Whitewater Fishing's Tamer Softshell Jacket and Bib feature high-density polyester stretch fabric with grid fleece lining, designed as the ideal "tweener" layer for spring and summer fishing conditions. Marketing Director Steve Allie highlights the premium material quality that distinguishes the Tamer from competitors, while integrated safety features and athletic mobility support extended on-water use.
The 60th Vegas Shoot showcased record-setting performances with widespread adoption of Easton X27 arrow shafts among top compound archers. Mike Schloesser won his third title, Ella Gibson claimed her first championship, and Brady Ellison earned his record 12th Vegas Shoot title in recurve competition.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has placed boating restrictions on motorized watercraft on the West Lakes Chain (Waldron, Steinbarger, Tamarack, and Jones lakes) and Smalley Lake in Noble County due to high-water levels, and an idle speed restriction on Sylvan Lake.
Hornady team shooters Austin Orgain, Shane Barnes, and John-Kyle Truitt won at the B&T Industries Box Canyon Showdown PRS match in Medicine Lodge, Kansas on March 28-29, 2026. Orgain secured first place overall in the Open Division and Suppressor Division using Hornady 25 cal. 138 gr. A-Tip Match bullets.
Team Leapers swept the SR Team competitions at the Orange Blossom Regional using the new Integrix Service Rifle Scope, with Nick Till, Conrad Young, Roy Mitchell, and Randy Olds all finishing in the top ten individually. The scope, developed by Margaret Ding and Leapers, Inc. in collaboration with James Fox and Nick Till, is now available for retail sale at $999.97 with a price increase planned for July 2026.
Desirae Edmunds of Team Beretta won Lady High Overall honors and Super Sporting titles at the Gator Cup Sporting Clays Tournament held March 24-29 at Back Woods Quail Club. Competing with Beretta's A400 L Sporting shotgun, Edmunds delivered a dominant performance against a deep field of competitors on the NSCA circuit.
SIGHTRON Ambassador Lucas Marusiak won first place at the 2026 Central Carolina Grand Prix Airgun Championship in the PCP Division using the SIGHTRON SIII 10-50x60 Field Target Riflescope. The scope's ExacTrack technology and precision optics proved reliable through extreme weather conditions at the American Airgun Field Target Association event held at Central Carolina Gun Club.
Berger shooter Dustin Flint successfully defended his title at the 2026 Spindletop Regional Championship, scoring 141/160 in the two-day event held at Golden Triangle Gun Club in Beaumont, Texas. Flint competed using Lapua Super Long Range ammunition across 80-shot Smallbore Standard Rifle and Hunter Rifle matches.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission converted a 20-foot trailer into a mobile cave experience called Eagle Antler Cave, designed by Deer/Mount Judea School District students. The simulator travels to schools across Arkansas to educate visitors about cave conservation and the importance of protecting the state's underground ecosystems.
The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin is opening registration for its 2026 Field Trip season on April 8 at noon, offering a record 280 trips across the state to celebrate the organization's 40th anniversary. NRF encourages members to register early as trips fill quickly.
Michigan's Department of Natural Resources will begin steelhead egg collection at the Little Manistee River Weir on April 14, with the public invited to observe. The facility plans to collect 4.6 million eggs for distribution to Thompson State Fish Hatchery, Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery, and hatcheries in Ohio and Indiana.
Michigan's Forest Legacy Program, a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, offers funding to purchase or secure working forest conservation easements on environmentally important forest lands. Nominations are due May 8 for projects competing for fiscal year 2028 federal funding.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is offering approximately $500,000 in Urban and Community Forestry grants ranging from $10,000 to $75,000, with applications due May 18. Eligible applicants include local governments, tribal governments, educational institutions, and nonprofits for tree management, planting, and community engagement projects.
Whitetails Unlimited awarded a grant to Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors to expand mentored hunting opportunities for youth across America. The partnership will help the organization, founded in 2002, reach more young hunters and conservationists while operating across eight states with plans for further expansion in 2026.
Vermont's spring turkey hunting season begins with youth and novice weekend April 25-26, followed by the regular season May 1-31. Toni Mikula, Vermont's wild turkey biologist, highlights the opportunity for experienced hunters to mentor new hunters. Last year, youth and novice hunters took 643 turkeys during the April weekend, with 5,131 bearded birds taken during the regular spring season.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is offering leftover nonresident hound licenses on a first-come, first-served basis starting Wednesday, April 8, at 5 a.m. Licenses can be purchased online or in person at FWP offices and through license Ambassadors.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department's Copper State Draw closes Tuesday, April 7 at 5 p.m., offering six permit-tags for mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, and elk hunting. The highly sought-after Arizona Strip antlered mule deer tag for Units 13A and 13B is among the available opportunities.
Korth Group Ltd. and the Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Society explain Canada's complex firearms prohibitions, including Orders-in-Council bans on over 2,000 firearm models, a handgun freeze, and expanded definitions under Bill C-21 that automatically prohibit certain semi-automatic rifles and shotguns manufactured after December 15, 2023.
Protect Liberty PAC announced its Freedom Giveaway Sweepstakes featuring a Benelli Lupo Rifle in 300 Win Mag. and patriotic t-shirts commemorating America's 250th birthday. The initiative aims to expand grassroots engagement ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, with t-shirt purchases providing sweepstakes entries.
Federal Ammunition expands its All-American shotshell line with two new 20-gauge competition loads now shipping nationwide. These trap and skeet loads feature a customized Podium wad, straight-wall hull, high-antimony lead shot, and reliable primers for peak performance.
Kinetic Development Group remains committed to advancing optic mounting solutions, with its SideLok series serving as the flagship offering. The company is investing engineering resources into next-generation mounting concepts designed to expand compatibility and functionality for modern rifle setups.
Trijicon, Inc. introduced the VCOG 1-8x28 riflescope in a new Cerakote FDE finish, featuring forged 7075-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum construction and premium glass. Available in MOA, MRAD, and SCO configurations with an LED reticle powered by AA lithium battery, the optic is fully waterproof and backed by Trijicon's Science of Brilliant testing methodology.
Turkeys for Tomorrow spotlights Gordon Lee High School in Chickamauga, Georgia, where agriculture advisor Chuck Williams leads students in conservation education and custom turkey call-making. The program teaches woodworking skills while fostering appreciation for wild turkey preservation and outdoor heritage.
Savage Arms introduces three specialized Model 110 rifles: the 110 Core Predator, 110 Core Tactical, and 110 Ultralite Predator. These rifles feature the AccuFit V2 system, beavertail forends with ARCA rails and M-Lok slots, and higher-capacity magazines designed for tactical operators and predator hunters.
Flux Defense announced the Big Black Barrel, a 6" replacement barrel engineered for the Sig P365/Raider 365 platform. Built from 4150 CMV steel with Black Nitride finish, it delivers increased velocity, softer recoil, and superior durability while maintaining the platform's compact size.
Springfield Armory announced the launch of the SA-35 4" 9mm semi-automatic pistol, featuring a compact barrel design based on John Moses Browning's original P-35. The pistol includes modern enhancements such as improved ergonomics, white dot front sights, and a 15-round magazine capacity, with an MSRP of $799.
Outdoor Sportsman Group introduces Western Pursuit, an annual publication dedicated to western hunting produced by Petersen's HUNTING experts. The 2026 inaugural issue features 120 pages covering hunter skills, field stories, and gear reviews for elk and mule deer hunting across the Western U.S., Canada, and Alaska.
Montana's State Shooting Facilities and Improvements Development and Oversight Task Force will meet April 10 via Zoom. The task force will hear from Colorado Parks & Wildlife and South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks on shooting facility development, with recommendations due June 30, 2027.
Flux Defense will exhibit at the 2026 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Houston, Texas, April 16-19 at Booth 534. The advanced defense technologies company will showcase its latest products and innovations while connecting with end users and industry partners.
Domain Outdoor, a food plot seed manufacturer, has renewed its partnership with Whitetails Unlimited as a national sponsor. WTU President Jeff Schinkten praised Domain Outdoor's high-quality products and their helpful online food plot selector tool for hunters.
Brigade Tactical Corp sponsors Operation Patriots FOB's Warrior Range Day on April 11, 2026, in Ridgeland, SC, showcasing its Monocore suppressor technology. Attendees can experience Brigade Tactical's innovative single-core suppressor design, which offers improved durability, consistent alignment, and simplified cleaning compared to traditional stacked-baffle suppressors.
Powder Valley has partnered with NRL Hunter as the Official Reloading Retailer for the competitive shooting series. The partnership provides NRL Hunter competitors access to comprehensive reloading components and ammunition, with support from Powder Valley's inventory, pricing, and customer service.
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners will meet April 10 and 11 at its Harrisburg headquarters. Public comment will be accepted on April 11 on a first-to-register basis, limited to five minutes per speaker. The meetings will be livestreamed on the Game Commission's YouTube channel.
Keith Warren's Deer and Wildlife Stories features Prime Acres Whitetails and father-and-son team Brad and Connor Hassig, showcasing sustainable deer farming, wildlife management, and ethical hunting practices. The video airs on Pursuit Channel and highlights the deer industry's economic and cultural significance.
Most of us glaze over when it comes to commodity pricing. We don’t know much about pork bellies, cattle futures, or Brent crude. Doesn’t mean those things aren’t important; but they’re futures, by definition things not in the immediate.
Oil, however, has moved from the futures to the immediate. Most of us have already read about $8.71/gallon gas price at one notorious station in California, but “that’s California” right?
Nope. Nationwide gas prices are rising faster than weeds in a spring lawn.
Those rising oil prices impact everyone. Some feel it faster and harder than others, but we’re all going to feel the squeeze, barring some sudden and unexpected resolution to the Iran situation. President Trump’s expletive-laden Easter rant isn’t likely to convince Iran to suddenly allow tankers to peacefully transit the Gulf of Hormuz.
Stock prices have already moved into “correction” territory. That value drop impacts corporate lending and operating costs. Their value’s going down as costs are going up means borrowing costs more. Increased costs means higher prices.
For all of us, prices are rising. The higher costs of transportation make it inevitable.
It wasn’t a four-figure fill-up, but the same tank ten days ago cost $70.93.
This past weekend, I watched a trucker hit four figures fueling his big rig. His last fill-up, he told me, was “only” $874. He’s no longer taking short haul deliveries or accepting LTL loads - unless he had enough LTLs to fill a container.
“No way am I going to put miles on my rig,” he explained, “if the load won’t cover fuel and operating costs.” Dead-heading, driving a commercial truck with no cargo, is becoming prohibitively expensive for independent haulers. Consequently, some independents are simply parking their rigs until a load comes available.
That impacts transport vehicle availability, and the circle of impact widens.Oil prices don’t just impact the gas pump or delivery costs.
From seed and fertilizers for crops to the bags grocers put them in, oil impacts pricing on everything.
If you travel by air, your next airline ticket will likely include a fuel surcharge. Barring a radical change, overall ticket prices will rise as well.
With the possible exception of California gas stations, it’s not price gouging. It’s economic reality.
No business exists to lose money. The corner coffee shop is no different from a Fortune 500 biggie. Prices have to reflect costs plus profit. Coffee prices have already skyrocketed.
The outdoor industry was already feeling the pressure. Ultimately, it’s an industry based on disposable income. But in many instances, disposable income is a misnomer. “Disposable income” actually means available and affordable credit. When the cost of essential goods rises, both the ability to buy -and borrow- are negatively impacted.
The economic squeeze has been obvious for some time in a pair of big ticket items: boats and recreational vehicles.
The National Marine Manufacturers Association had projected overall 2026 boat sales similar to 2025 (2025 was down 8-10% over 2024), but that’s not the whole story.
New boat sales have been slow for quite some time. In 2025, pre-owned boats represented 80% of the year’s total sales. New boat sales were stagnant at best.
This year, there’s an increasing trend toward alternatives to outright boat ownership. Boat clubs and shared-access models are growing in popularity.
Their higher usage costs are offset by the cumulative ownership costs for purchase, storage, maintenance and insurance, especially in larger models.
This year, buyers are leaning toward smaller, trailerable boats and personal watercraft. Not only are they less expensive to acquire, they’re more affordable to operate or store.
In the RV segment, January’s cautious optimism isn’t totally gone, but it’s being tempered by consumer concerns over higher borrowing rates and rising economic pressure. That’s not doing much for 2026 models, but is apparently helping dealers move older, aging inventory off their lots.
Overall, 2026 is looking like another buyer’s market for both the boat and RV industries. But those prospective buyers may consider 2026 a good year to hold off on purchases. Especially any that mean taking on additional debt.
For accessories manufacturers, that’s not all bad news. Concerned current owners may look at upgrading or refreshing their current boat or RV rather than upgrade to newer models. That could indicate additional business for refurbishment and repair shops.
But their costs are rising too.
The net/net of it all is this: it costs everyone more to live today compared to just a few months ago. Whether costs ease or rise remains to be seen.
For some companies, the costs have already become too great.
Alien Gear Holsters will soon be joining the Cadre Holdings portfolio.
Tedder Industries, parent company of Alien Gear, failed last year. Barring something untoward, Alien Gear will become a part of Cadre Holdings (NYSE: CDRE) sometime later this quarter. Last month, a bankruptcy court accepted Cadre’s $10.3 million bankruptcy auction bid. Cadre already owns Safariland. The addition of Alien Gear will give them another known brand with popular products in the consumer, law enforcement, military and security products categories.
