D&M Holding Company has acquired EKOCHEM 94 s.r.o., a Czech Republic-based engineering firm specializing in propellant and ammunition manufacturing equipment. The acquisition strengthens D&M's capabilities to support NATO allies, Ukraine, and friendly governments seeking ammunition independence amid escalating global conflicts.

Wildlife Forever named Lydia Li of Texas as the 2026 Richard M. Hart Educator of the Year for her dedication to conservation education through the Fish Art Contest. Ms. Li integrates art-based learning to help students explore angling, aquatic ecosystems, and the natural world, embodying the legacy of Richard Hart's vision for inspiring youth conservation education.

The Gulf Council presented the 2025 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award to Officer Specialists Kyle Yurewitch and Mathew Rubenstein of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for their exceptional federal fisheries enforcement work aboard the Offshore Patrol Vessel Gulf Ranger, including 40 TED boardings and 14 fisheries cases in 2025.

Ducks Unlimited presented The Mosaic Company and The Mosaic Company Foundation for Sustainable Food Systems the 2025 Corporate Conservation Achievement Award at its 89th National Convention in Tampa, Florida. The recognition honors their 20-year partnership supporting wetland conservation, the Rice Stewardship Program impacting 1.1 million acres, and the Winter Wheat Program across Canadian Prairies.

Pursuit Channel celebrates Ted Nugent's induction into the Michigan Outdoor Hall of Fame and receipt of the Legend of the Outdoors Award. Nugent, host of Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild, is recognized for his lifelong dedication to hunting heritage, conservation, and outdoor television.

Otis Technology received the 2026 Northern New York–Fort Drum Chapter of the Association of the United States Army (NNY AUSA) Community Partner of the Year award. CEO Brad McIntyre accepted the honor, recognizing the company's commitment to supporting soldiers, military families, veterans, and the Fort Drum community through partnerships and charitable initiatives.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Montana Audubon, and Tracy Aviary are collaborating to track common nighthawks through citizen science surveys running through August 10. Volunteers can conduct passive listening surveys along pre-determined routes to help gather data on this declining species of greatest inventory need in Montana.

An emergency closure on the Gallatin River near Big Sky has been lifted following a U.S. Forest Service project to replace Markley Bridge. The closure had restricted boating from Upper Deer Creek boat launch to Portal Creek boat launch, though future project phases may require temporary reinstatement.

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Vincent Hancock won the Men's Skeet National Championship at the 2026 Shotgun National Championships in Michigan, breaking all 36 targets in the final round while competing with his Beretta DT11. Hancock secured his place on the U.S. Men's Skeet National Team.

Team Beretta achieved multiple podium finishes at the 2026 NSCA Northeast Regional Championship at M&M Hunting Preserve, with captain Diane Sorantino earning Lady Veteran Champion honors. Additional Team Beretta results included Desi Edmunds as FITASC Ladies Runner-Up, Zach Kienbaum as 5 Stand Runner-Up, and Connor Daniel as 5 Stand Junior Runner-Up.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources allocated $5.1 million to 33 wildlife conservation projects for fiscal year 2026-2027 through the Species Protection Account. Funding includes $150,000 for invasive carp removal at Utah Lake, $147,000 for Wilson's phalarope research, and $280,000 for rare plant and insect programs through a partnership with Utah State University.

New York Attorney General Letitia James secured a court victory when the Appellate Division upheld a $4.3 million judgment against Wayne LaPierre, former NRA Executive Vice President. LaPierre was ordered to repay the National Rifle Association and banned from serving as an NRA officer or director for 10 years following findings of illegal self-dealing and mismanagement of organizational funds.

Chinook salmon fishing closures and modifications take effect June 3 in Idaho across four river sections including the Clearwater River, Snake River below Hells Canyon Dam, lower Salmon River, and Little Salmon River due to harvest objectives being reached.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host a virtual townhall today, June 4, at noon to discuss summer fishery concerns and management tools. FWP Fish Chief Adam Strainer and fisheries staff will address low snowpack conditions and anticipated hot, dry weather impacts on state fisheries.

The Gulf Council approved Reef Fish Amendment 63 to establish a 3-year commercial quota pool for red grouper participants in the Grouper/Tilefish Individual Fishing Quota program. Beginning in 2027, if the commercial annual catch target exceeds 4,280,000 pounds, 50% of the quota increase will be distributed to active red grouper fishermen based on landings.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department urges anglers and the public to avoid disturbing spawning sea lamprey in the Connecticut River and tributaries. Sea lamprey are native to the basin, play a vital ecosystem role, and are a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Vermont and New Hampshire. The department has improved fish passage facilities, with over 17,000 sea lamprey passing Holyoke Dam and 4,000 passing Vernon Dam in 2025.

Idaho's Free Fishing Day on June 13 offers a great opportunity to fish without a license. The article provides guidance on preparing old fishing gear, including checking rods, reels, and line, and recommends using Idaho Fish and Game's Fishing Planner to find public fishing locations throughout the state.

A new campground with four basic campsites and restroom facilities opened June 5 at the John and Nancy Owen Fishing Access Site on the Bitterroot River near Stevensville. The expansion was made possible by a 6.25-acre donation from Fort Owen Ranch owner to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, along with improved boat trailer parking.

Tink's, known for deer lures for over 50 years, has expanded into fishing with new spray lures designed to attract more strikes. The product is available in five varieties targeting different species and can be applied to soft plastics, hard bait, or live bait. Tink's fishing spray lures are available at retailers nationwide and tinks.com.

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved summer Chinook salmon seasons for the South Fork Salmon, Upper Salmon, and Lochsa rivers. The South Fork Salmon and Upper Salmon rivers open June 18, while the Lochsa River opens May 30, with varying daily and possession limits by location.

Michigan's Upper Peninsula faces extreme fire danger while northern Lower Peninsula experiences very high fire danger levels. Paul Rogers, fire prevention specialist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, urges residents to avoid burning and exercise caution with outdoor activities due to low humidity, high temperatures, and gusty winds.

The Forest Service launched the National Forests and Grasslands mobile app for iOS and Android during Great Outdoors Month. The app provides the most complete collection of Forest Service recreation sites, safety alerts, closures, and offline maps for the 164 million annual visitors to national forests and grasslands.

Idaho Fish and Game's Free Fishing Day on June 13 will feature a gear giveaway by ICCU and Scheels, distributing 1,300 free fishing poles and tackle boxes to anglers 14 and younger at select locations while supplies last.

Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation awarded $80,000 in L. Gary Stinson Grant Fund grants to the AZ Deer Association and Conservation First USA for habitat conservation projects on the Tonto National Forest. Year-to-date 2026 grants total $125,425 to eight Arizona non-profit organizations.

Nonresident hunters can now check their position on Montana's Alternates List through their MyFWP account. The list provides a second chance to obtain combination licenses when other hunters return them. Hunters will be notified by email and have five days to finalize purchases.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission opened a pilot program enabling landowners to enroll properties with alligators for regulated public hunts through a drawing system. AGFC Herpetologist Amanda Bryant noted the program offers an alternative to private hunting leases, with the 2026 alligator season scheduled for September 18-21 and 26-29.

The Marias River Wildlife Management Area in Hunting District 406 near Shelby is accepting online applications for deer hunting access permits throughout June 2026. Hunters can apply for archery or rifle hunt periods, with allocations including 10 archery hunters per two-week period and 10 rifle hunters for general season weeks, plus 5 permit holders for antlered buck hunts.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider restricting personal deer permit limits from two to one per calendar year for antlered deer, effective in 2027. The commission will also review proposed changes to turkey, mountain lion, and squirrel regulations at its June 12 meeting in North Platte.

The NSSF-adjusted NICS figure for May 2026 reached 1,105,758, a 3.2 percent increase from May 2025's 1,071,685. The National Shooting Sports Foundation reported new monthly NFA checks data, with Texas, Virginia, and Florida leading in NFA checks, while the May 2026 NFA figure of 146,551 increased 100.4 percent year-over-year.

Derya Arms, a firearms manufacturer with operations in Jacksonville, Florida and Türkiye, announced the appointment of Keebler Rockwell as Business Development Director. Rockwell will drive OEM sales, lead military and law enforcement business development, and manage the authorized dealer program while reporting to President Abdullah Celer and Vice President Dustin Jones.

A leading firearms manufacturer's digital media campaign achieved 7.28 million impressions with a $6.87 CPM, 51% below industry average. The campaign generated a 2.49% video CTR and 78.44% completion rate, quadruple typical industry performance, according to Insight Media Stream.

The Mule Deer Foundation received $2.9 million from California's Wildlife Conservation Board to remove or modify 61 miles of fencing in northeast California. Partnering with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Forest Service, the project will improve habitat connectivity for mule deer, pronghorn antelope, and elk through 2029.

Safari Club International (SCI) praised President Trump's Executive Order revoking restrictions on motorized access to federal lands originally imposed by Presidents Nixon and Carter. SCI CEO W. Laird Hamberlin stated the order aligns federal policy with Congressional intent through the Dingell Act and EXPLORE Act, promoting hunting and outdoor recreation access.

Gun Owners of America (GOA) and Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) issued a joint letter warning Virginia law enforcement and officials that the state's universal background check law remains subject to a permanent injunction in Wilson v. Hanley and cannot be enforced. GOA and allies will defend the injunction in court today before Judge Frank Patrick Yeatts as Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones seeks to dissolve it.

Dead Air Silencers has renewed its Silver-level corporate partnership with the Second Amendment Foundation. The suppressor manufacturer, founded in 2014, also provides products for SAF's monthly sweepstakes and event giveaways to support Second Amendment advocacy efforts.

Yamaha Motor Corp., USA announces its 2027 ATV lineup featuring updated color options across the YFZ450R, Raptor 700, Grizzly, and Kodiak models. The full-size ATVs are assembled at Yamaha's manufacturing facility in Newnan, Georgia, offering sport, recreational, and utility options for various off-road applications.

NEXTORCH, the primary U.S. distributor of NEXTORCH Industries, announced the new hiStar 2,300 Lumen Ultra Bright Headlamp featuring proprietary Claw Optics™ technology for hunting, fishing, outdoor recreation, and tactical applications. The professional-grade headlamp offers dual white and red LEDs, stepless dimming, dual-power compatibility, and an MSRP of $109.99.

Camfour, Inc. announced the SCT-365 concealed carry platform is now available in capacity-restricted states beyond California. Built on the Sig Sauer P365 platform by Shark Coast Tactical, the SCT-365 features premium enhancements including an optic-ready slide, XRAY3 tritium sights, and ships with two 10-round magazines.

Silencer Central is offering a $150 rebate on select Dead Air and BANISH Suppressors from June 1 through July 6, 2026. Customers purchasing qualifying suppressors receive rebate codes for future purchases or accessories, with codes valid through November 30, 2026.

Dead Air Silencers will exhibit at the 2026 BLADE Show in Atlanta, Georgia, June 5-7, showcasing suppressors including the Sandman, Nomad, Wolfman, and new RXD910Ti. The company will offer 50 limited-edition Medford Knives Knuckle Knives exclusively at Booth #2517.

Blue Force Gear will showcase its latest tactical equipment at the Ohio Tactical Officers Association Annual Training Conference June 8–12 in Sandusky, Ohio, featuring the new MARCO HR chemlight deployment system and other mission-proven gear designed for law enforcement and first responders.

Maverick Hunting has renewed its national sponsorship with Whitetails Unlimited, as announced by WTU's Jeff Schinkten. The company manufactures durable, lightweight hunting blinds available through authorized dealers across more than twenty states and Canada.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds visitors to swim only in buoyed swim areas and follow the Great Lakes flag warning system at state parks. The DNR has also implemented additional safety measures at west Michigan parks, including electronic warning systems at Grand Haven State Park, life rings, ResQmax line throwers, and an EMILY rescue robot at Ludington State Park.

GunBroker.com has partnered with Barrett to launch a June 2026 sweepstakes offering two winners the chance to receive either a Barrett MRAD Rifle System valued at $6,985 or a Barrett REC7 DI Rifle System valued at $2,100. The sweepstakes runs from June 1-30, 2026, with daily entry opportunities available at no cost.

Waypoint TV celebrates Great Outdoors Month throughout June with free fishing, hunting, adventure, and lifestyle programming across multiple streaming platforms. The network, founded by Builder Brock, offers nightly primetime content including adventure travel, big game hunts, and freshwater fishing available on Amazon Prime, Tubi, Samsung TV Plus, and numerous other platforms.

World Fishing Network launches "Reel Replay Saturdays" featuring premier bass-fishing programming including MLF Team Series, Ott DeFoe's The Hunt for Monster Bass, Mark Zona's Awesome Fishing Show, and Ultimate Match Fishing, starting at 6 p.m. ET.

The Rocky Mountain tailed frog is Montana's most unique amphibian, specializing in cold mountain stream habitats. Males have evolved an external cloaca to internally fertilize eggs, and tadpoles use suction-cup mouths to cling to rocks in swift currents for three years before metamorphosis.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources partnered with the City of Mt. Pleasant to capture and relocate a 150-pound black bear that wandered into a residential neighborhood. DNR wildlife biologists Mark Boersen, Scott Larsen, and Brian Piccolo tranquilized the bear and transported it approximately 60 miles to the Houghton Lake area.

By the time Florida voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to hunt and fish in 2024, the movement had already spread quietly across much of America. More than two dozen states now have some version of a constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish (RTHF) amendment on the books, and Colorado could soon join them if supporters gather enough signatures to place the issue on the November ballot. To advocates, these amendments represent a critical line of defense against an increasingly aggressive anti-hunting movement that has shifted its strategy from legislatures to ballot-box campaigns and courtroom litigation. 

Critics — including some within the sporting community itself — question whether these constitutional protections are ultimately more symbolic than substantive, particularly in states where urban voting blocs and referendum politics can still dramatically reshape wildlife policy.

That debate has become increasingly urgent as sportsmen’s groups confront a rapidly evolving political landscape. Questions involving predator hunting, trapping, fishing access, and wildlife management are no longer fought solely inside state legislatures or wildlife commission meetings. Increasingly, they are decided through expensive public campaigns fueled by emotional messaging and national activist organizations capable of pouring millions of dollars into state ballot fights. In that environment, supporters of RTHF measures argue that constitutional protections may become one of the few long-term safeguards available to hunters and anglers as traditional wildlife management systems come under growing political pressure.

Even many proponents of these amendments concede that the full legal value of RTHF protections is still developing. “In some ways, it remains to be seen,” admitted one sportsmen’s policy strategist involved in several state campaigns. “There have been very few lawsuits citing RTHF so far. However, the ones that have occurred have successfully utilized the constitutional protections to defend our interests.” That tension — between symbolic affirmation and genuine legal leverage — now sits at the center of the conversation surrounding Colorado’s proposed amendment and the broader national movement behind similar measures.

The modern push for constitutional hunting and fishing protections emerged largely from concerns that traditional sporting practices were becoming increasingly vulnerable to emotionally charged campaigns and public referendums. Western states in particular have become major battlegrounds, where anti-hunting organizations have targeted predator hunting, trapping, and specific wildlife management practices through direct democracy initiatives. Colorado has become one of the clearest examples of that trend, with repeated political fights surrounding mountain lion hunting and other forms of wildlife harvest.

Supporters of Colorado’s proposed amendment say the language was intentionally crafted to be broad and durable. In addition to protecting hunting and fishing, the proposal would affirm the right to “harvest wildlife by traditional methods,” wording advocates believe would indirectly protect trapping without explicitly naming it. The phrasing reflects lessons learned from previous campaigns around the country and an understanding that the political fight over wildlife management increasingly revolves around language, legal interpretation, and public perception as much as biology or conservation science.

Still, skepticism remains, even among longtime sportsmen. Critics question whether constitutional amendments can truly stop anti-hunting governors, legislatures, or ballot initiatives in states where demographics and political attitudes may already be shifting away from traditional hunting culture. Many point to Colorado’s own mountain lion controversies as evidence that constitutional language alone may not prevent future restrictions on predator hunting or wildlife management practices.

Advocates counter that this criticism misunderstands the primary purpose of RTHF protections. “RTHF is more of a post hoc defense,” one policy expert explained during a recent strategy discussion. “If a violation occurs, it creates constitutional grounds to challenge the law in court. Without it, in most cases those constitutional grounds don’t exist.” In practical terms, that means an anti-hunting law or ballot initiative could still pass initially. However, once enacted, sportsmen’s groups would gain an entirely new legal avenue to challenge the measure — one rooted not simply in policy disagreement, but in constitutional protection approved directly by voters.

One of the clearest examples of how these amendments can influence political decision-making came from Nebraska. In 2012, Nebraska voters approved a constitutional amendment protecting the right to hunt and fish. Less than two years later, after the state wildlife commission authorized a mountain lion season, legislation was introduced to repeal the hunt entirely. The bill moved successfully through Nebraska’s unicameral legislature and appeared headed toward becoming law.

Then-Governor Dave Heineman ultimately vetoed the measure, and his reasoning has since become one of the most frequently cited examples of RTHF’s practical influence. Heineman warned that banning the cougar hunt could violate Nebraska’s constitutional protection recognizing hunting as a “preferred means” of wildlife management and potentially expose the state to costly litigation. He also emphasized that he did not want to disregard the intent voters had expressed when they approved the amendment only a short time earlier. To supporters of RTHF measures, Nebraska demonstrated that constitutional protections can shape political behavior long before lawsuits are ever filed. The possibility of constitutional conflict alone can alter how elected officials evaluate legislation involving hunting and wildlife management.

The financial battles surrounding these amendments also suggest that opponents view them as something far more significant than symbolic statements. Anti-hunting groups carefully monitor polling data and invest heavily when they believe they have a realistic chance to defeat an amendment. In North Carolina’s 2018 RTHF campaign, opponents spent more than $9.2 million trying unsuccessfully to stop the measure. Arizona produced the opposite result in 2010, when anti-hunting groups outspent sportsmen’s organizations by roughly 26 percent and successfully defeated the proposal.

Those spending patterns reveal a broader strategic calculation. In states where polling strongly favors hunting and fishing rights, opponents often spend relatively little. Florida’s 2024 campaign became a textbook example. Sportsmen’s organizations spent roughly $1.25 million supporting the amendment, while opponents spent just over $130,000. “The antis will run polling the same as our side does,” one strategist explained. “In states where it’s pretty clear they’ll lose, they may throw some money at it, but not serious dollars. Where they think they can win, they’re willing to throw serious money into trying to defeat them.”

Perhaps the biggest misconception surrounding RTHF amendments is the belief that they are primarily intended to stop anti-hunting ballot initiatives before they ever reach voters. Legal experts say that is only partially true. In some states, constitutional protections could potentially prevent certain measures from appearing on the ballot if election officials determine they conflict with constitutional rights. More commonly, however, the amendments create grounds for litigation after a law or ballot initiative has already passed.

That distinction matters significantly in states like Colorado, where citizen-driven ballot initiatives remain one of the most powerful forces shaping wildlife policy. Even many supporters of RTHF measures acknowledge that constitutional amendments alone are unlikely to fully protect hunting and fishing traditions indefinitely. Several argue that raising the vote threshold for wildlife-related ballot initiatives may ultimately prove equally important in preventing emotionally driven campaigns from reshaping complex wildlife management policies at the ballot box.

“Both raising the bar and RTHF are valuable in their own ways,” one advocate explained. “One helps prevent bad policy from passing in the first place. The other gives you constitutional grounds to challenge it if it does.”

The broader debate reflects a larger shift taking place throughout American conservation politics. For generations, wildlife management decisions largely rested with professional biologists operating under the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. Increasingly, though, controversial questions involving predators, trapping, and hunting methods are being fought through political campaigns, social media activism, and courtroom litigation. That shift is precisely why many sportsmen view constitutional protections as necessary insurance policies for the future of hunting and fishing.

The legal record surrounding RTHF protections remains relatively young, and few major court cases have fully tested the boundaries of these amendments. Yet several ongoing lawsuits — including fisheries-related cases in Mississippi and North Carolina — are already relying in part on constitutional hunting and fishing provisions. Whether these amendments ultimately become transformative legal shields or remain largely symbolic statements may take years to fully determine.

What already appears clear, however, is that both sides of the hunting debate believe the stakes are real. Otherwise, neither side would be spending millions of dollars trying to win.

– Chris Dorsey

Chris Dorsey is a 30-year media veteran and conservation thought leader who is the founding partner of Dorsey Pictures, a Global 100 Production Studio, and Mission Partners Entertainment Group, a leading IMAX/giant screen natural history producer.