Excalibur Crossbow introduces the Suppressor CRT, a compact recurve crossbow featuring Sound Deadening System+, LimbSaver SlipLox technology, and High-Output limbs for enhanced performance. The hunt-ready package includes a TACT Hunter Scope, R.E.D.S. Suppressors, and ProFlight arrows, available in Mossy Oak Break-Up Country camouflage for $1,199.99 MSRP.

Team SK shooter Jake Stine delivered an exceptional performance at the 2026 NRA National Silhouette Championship, finishing 3rd in the Lapua Monarch Cup and 2nd in Smallbore Hunter Class, while also placing 2nd in hunter rifle and 3rd in standard rifle at the NRA High Power National Championships.

The legends of the great outdoors are officially back! Stoney Wolf Outdoors has returned, throwing open the vault to stream over 600 legendary, classic outdoor videos! Stream Fred Bear, Roger Raglin, Dan Fitzgerald, Barry Wensel and dozens of other legends on one ad free channel! www.stoneywolfoutdoors.com

Dale McCully set a new world record at the South Beaver Tactical GBA 1,000-Yard Tactical Match with a 1.558-inch five-shot group, verified by the Global Benchrest Association. McCully credited sponsors Redding Reloading Equipment, Kelbly's Inc., and Krieger barrels for their quality products.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources acquired a conservation easement protecting over 73,000 acres in the Michigamme Highlands, including Mt. Arvon's peak and critical wildlife habitat. Funded by the Forest Legacy Program, Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Walmart's Acres for America, and Life Time Foundation, the project provides public recreational access and sustainable forest management.

The Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program (UGBEP) Projects Access Guide is now available, administering over 600 habitat projects conserving 370,000 acres of game bird habitat and providing 740,000 acres of hunting access. The guide includes project details, habitat management information, and maps for all FWP regions. Contact UGBEP coordinator Debbie Hohler for more information.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Alabama People Against a Littered State invite volunteers to participate in the 39th Annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup on September 19, 2026, across Baldwin, Mobile, and Escambia counties. Since 1987, over 115,000 volunteers have removed 900 tons of marine debris through this International Coastal Cleanup effort.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks released the proposed 2027–2030 Statewide Fisheries Management Plan and environmental assessment for public review. The plan identifies statewide fisheries-management goals and strategies to sustain Montana's fisheries. Public meetings are scheduled across the state in August and September.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is proposing updates to fishing regulations, elk hunting rules, and amphibian/reptile collection policies for 2027-28, seeking public feedback on changes affecting various waterbodies and species across the state.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks lands in Beaverhead County will implement Stage I fire restrictions beginning August 13. The restrictions prohibit campfires and open flames unless exempted, with limited smoking and cooking allowances. FWP urges recreators to exercise caution due to dry conditions and fire danger.

The U.S. Forest Service announced a consolidation of national wildfire management authorities under Deputy Chief Sarah Fisher, effective immediately. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz delegated all fire and aviation authorities to strengthen operational efficiency, clarify reporting roles, and establish direct accountability for wildfire response and aviation operations across the agency.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks lands in Granite and Mineral Counties will implement Stage 2 fire restrictions beginning August 13-14, prohibiting campfires, smoking in most areas, and operating internal combustion engines during peak hours to mitigate wildfire danger.

Boyt Harness Company, Benelli USA, and The Scattergun Lodge launched a 2026 sweepstakes offering an all-inclusive South Dakota pheasant hunt valued over $18,000. The grand prize includes a 3-day guided hunt at Scattergun Lodge, a Benelli Ultra-Light Montefeltro 20-Gauge Shotgun, and head-to-toe Boyt Upland Collection gear for two winners.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission received a $2.1 million USDA grant through the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program to support its Waterfowl Rice Incentive Conservation Enhancement program for three years. The program pays rice producers to flood fields for migrating waterfowl and provides public hunting opportunities on private land.

Idaho Fish and Game's Shooting Range Development Grant program offers competitive grants to upgrade public firearms and archery ranges. Applications are due Nov. 2 and eligible organizations include nonprofit shooting clubs and government agencies. Grants require a 25% match through donated labor or materials.

Montana Senate Bill 514, passed during the 2025 legislative session, requires nonresident upland game bird hunters to begin hunting 10 days later than residents on private lands enrolled in FWP hunting access programs and public lands, excluding mountain grouse species.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is implementing a new lottery system at Missouri Headwaters State Park to manage hunting access safely. Hunters must complete online applications weekly, with up to six hunters selected randomly for each day through January 15.

North Dakota's fall turkey season offers 3,700 licenses, 610 fewer than last year, with reduced allocations in 13 of 21 hunting units. The special flock reduction bow season closes January 3, 2027, and applications are due September 2 through the North Dakota Game and Fish website.

Idaho Department of Fish and Game encourages hunters to prepare for the 2026 season by practicing at public shooting and archery ranges. Hunter Education Administrator Brenda Beckley emphasizes that proper marksmanship preparation is essential for ethical hunting success, with tips provided for rifles, shotguns, and bows.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has released 2026 Block Management Program information, providing access to nearly 7 million acres of private and isolated public land for hunters. Property maps, rules, and resources are available online at fwp.mt.gov/bma and at FWP regional offices.

NSSF and Project ChildSafe partnered with Little Rock Police Department, Little Rock Fire Department, and Pulaski County Sheriff's Office to launch Project ChildSafe Little Rock, distributing 1,000 free gun locks to promote secure firearm storage and prevent accidents, thefts, and suicide.

Guns.com announced a new proprietary intelligent technology platform in alpha testing designed to revolutionize firearm ecommerce. The platform's first solution helps local gun shops and pawnbrokers efficiently identify, value, and sell used firearms with automated listing creation. Co-CEO Greg Minkler emphasized the dealer-first approach will be available free to Guns.com's Dealer Network.

Black Rifle Coffee Company has renewed its partnership with SLG2, Inc. to provide premium coffee tastings at Shoot Like A Girl events nationwide. Founded by Evan Hafer, Mat Best, and Jarred Taylor, BRCC will offer complimentary beverages and ready-to-drink energy products to attendees, enhancing the event experience across SLG2's brand portfolio.

Fiocchi of America launched Golden Dove Duplex, a duplex shotshell combining #8 and #6 lead shot designed for dove hunters. The 1-1/5-ounce payload at 1,275 feet per second delivers dense patterns for close shots while maintaining energy for extended-distance harvests.

GRITR announces improved Tactical Knee Pads featuring a flatter dome shape, broader knee coverage, and low-profile ergonomic design. The updated pads combine rugged TPU outer shell with high-density EVA foam for impact absorption and are available at GritrGear.com and Amazon.

TEKTO Knives released the X1 // Atlas, its first fixed blade knife featuring a 3.30-inch CPM MagnaCut blade, full-tang construction, and skeletonized G10 handles. Made in the USA and available in Black, OD Green, and Desert, the knife is designed for everyday carry, hunting, and field use at $249.99.

XS Sights now offers pre-drilled Standard Dot tritium sights, Fiber Optic sights, and an ACRO Optic Plate for the Taurus 66 Combat revolver. The products feature dual-illumination design, fiber optic technology, and CNC-machined construction for enhanced durability and target acquisition.

Taurus Holdings, Inc. announced the GX4 Carry chambered in .380 Auto, expanding its award-winning GX4 family. The new model offers manageable recoil, a slim profile, ergonomic grip with interchangeable backstraps, and 15-round magazine capacity, available through authorized dealers beginning August 13, 2026.

Federal Ammunition launched two rebate programs for waterfowl hunters: Steel Savings offering $2.50 per box rebates on Speed-Shok and Rob Roberts Raptor Steel, and Flyway Rebate providing $5 per box rebates on Black Cloud and Ultra Steel. Valid purchases run through December 31, 2026.

HEVI announced its Killer Deals rebate program offering up to $100 back on HEVI-Steel waterfowl and upland hunting loads at $2.50 per box. The promotion runs through December 31, 2026, with a minimum purchase of two boxes required and a January 31, 2027 submission deadline.

Exhibitor space is filling quickly for the 2027 SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range, scheduled for January 18, 2027, at the Boulder Rifle and Pistol Club in Boulder City, Nevada. The 22nd annual event offers various shooting bays, long-range areas, and non-shooting exhibit spaces on a first-come, first-served basis for manufacturers to demonstrate products to industry professionals.

Dead Air Silencers will exhibit at the 2026 Sports Inc. August Outdoor Show in Nashville, Tennessee, showcasing new suppressor products including the Nomad Ti OTB, RXD910Ti developed with Ruger® Firearms, and the CT5P patrol rifle silencer designed for law enforcement and tactical applications.

Gearfire, a technology provider for shooting sports and outdoor retailers, will exhibit at the 2026 Sports, Inc. August Outdoor Show August 13-15 in Nashville. The company will showcase its AXIS Point of Sale and Gearfire eCommerce platforms at Booth 101, offering exclusive deals to attendees.

Duck Commander will participate in the 2026 Buckmasters Expo in Montgomery, Alabama, August 14-16, showcasing its Cutdown Series duck calls and Buck Commander's new Buk Ops optics technology. The event, presented by Mountain Dew, features over 300 exhibitor booths and activities including archery tournaments and bull riding shows.

The Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) announced that ticket sales and hotel reservations are now open for the 2027 Worldwide Hunting Expo & Convention, taking place January 15–17, 2027, at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center. The event features hundreds of exhibitors, auctions, banquets, and a free Texas Hunter Education Course, with proceeds supporting HSCF's youth education programs and conservation initiatives.

BERSA USA will exhibit at the Sports, Inc. 2026 August Outdoor Show on August 13-15 at Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The firearms manufacturer will showcase its full product lineup including Thunder series, BPCC, TPR, B1911, M2XI, BAR9, and BAR15 at Booth 276.

GlenDel Targets, a Superior, Wisconsin-based maker of 3D archery targets owned by FeraDyne Outdoors, has joined Whitetails Unlimited as a national sponsor. The company offers realistic 3D buck, bear, and elk targets with replaceable vital inserts designed for modern bows and crossbows.

ScentLok is sponsoring the new "Women Who Hunt" podcast featuring hosts Meghan Krohn, Raegan Cox, and Courtney Kaufmann. The show connects women hunters and anglers, addressing barriers to entry while celebrating the fastest-growing demographic in hunting and fishing.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is lowering water levels at Tomahawk Creek Flooding by approximately 2 feet following state inspection concerns. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy identified elevated water levels, inadequate flow, and seepage at the dam in Presque Isle and Montmorency counties.

The Private Land/Public Wildlife Advisory Committee will meet Thursday, August 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. via Zoom to review landowner incentive survey results, discuss FWP access program funding, and finalize recommendations for the final PL/PW report.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department's live nest camera captured a rare second clutch of barn owl eggs at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area in August 2026, an event occurring in only about 10% of barn owl nests. The successful breeding pair previously fledged five owlets earlier this year, with biologists attributing the second clutch to healthy habitat and abundant rodent resources.

For the better part of two and a half years, anyone tracking NICS background check data has gotten used to seeing red. Month after month, the industry's most-watched sales proxy came in below its own recent history — not just below the prior year, but below the trailing three-year average, a benchmark that already accounts for the post-2020 boom cooling off.

That streak just broke.

The number that matters

Comparing each month's NICS checks to the average of that same month over the prior three years, June 2026 posted a +6.12% gain — the first positive reading against the 3-year average since at least January 2024. July 2026 followed with +3.85%, making it two positive months in a row.

To put that in context: every single month from January 2024 through May 2026 — 29 consecutive months — came in below its 3-year average. June and July 2026 are the first back-to-back positive months in that entire stretch, and based on the data available, the first positive months of any kind in over two years.

(A methodology note: this analysis intentionally starts with 2021 data forward. The 2020 COVID-era spike distorted NICS numbers so severely that including it would skew any rolling average comparison for years afterward. Anchoring the dataset at January 2021 keeps the 3-year averages meaningful rather than chasing a pandemic anomaly.)

Look closely at that chart and the recovery didn't come out of nowhere. September 2025 came within a hair of breaking the streak outright — down just -0.10% against its 3-year average, essentially flat. It slipped back negative for the next few months, but in hindsight it was an early signal that the floor was closer than it looked. June and July 2026 are where that slow build finally broke through.

Why this matters more than a single good month

One strong month can always be noise — a calendar quirk, a promotional push, a single large distributor's restocking cycle. Two consecutive positive months against a rolling three-year benchmark is harder to wave away. It suggests the comparison isn't just "less bad" than a soft prior year — it's outperforming the broader multi-year baseline for the first time since the post-pandemic normalization began.

Year-to-date, 2026 is now running +3.91% ahead of 2025 through July, and the gap against the 3-year average has narrowed to roughly -73,878 units YTD — a fraction of the gap the industry was staring at even a few months ago.

Reading the tea leaves carefully

Two months don't make a trend, and anyone who lived through the whiplash of the last few years knows better than to declare victory early. August through December will tell the real story, particularly with holiday and hunting-season buying patterns still ahead.

But if you're looking for a signal that the long slide has leveled off — or is even in the early stages of turning — this is the first data point in two years that actually points that direction rather than away from it. 

For manufacturers, distributors, and retailers who have spent the last two-plus years managing through contraction, June and July 2026 may be the first real evidence that the bottom is behind us, not still ahead.

– Deon Martin, Sales System Analyst, Taurus Holdings, Inc.

NICS background check data is a widely used proxy for firearms sales but is not a direct sales count; state-level reporting differences and permit-check inclusion can affect month-to-month comparability.