Nine compilers reported results from Oklahoma's 126th Audubon Christmas Bird Count across 24 designated count circles, with 200 birders documenting 200,379 individual birds. The Tulsa Count Circle reported the highest bird count at 54,919 individuals, while the Oklahoma City Count Circle recorded the richest species diversity with 118 species, including notable sightings at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge and other locations.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Bannack Association are hosting an art contest to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bannack Days. Artists must submit scenes related to Montana's pioneer days or Bannack's early history by March 1, with the winning entry featured on 2026 merchandise and FWP promotional materials.

The Second Amendment Foundation, California Rifle & Pistol Association, Second Amendment Law Center, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in United States v. Hemani, challenging the federal lifetime ban on firearm possession for marijuana users.

The federal government filed an amicus brief with the First Circuit Court of Appeals supporting Firearms Policy Coalition's Granata v. Campbell lawsuit challenging Massachusetts's ban on modern handguns. FPC is joined by individual members and The Gun Runner, LLC, represented by attorneys from Cooper & Kirk, PLLC and Chambers Law Office.

The Gulf Council delayed final action on Reef Fish Amendment 58A, which would split the shallow-water grouper complex into two separate complexes, due to uncertainty with MRIP-FES recreational landings estimates. A framework action finalized in June 2025 will set the annual catch limit for the other shallow-water grouper complex at 322,000 pounds gutted weight with a recreational season from July 1 through December 31.

Big Bite Baits has launched the Spotlight Minnow, designed by pro Drew Gill for Forward Facing Sonar fishing. Available in three sizes with snappy action and rolling profile, the lure is now available at Baits.com.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) program is hosting an ice fishing workshop in Havre on February 13-14 for women 18 and older. The two-part workshop includes an indoor session on ice fishing essentials and a hands-on outdoor session on a frozen pond or lake, with registration costing $15.

Michigan's 2026 spring turkey hunting season applications close Sunday, Feb. 1, with significant changes including reduced management units from 14 to three, new season dates, and updated license options. Applications cost $5 and can be purchased through license agents, Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses, or the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department encourages hunters to report mandatory harvests of mountain lion, black bear, and over-the-counter archery deer online at azgfd.com/harvestreports. Phone reporting remains available with reduced hours beginning January 31, 2026.

SAAMI has accepted two new rifle cartridges for standardization: the 8.6 BLACKOUT introduced by Q, LLC, and the 25 Weatherby Rebated Precision Magnum introduced by Weatherby. These standards ensure safety, reliability, and interchangeability of firearms and ammunition.

GunBroker.com and Master FFL announced a collaboration to improve firearm transfer processes. FFL licensees are encouraged to claim dealer profiles through Master FFL to ensure accurate information, reduce manual steps, and support more efficient transfer workflows for online transactions.

Beretta USA kicked off its 500-year anniversary celebration at the 2026 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, featuring an exclusive Range Day with over 200 media members, Team Beretta ambassadors, and partner brands including Sako, Tikka, Burris, and Garmin. The celebration unveiled a limited-edition Beretta x Garmin MARQ® Commander watch and a commemorative medallion designed by the Italian State Mint, with anniversary events continuing throughout 2026.

The South Carolina Waterfowl Association has appointed Cynthia Nuckols as Camp Leopold Coordinator to strengthen conservation education efforts. Nuckols brings experience in natural resource conservation and K-12 education, holding a Bachelor's degree in Animal Science. She will lead educational programming connecting students to South Carolina's natural resources while promoting conservation principles.

Turkeys for Tomorrow unveiled its new Team Turkey Membership ($250 for three years) and partnership with Pistol Creek Outdoors for custom-branded turkey calls. The membership includes exclusive benefits, onX Hunt discounts, and a commemorative call from Pistol Creek owner John Browning, TFT's first sponsor.

GRITR has launched the Stealth Mini Folding Knife, featuring a 2.75" D2 steel blade, ceramic ball-bearing pivot, and textured G10 handle. The lightweight knife weighs 2.68 oz and is backed by GRITR's UNLIMITED GRIT Lifetime Warranty, available at GritrGear.com and Amazon.

AirForce Airguns announces the Tex-Rex® .308, a new big-bore air rifle. Built on proven Texan architecture with an adjustable Bias Port Orifice System, manual safety, and Picatinny scope rail, the rifle bridges compact brush guns and full-size big bores for versatile hunting performance.

Target Sports USA will showcase at Booth #710 of the Great American Outdoor Show, offering raffles, exclusive swag, and special show-only ammunition pricing. New AMMO+ members will receive a $130 gift, and attendees can enter to win a Ford F-250 giveaway truck.

Meprolight will exhibit at the Worldwide Spring Show in Reno, February 3-5, showcasing new products including the Mepro CABS backup sights, Mepro CRIS iron sights, and green reticle options for its micro pistol optics, alongside established products like the MVO riflescopes and Mepro M22 PRO at Booth #773.

Winchester Ammunition will continue as an anchor brand alongside Bass Pro Shops on Austin Dillon's No. 3 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series, beginning with the NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 1, 2026.

TrueTimber, the world's best-selling camo brand, is sponsoring Noah Gragson and Front Row Motorsports in the Clash at Bowman Gray on February 1, 2026. TrueTimber's Strata camo pattern will be featured on Gragson's No. 4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for the 200-lap NASCAR event in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Gov. Mike Braun joined Indiana DNR leadership to break ground on a new headquarters for DNR Law Enforcement District 6 in Nineveh. The $800,000 facility will support 23 conservation officers serving nine central Indiana counties and will replace trailers used since 2016, with construction provided by the Indiana Department of Correction work crews.

Montana State Parks is seeking volunteers to serve as campground hosts, visitor center attendants, park naturalists, and event coordinators. Last year, volunteers contributed over 33,000 hours across state parks and fishing access sites, with Beth Shumate and Duane Schlabach highlighting the critical role volunteers play in welcoming residents and visitors to Montana's natural destinations.

Pursuit Channel highlights Fly Rod Chronicles, hosted by fly-fishing legend Curtis Fleming, featuring breathtaking fly-fishing adventures across North America's iconic waters. The long-running series blends stunning cinematography, expert instruction, and storytelling while exploring destinations from Montana to Alaska and the Florida Keys.

The 990 Aftershock was probably one of my favorite guns of 2025. I love shotgun-style firearms with short barrels and pistol grips. Making one semi-auto just makes things better and better. The 990 was a seemingly huge success for Mossberg, and they are quickly expanding the platform into two new platforms. 

The 990 Aftershock SPX

Adopting a firearm in its first generation is starting to feel painful. For example, I jumped all in on the Mossberg 990 Aftershock. People told me to wait…wait for the SPX model. I knew it was coming, but I didn’t expect it to be here oh so soon. The new 990 Aftershock SPX solves my issues with the 990 Aftershock, which were mostly feature complaints. 

For example, the 990 Aftershock SPX comes with the same handguard as the 940 SPX. This new handguard envelopes the barrel to provide better hand protection and is a heat shield. The SPX handguard comes with M-LOK slots for accessories and a sling attachment point. They also added wings to protect the high-visibility front sight. 

That’s one sighting fix. Another is to use the same RMSc direct-attach optics cut as the 940 SPX. That allows for an ultra-low-sitting dot that doesn’t require a Picatinny rail to attach an optic. I like my optics low on shotguns, and it makes aiming easier. If you don’t want an RMSc footprint optic, you can attach any one of three plates for RMR, DPP, and Docter footprint optics. 

We’re getting the standard 14.75-inch model, but they are also producing an 18.5-inch barrel model with a +2 extension for a capacity of seven rounds. From what I understand, several states ban the firearm-type guns based solely on barrel length. With that said, the 18.5-inch model makes it easy to add whatever 500/590 stock you want without bothering with a (zero dollar) tax stamp. This thing with a wooden stock would be slick. 

Finally, we get a choke system. The Accu-choke design allows you to better tailor your patterns or to attach suppressors. MSRP starts at around $1200. 

The 990 Magpul 

The big trick behind the Mossberg 990 Aftershock was its compatibility with 590 stocks. You could make yourself an SBS quite easily. Mossberg has taken the predictable step of producing the new 990 SPX Magpul. The 990 Magpul comes as both an SBS and a standard NFA-free model with an 18.5-inch barrel. The SBS variant holds five rounds, and the standard model features a +2 extension and packs seven rounds in the tube. 

The 990 Magpul models come with the absolutely fantastic Magpul SGA stock. This stock blends a traditional-style stock with an aggressive pistol grip, giving you the benefits of both. The SGA comes sling-ready and has the ability to adjust the length of pull through a series of spacers. 

These 990 Magpul models also come with the SPX handguard and all its nice features. Like the SPX, we also have the direct optics cut and the palte. Additionally, the 990 Magpul guns come with ghost ring sights. The rear sight is your optic’s cover plate, which is a nice touch

MSRP is $1,309. 

The 990 Keeps Growing 

Will the 990 eventually replace the 940? Tough to say. However, Mossberg is letting the design sit dormant. Factory short-barreled, semi-auto shotguns aren’t all that common, and it’s nice to see options. 

– Travis Pike, Shooting News Weekly