Fish Monkey is launching its Hydro-Block Waterproof Glove and Sock collection for Fall 2026, offering anglers and hunters complete waterproof protection with breathable comfort. The system features 100% waterproof barriers, merino wool liners, and touchscreen-compatible panels, addressing growing demand for premium foul-weather gear.

Whitewater Fishing introduces its Minimalist Packable Jacket and Pant, featuring 100% polyester stretch fabric with DWR finish and 4-way mobility. Marketing Director Steve Allie highlights the suit's technical features and durability at an accessible price point, designed for both freshwater and saltwater anglers.

Whitewater Fishing highlights how quality raingear is essential for angler success, featuring four technical suit systems including the Great Lakes Pro, Great Lakes Pro Insulated, Riparian, and Minimalist Packable options designed to maintain comfort and stamina in various weather conditions.

Safari Club International presented Jeff Crane with the Hunting Advocacy Award at the SCI President's Dinner, recognizing his 40+ year career advancing conservation policy and hunting traditions. Crane's leadership at the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation and establishment of the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus significantly shaped wildlife management policy nationwide.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources honored Conservation Officer Luke Robare with a Medal of Valor and Lifesaving Award for his heroic response to a violent attack at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township on September 28, 2025. Robare neutralized the threat within minutes of arriving on scene, working alongside Grand Blanc Township Police Officer Jason Carpentier.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department recognizes National Safe Boating Week, May 16-22, emphasizing life jacket requirements and water safety regulations. Coast Guard statistics show 87% of recreational boating fatalities involved drowning victims not wearing life jackets.

National Safe Boating Week (May 16-22) reminds Nebraskans that safety is essential on the water. Key tips include wearing U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets, knowing state boating laws, taking a boating safety course, and avoiding boating under the influence.

Maine Game Warden Pilot Josh Tibbetts, 50, of New Gloucester was killed when a Maine Warden Service airplane crashed in Avon on May 12. Tibbetts had served as a Maine Game Warden for 18 years, including three years as a warden service pilot. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources honors 17 fallen conservation officers during National Police Week (May 11-17). The Michigan Conservation Officers Association and DNR dedicated a memorial at the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center in Roscommon, recently adding Conservation Officer Paul Durham as the 17th officer after historians discovered records of his 1972 death.

NorthWestern Energy and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks are opening Cochrane Dam to the public on June 6, 2026, for National Trails Day, allowing hikers and bikers to cross the Missouri River and complete a loop on the River's Edge Trail in Great Falls. Participants should prepare for at least a five-mile strenuous trek with proper footwear, sunscreen, and water.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' Walk-In Access Program expanded to 49,597 acres across 116 properties in 2025, including 39.4 miles of stream and 221 acres of flat water. The program, launched in 2005, partners with private landowners to provide public hunting and fishing opportunities through free annual authorization numbers.

Live Free Armory announced a partnership with Walk the Talk America (WTTA), a nonprofit focused on reducing suicide and promoting mental health awareness within firearm-owning communities. Live Free Armory will include WTTA mental health resource cards in product packaging to connect firearm owners with free mental health support resources.

Safariland, a brand of The Safariland Group and key brand of Cadre Holdings, Inc., has launched the innovative HOLLE Duty Belt system. This next-generation lightweight load-carrying platform features precision-mounted accessories, multiple buckle options, and broad compatibility with existing Safariland tactical accessories for enhanced operational flexibility.

PROOF Research announced shorter barrel configurations for the PROOF Elevation 2.0 and Elevation MTR 2.0 rifles, now available in Tactical Flat Dark Earth and Midnight colors. Both models feature carbon fiber technology, Zermatt Arms Origin actions, and TriggerTech triggers, with MSRPs ranging from $3,199 to $3,899.

Engaged Industries designed suppressors specifically for The Tactical Games competition, focusing on reduced recoil, minimized gas blowback, and cleaner operation. The suppressors help competitors maintain control and accuracy under pressure while keeping rifles cooler and more reliable throughout extended match days.

Custom & Collectable Firearms (CNC Firearms) and Colt's Manufacturing Company closed pre-orders for the limited-edition Colt BOA revolver after unprecedented demand at the 2026 NRA Annual Meetings in Houston. The faithfully recreated .357 Magnum revolver is available through authorized dealers and distributors including Sports South, Orion Wholesale, Lipsey's, and Davidson's.

Taurus celebrates the 20th anniversary of its iconic Judge® revolver with refined enhancements and updated features. The legendary firearm, which redefined the revolver market and earned iconic status among shooters, returns with upgraded looks while maintaining the versatility and performance that made it an industry leader.

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. announced the Marlin Mad Pig Customs Model 1894, a premium lever-action rifle developed with Mad Pig Customs and Midwest Industries. Chambered in 357 Magnum, it features Cerakote finishing and factory-installed custom upgrades for enhanced durability and ergonomics.

Liberty Ammunition will showcase its new Pro Series military ammunition at SOF Week in Tampa, Florida. CEO Gary Ramey highlights that the Pro Series delivers 53% more stopping power than current military ammunition while preventing over-penetration, a critical safety feature for tactical operations.

Dead Air Silencers will exhibit at SHOOTAH 2026 on May 16, 2026, at Soldier Pass Shooting Range in Saratoga Springs, Utah. Attendees can experience new suppressor releases including the Ruger RXD910Ti, Nomad Ti OTB, and CT5P, plus established models like the Sandman X, Mojave 45, Nomad LTi XC, and Wolfman.

Maxim Defense will exhibit at SOF Week 2026 (May 18-21) in Tampa, Florida, showcasing firearm systems, suppressors, and accessories at booth #851. The company is also title sponsor of the Green Beret Foundation's HALO Happy Hour on May 21st.

FirstSpear will exhibit at SOF Week 2026 in Tampa, Florida, showcasing its full platform lineup and newly integrated Recon K9 brand. The company will host live demonstrations featuring Recon K9's DT Alpha modular vest system and maritime capabilities including the AAC Frog Kit with patented CTAF technology, led by founder Jason Watson and Vanguard Prime Hall.

Barnett Crossbows will continue its partnership with Whitetails Unlimited as a national sponsor, according to WTU President Jeff Schinkten. Founded in 1962, Barnett has innovated in the crossbow and archery industry for over 60 years, offering performance and value-driven bows and accessories for hunters and recreational shooters.

First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park launches its summer "Jump Talks" educational programs on Saturday, May 23, featuring 30-minute ranger-led sessions every Saturday through September 5. Free programs at 1 p.m. describe how First Peoples drove bison over cliffs and share stories about the sacred National Historic Landmark site.

Pursuit Channel highlights its Sunday Sportsmen programming block featuring premium hunting and fishing content including Precision Hunting TV, On the Road, The Choice with Ralph & Vicki, Mark Peterson's The Journey Within, Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild, and Americana Outdoors presented by Garmin, reaching over 22 million homes via DIRECTV, Comcast Xfinity, and Verizon Fios.

Arkansas turkey hunters checked 13,591 turkeys during this year's official turkey hunting season, which ended Sunday night. According to historical data, this is the highest spring turkey harvest since 2006.

"Arkansas had a good amount of mature gobblers on the ground this year, thanks to conservative seasons during the last few years promoting high gobbler carryover. This was complemented by good weather two years ago that enabled the birds to take advantage of improved habitat in many pockets across the state," Allison Fowler, assistant chief of wildlife management for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said. "We also saw a change in our season structure this year that offered split opening weekends, and we're analyzing those results to see if it played a large role in the harvest."

Although this is the highest harvest since 2006, Arkansas's record turkey harvest was in 2003, when hunters checked 19,947 birds. A quick dive into the comparison reveals that this year's harvest isn't too far off that mark when accounting for a few major differences in season structure.

In 2003, hunters shot 4,610 jake turkeys. Nearly a quarter of the harvest was made up of these immature male birds. Only 15,225 mature gobblers were taken that spring.

"We established the 'No Jakes Rule' in 2011," Fowler said. "Since then, only youth hunters can legally harvest an immature gobbler, and they may only take one per season."

Fowler said even though youth hunters can take a jake, most still opt for a mature bird if they have the choice, and this year's harvest of just over 300 jakes is a testament to that.

"We had a good amount of mature birds out there gobbling, and the youths have the first shot at the birds, so we saw less than 3 percent of the harvest made up of jakes this year. That hopefully translates to decent numbers of adult gobblers available for hunters next year."

The remaining 112 turkeys counted in the 2003 harvest were bearded hens, which were also legal to harvest at that time. The legal harvest of bearded hen turkeys was eliminated in 2021 to maximize reproductive success in Arkansas's flock.

"Hunters really self-regulate themselves when it comes to hens, so the hen harvest never was very high, but the elimination of the bearded hen harvest reinforces the idea for hunters that their decisions in the woods matter to the population," Fowler said. "2003 also had an earlier and longer season. Hunters had 37 days to take a bird in most of the state in 2003. This year, Zones 1 and 2 were open for 21 days each, while our more restrictive zones were only open for nine days. The previous liberal structure was not favorable when poor weather during the nesting and hatching time period saw decreased reproduction success."

This year's new split-season structure may have played some role in the increased harvest, as hunters could hunt opening day in the southern zones (zones 2 and 2A), then harvest their second bird on the opening day of one of the northern zones (zones 1 and 1A).

"We're still analyzing just how many people engaged in this sort of zone-hopping, but many hunters only stick to one or two hunting locations each year, especially those who hunt private land," Fowler said. "Turkey hunters are a bit more mobile than deer hunters, traditionally, but I think the great weather we had during the majority of this year's turkey season was also responsible for the increased success."

AGFC biologists are cautiously optimistic that Arkansas's turkey population is still in good shape following the season.

"Our poult surveys last year indicated less reproductive success than in 2024, and we know harvest rates are tightly linked to the reproduction two years prior," Fowler said. "Just like this year benefited from higher than average reproduction in 2024, next season may see a decline because of moderate reproduction in 2025. We still have a lot of jakes on the landscape that will be adults next year, and we should see a decent complement of this year's adult gobblers surviving. Still, a slight decline next season won't be shocking; you really never know until the season is here."

– Arkansas Game and Fish Commission