, was featured in episode #24 of the Fly Fisherman Loop to Loop podcast. Fly Fisherman Editor and Publisher Ross Purnell recorded the conversation with Daniel and current Penn State students, discussing the program's history and Daniel's approach to teaching fly fishing.
The CrushCity Hartwell Slam presented by Sufix takes place March 28-29 at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, SC, featuring nearly 290 teams competing for over $20,000 in prizes. The Association of Collegiate Anglers' first 2026 Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series event includes special guests Peyton Harris and Dalton Head from the University of Montevallo, who won the previous ACA event at Lake Hartwell.
Blocker Outdoors introduces the Finisher Series, a minimalist turkey hunting kit featuring the Finisher Chest Pack, Lightweight Turkey Pant, and Lightweight Performance Hoodie. Designed for mobile, active hunters, these products emphasize low-profile maneuvers, technical mobility, and unrestricted concealment in the spring turkey woods.
Hornady Security introduces Welded Gun Cabinets featuring heavy-duty welded steel construction, anti-pick three-point key locks, and adjustable interiors accommodating firearms up to 53 inches. Available in 8-gun, 10-gun, and 12-gun sizes with pry-resistant hinges and neoprene floor mats for comprehensive firearm protection.
Armageddon Gear's Turkey Chest Rig, built in Buena Vista, Georgia from American-sourced materials, organizes turkey hunting essentials including calls, rangefinder, and tags in quiet-access pockets designed for balanced, hands-free operation in the field.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks released the 2026–2030 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), approved by the National Park Service. The five-year framework guides outdoor recreation planning and investment while maintaining Montana's eligibility for the Land and Water Conservation Fund State Assistance Program.
Target shooting will be prohibited at Dogwood Wildlife Management Area from April 1 to June 31, 2026, due to early season intensive grazing that provides wildlife habitat benefits. Recreational users are encouraged to use the Kearney Outdoor Education Complex during this closure period.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will complete a shoreline restoration project at Cooney State Park this spring from April 6 to May 13 to repair damage from the June 2022 Yellowstone River flooding. The project will stabilize eroded shoreline at Marshall Cove and Red Lodge campgrounds using rock riprap and gravel while maintaining visitor access to the popular 733-acre reservoir.
Pursuit Channel announced new and returning shows for Q2 2026, including O'Neill Outside, Ultimate Catch TV, MOJO Untamed with Terry Denmon, Cabela's Deer Gear TV, and fishing reports hosted by Capt. Rick Murphy and Capt. Mike Anderson. The expanded lineup strengthens Pursuit's commitment to authentic hunting, fishing, and outdoor adventure programming across linear TV and PursuitUP streaming.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks urges the public to leave baby animals alone during spring, as wildlife parents use natural strategies for survival. Handling young animals can spread zoonotic diseases like plague and tularemia, and once touched by humans, they're often abandoned and cannot be rehabilitated.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is hosting a community bear meeting in Big Timber on April 7 to address grizzly bear expansion in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The meeting will focus on living and recreating safely in grizzly bear country, with a question-and-answer session with FWP staff.
The archery community here in Arizona is a strong one—more importantly, it’s a true community, with companies supporting each other and valuing inclusion over exclusion.
That was never more evident than this past Saturday when Marsupial Gear hosted its second annual Party in the Parking Lot event at its headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona.
It was something of a block party—one where your neighbors show up, bring something to share, and stick around for a good time.
The event started simply as a garage sale at the end of the western big game hunting season. Marsupial specializes in rugged, hand-sewn gear specifically designed to survive the harsh climates and demands of hunting big game in America’s western states, season after season.
The event gives the company the opportunity to reduce inventory levels and sell off products set aside as ‘blem’. This is done at significant savings for local hunters and archers in the Phoenix Valley.
According to Jared Kaiser, Director of Marketing and Business Development for Marsupial, the event transformed in 2025 from a steadily growing garage sale into the Party in the Parking Lot—expanding to include other companies serving the western hunter.
“What if we invited some of our friends in the industry to come set up and talk with their customers as well?” was the question that got the ball rolling, Kaiser explained.
“They’re all friends of ours that we personally invited out here. We don’t charge them anything to set up—we just tell them to come out, hang out with us, sell some gear, and talk with customers.”
Within the first two hours, this year’s event drew more than 1,000 people through the parking lot, talking with the various archery and hunting businesses in attendance. Kaiser estimated total attendance could reach 2,000, though the heat might keep it closer to 1,500.
This past weekend, the Phoenix Valley was under an extreme heat warning. The Luke Days Airshow at nearby Luke Air Force Base saw more than 400 people treated for heat-related illness, with over 25 hospitalized, according to local reports.
Because of the unusually high heat this year, Kaiser said the plan for 2027 will be to push the date back to late February, after the Western Hunting & Conservation Expo.
Beating the heat was easier thanks to the Kona Shaved Ice truck. Shaleen Burns and her husband brought their three kids to the event. Below, their son Wilder—also a bowhunter—dives face-first into his shaved ice. Photos: P. Erhardt
The event was set up to be family-oriented, complete with food trucks and a petting zoo to accommodate the younger demographic that makes up Marsupial Gear’s customer base. Everywhere you looked, there were kids, with families spread across the wrap-around parking lot.
Above, local influencer and hunting ambassador Ryan Smith of Hunt AZ talks all things hunting to a family. Meanwhile, a group of kids explores the pop-up tent atop the Marsupial Gear pickup truck. Photos: P. Erhardt
For the invited companies the relationship with Marsupial Gear is the major reason for their participation.
Prized Possessions is a young local company that started on a whim back during COVID making metal displays for taxidermy. Owner Noah Gotsis explained why his company participated.
“From day one, the guys over at Marsupial have been by our side, helping us grow,” he said. “We did it [Party in the Parking Lot] last year, and it was phenomenal. We want to support them, and it's also nice to see all the local guys here that support us.”
Prized Possessions recently returned from the NWTF Convention—its first major trade show since going full-time. While the response from turkey hunters exceeded all expectations, ties to the local Arizona hunting community keep them energized. Photo: P. Erhardt
Founded three years ago by avid hunter Joseph Franzmeier—a full-time firefighter and captain with Surprise (AZ) Fire-Medical—Apex Predator Energy is his answer to sugar-packed energy drinks. It’s made here in the USA and formulated to deliver clean, sustained energy without the crash or jitters.
Franzmeier’s energy drink is sold online and through local independent archery shops that support his brand. He described being honored to have been invited by Marsupial Gear to the Party in the Parking Lot.
“Marsupial is a great company, and I love that they're locally owned. I love everything that Jim Graham (Marsupial Gear’s founder) has done with it. They're family oriented. They really care about their employees, and the customer service, internal and external, is second to none. I really want to try and find companies that I can align myself with, and I felt like they were just a great fit.”
Joseph Franzmeier (left) was busy pouring samples of his Apex Predator Energy drink, which comes in Original, Wild Berry, and Cherry Lime—my favorite of the three. Photo: P. Erhardt
Local archery shops were also among those chatting up customers and vibing with the Grand Canyon State’s archery community. Talking to the guys from Ross Outdoors, they explained why the archery community here in Arizona is so active.
They told me that there are 3D shoots taking place all the time, and there is strong demand for archery deer season every year, driven by easy access to go hunting. In fact, the bulk of the hunting done in Arizona, they say, is archery because it is so hard to allocate rifle tags in the draw system, resulting in more opportunity for hunters with over-the-counter archery deer tags.
Over at the Ross tent (above) the guys offered to help me set up a bow I’ve had for far too many years without ever using. First step: restringing it—for obvious reasons. There’d be a charge, of course, but I assume the superhero posing is free. Below, Eddie Astorga (seated) chats with attendees that visited the Arizona Archery Club tent throughout the day. Testament to the popularity of archery shops here in the Valley. Photos: P. Erhardt
The archery retailer plays an important role in sustaining and growing the archery market. Eddie Astorga of Arizona Archery Club talked to me—a certified novice—about their Discover Archery class.
The class covers the basics for someone just learning to shoot a bow. This can be anyone from eight years old and above. It’s an hour-long class with a coach and all the equipment is provided at their indoor facility, which means there’s air conditioning—an important feature here in triple-digit Arizona.
While the local archery shops are working on a steady flow of new archers and bowhunters, others are focused on equipping the current avid sportsman and woman.
MUTNT Gear, out of Camp Verde, Arizona, designs accessories for binoculars to make your glassing easier and lighter. Their carbon fiber tripods and various fluid and ball heads are enough to make any photographer drool—ask me how I know.
But for the hunter, especially the western states hunter who doesn’t count in steps but in miles when scouting, today’s modern lightweight gear is a must. And hunters know it.
I played with their ball head with a rifle chassis mounted on it. Smooth is almost not enough to describe how easily and effortlessly the gun swung up and down and from one side to the other.
Having only heard the name of the brand, it was a great opportunity to go hands-on with their gear..
The MUTNT tent (above) had all the cool toys for the serious hunters that recognize glassing as the essential element when hunting big game in the western states. Below, Anthony Stallone talks about the advantages of lightweight shooting bags, Photos: P. Erhardt
Anthony Stallone, President of Phoenix Shooting Bags, is another local manufacturer that Marsupial Gear invited to participate. His bags are sewn from Cordura nylon 1000D and filled with a lightweight material that make them ideal for rifle hunters.
He offers a variety of sizes and designs in various colors, as well as similar items like a Glassing Seat / Glassing Pad made with 1000D Cordura and non-slip nylon that weighs just 10 ounces.
My favorite design of his is the TBD, which stands for Tony Bag of Doughnuts. The bag comes in five colors, including limited edition Hot Pink, and weighs in at 7.1 ounces. It’s perfect for use on a tripod, a boulder, or wedged between tree limbs.
The website humorously notes the bag’s alternate use: “Lastly, one of my favorite uses to this bag is that I can use it as a pillow to take a nap in the afternoon.”
The Party in the Parking Lot didn’t just bring together the Phoenix archery hunting community to hang out and search for a bargain. The event also raised money through several giveaways for a worthy cause, Fathers in the Field.
One giveaway during the event was for an Arrowhead Rifles (another local company present on Saturday) Custom .22 Creedmoor rifle with a Defiance Machine action, McMillan stock, and carbon wrapped Brux barrel, paired with a Marsupial Gear rifle case. Photo: P. Erhardt
The organization is based out of Phoenix and their mission is “To rekindle and establish the spirit of boys who have been abandoned by their fathers; mentoring them one-on-one in life skills through outdoor activities, and by sharing a Christian understanding of our Heavenly Father’s love and sacrifice for His children.”
In lay terms, they take young boys that have no father figure in their lives out hunting. Among its board members is Kyle Weaver, who you might better recognize as the CEO and President of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
And, of course, there was Caldwell County BBQ, which has four locations in Arizona in addition to their catering truck in the Marsupial Gear parking lot.
Marsupial Gear brought in Kona Shaved Ice, and a coffee truck, and Caldwell County BBQ, all to keep the archery community well fed. Photos: P. Erhardt
If you're going to be in Arizona around the end of February, plan to attend the 2027 Party in the Parking Lot. As Jared Kaiser told me, they expect to encircle the entire building with tents.
And based on this year’s turnout, Marsupial Gear has no shortage of friends in the industry to call on.
– Paul Erhardt, Managing Editor, the Outdoor Wire Digital Network
