Whitewater Fishing introduces the Horizon Lightweight Jogger, a technical evolution of the best-selling Luswea Jogger designed for warmer weather. Featuring active-cooling poly/spandex double-weave fabric, zero-bunch engineering, and tactical storage, the jogger is engineered for high-output anglers and transitions seamlessly from boat deck to dock at $79.99.
Outdoor Edge won the Gold Award in the Knife category of the Bowhunting World and Predator Xtreme 2026 Readers' Choice Awards, marking the fifth recognition in six years. The Denver-based manufacturer's patented RazorSafe® replaceable blade system continues to resonate with hunters and outdoor enthusiasts.
Ducks Unlimited named Jeff Tillma the 2026 Minnesota Conservation Partner of the Year and recognized Brittany Nosbush with their Beyond the Call Award. Both work for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and were honored for their conservation partnership efforts supporting DU's public land protection and restoration initiatives.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources confirmed chronic wasting disease in mule deer near Scofield in Carbon County and new areas of Uintah County. Of 2,126 samples tested between July and February, 83 were positive for CWD, with 435 total mule deer and 11 elk confirmed infected statewide since 2002.
Fiocchi of America's Pro Team achieved commanding performances at major NSCA sporting clays events, with Kiersten Sales capturing multiple championships at the Caribbean Classic and Bill McGuire earning Veteran titles. Chad Roberts secured the Main Event M2 title at the Arizona State Championship, with all athletes relying on Fiocchi's White Rino competition ammunition.
B&P USA Pro Staff members Gebben Miles, Karen Miles, and Nick Berry delivered commanding early-season performances across the Caribbean Classic, Seminole Cup, and Blackjack Open. The team secured multiple titles including Main Event victories and High Overall honors, demonstrating technical precision and competitive excellence to open the 2026 NSCA season.
Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) filed a reply brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Schoenthal v. Raoul on March 3, 2026, seeking to overturn Illinois's ban on carrying firearms on public transportation. The case, represented by Cooper & Kirk, PLLC attorneys David H. Thompson, Peter A. Patterson, William V. Bergstrom, and David G. Sigale, could affect firearm carry rights nationwide.
The Second Amendment Foundation filed a reply brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Schoenthal v. Raoul, challenging Illinois' ban on firearm carry on public transit. SAF, joined by the Firearms Policy Coalition, argues the ban violates Second Amendment rights and lacks historical support, with Executive Director Adam Kraut and founder Alan M. Gottlieb emphasizing the law only disarms law-abiding citizens.
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman camp at Whiskey Mountain Conservation Camp offers women 18 and older the opportunity to learn fishing, backpacking, photography, and more. Two Beyond BOW sessions focus on fly fishing and backpacking for $150 per person, including meals and lodging. Applications close March 31.
Michigan's DNR Outdoor Skills Academy offers walleye and steelhead fishing classes throughout March at various locations including the Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit and Mitchell State Park. The Outdoor Adventure Center also hosts its annual Lumberjack Days celebration March 26-29, featuring educational programs, dining, ax throwing, and a pancake run.
Barrett Firearms Manufacturing will participate in Gun Owners of America's inaugural GEAR event, hosting a 1,500-yard long-range shooting experience. The event brings together firearms enthusiasts and industry leaders for education and community engagement, with Barrett showcasing precision rifle platforms and providing hands-on instruction.
Join the DNR research vessel R/V Lake Char on a Lake Superior expedition to Klondike Reef in a short film documenting lake trout research. The crew studies this important native species, which has recently met recovery goals after facing challenges from invasive species, pollution, and overharvest. The expedition led by research biologist Shawn Sitar provides insights applicable to managing fish populations at other offshore reef locations.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has opened online applications for elk, moose, and bighorn sheep licenses with a March 25 deadline. A total of 1,062 elk licenses and 296 moose licenses are available, while bighorn sheep hunting season is tentatively scheduled for 2026 pending population surveys.
MassWildlife's Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program offers adult women new to turkey hunting an in-person seminar on March 28 at Shirley Rod & Gun Club and a mentored hunt on May 4 at Devens South Post Military Area. Participants learn turkey biology, regulations, and hunting techniques, with applications due by March 10.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation reported February 2026 NSSF-adjusted NICS background checks of 1,265,320, a 3.5 percent increase from February 2025. The NSSF introduced monthly NFA checks data for 2026, with Texas, Florida, and Virginia leading in NFA checks during the month.
The Gun Rights Policy Conference (GRPC) planning committee announced registration is open for the 41st annual conference scheduled for September 25-27 in Dallas at the Westin Dallas Fort Worth Airport hotel. Co-hosted by the Second Amendment Foundation and Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, the event brings together Second Amendment advocates, attorneys, and industry leaders.
Hawke Optics offers turkey hunters precision equipment including the Vantage IR 1-4x20 Turkey Dot Scope with illuminated reticle and the Vantage Reflex Sight featuring Motion Activated Illumination and a 34mm wide-view objective lens for fast target acquisition.
The Mule Deer Foundation mobilized $48.3 million for mule deer and black-tailed deer conservation in 2025, restoring over 537,000 acres of habitat across 153 projects in 17 states. MDF's investment leveraged $3.60 in on-the-ground impact for every $1 invested, benefitting 129 deer herds and eliminating 149 miles of hazardous fence.
HS Strut introduced the Elite 6, a new lineup of six diaphragm turkey calls developed with input from Paul Butski, Mark Drury, Tad Brown, and Ricky Joe Bishop. Each call features a three-reed latex design engineered for flexibility and realistic sound, suitable for both beginners and experienced hunters.
GRITR Sports, an online gun store with a brick and mortar location in DFW, TX, announces the arrival of new Chiappa Firearms models including Rhino revolvers, 1911 Empire Grade pistols, and various rifles from the Italian manufacturer founded in 1958.
Zanders, an all-women-owned distributor based in Sparta, Illinois, announced it is now stocking Bucked Up Energy drinks, supplements, and proteins. The partnership brings the performance energy brand to Zanders' nationwide dealer network, offering high-caffeine, sugar-free products with clinically studied ingredients.
TAG Precision, a Dallas-based maker of precision handgun sights, announced a Lifetime Warranty backed by their patented FiberLok technology. The warranty covers all sights and fibers, with free repair or replacement if anything fails, demonstrating the company's confidence in product durability and quality.
HS Strut, founded by Hunters Specialties, introduced the Elite 6, a new lineup of six diaphragm turkey calls developed with turkey-hunting icons Paul Butski, Mark Drury, Tad Brown, and Ricky Joe Bishop. Each call features a three-reed latex design engineered for flexibility and realistic sound, available as individual calls or multi-pack options.
Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. announced the release of the Performance Center Equalizer Carry Comp, a 9mm micro-compact pistol featuring performance upgrades including a PowerPort for reduced recoil, EZ technology for easy charging, and Ameriglo night sights.
Dan Wesson Firearms announces that the DWX and Specialist pistols are featured on the cover of Guns & Ammo's April 2026 issue. The feature highlights both single-stack and double-stack performance platforms, showcasing the craftsmanship that defines the Dan Wesson brand under the headline "OH, DAN!"
Luth-AR, a leading innovator in AR parts and accessories based in Buffalo, MN, will exhibit at the Nevada Premier Sportsman Expo March 6-8, 2026, at the Reno Sparks Convention Center. Visitors can explore Luth-AR's premium components including MBA Buttstocks, grips, and handguards at Booth #212.
F.LLI Pietta and Pietta Firearms experienced record success at Cowboy Christmas, SHOT Show, and other major shows, driven by mainstream cowboy culture trends. The company launched three new single-action models—Cowpoke, Pendleton, and Keepers of the Plains—and introduced the Blacktooth double-action revolver, with strong pre-orders and dealer commitments supported by sales partner Murski-Breeding Sales.
Wildlife Research Center has renewed its sponsorship with Whitetails Unlimited. The Ramsey, Minnesota-based company, founded by brothers John and Brian Burgeson in 1983, is recognized for developing innovative deer attractants, scent masking products, and Scent Killer Spray.
HuntStand has renewed its corporate sponsorship of Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors, a nonprofit dedicated to providing mentored hunting and fishing opportunities to youth. The partnership leverages HuntStand's mapping technology and property information to empower mentors and young people with tools for safe, ethical outdoor experiences.
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission will meet Wednesday, March 11, at 9:30 a.m. at Lansing Community College in Lansing. The meeting will be livestreamed via Zoom webinar with connection details and phone options provided for remote participation.
Major League Fishing's 2026 Bass Pro Tour Stage 3 streams live on MyOutdoorTV from Lakes Whitney and Waco in Texas, featuring 51 professional anglers competing for a $125,000 top prize and $600,000 purse. The four-day event (March 5-8) is hosted by the City of Waco, Greater Waco Sports Commission, and Waco Tourism Public Improvement District, with coverage by MLFNOW! broadcasters Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney.
Pursuit Channel highlights Hank Parker's Outdoor Magazine, a long-running series featuring bass-fishing icon Hank Parker sharing authentic fishing techniques, conservation insights, and practical how-to segments. The program airs weekly on Pursuit Channel and streams on Pursuit UP across 120+ million users on multiple platforms.
Major League Fishing's Bass Pro Tour Stage 3 presented by MillerTech streams live on MyOutdoorTV from Lakes Whitney and Waco, featuring 51 pro anglers competing for a $125,000 top prize and $600,000 total purse across four days of competition March 5-8.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department hosted public workshops to discuss Feedground Management Action Plans for the Jackson and Pinedale elk herd units. FMAPs are adaptive living documents designed to optimize feedground management, with topics including predator management, disease mitigation, and feeding methods. Updated versions will be shared later this year.
Having never been to an IWA Outdoor Classics, I’m not really sure if either the protesters or the transit strike were surprising to veteran attendees. I was told the threat of a transit strike wasn’t new, but actually striking seemed to surprise many. The anti-military show protests, although boisterous, were more amusing than threatening.
IWA management had time to publish a schedule of when the transit strike would begin and end (top), but we didn’t expect the book-end demonstrations. The first protests (middle image) were to protest the pre-IWA military hardware show. The second protests (bottom) were to protest Nazis - the liberal term used to describe right-wing ideological opponents. To hear the word Nazi tossed around wasn’t something I’d ever experienced in earlier visits to Germany. OWDN photos.
As far as the show itself, the more than 1,000 manufacturers, wholesalers, dealers and media in attendance seemed happy enough with the results. The vast majority of attendees (83 percent) were from outside Germany, as were the more than 25,000 trade visitors and media attendees.
Despite being a very well attended event, IWA had none of the crowded feeling of SHOT Show. Wide aisles (top) and a far more leisurely pace made meetings more peaceful and allowed plenty of time to look at the exhibitions (bottom).
However you judge it, there is one overall conclusion drawn between SHOT and IWA: this is an industry that relies- heavily- on relationships, global networking and dependable partnerships. Stefanie Leege, Exhibit Director for IWA summed it up pretty well when she said “IWA is an internationally oriented show, across all areas. Professional discussions in every world language and business channel is something you’ll only find here in our industry.”
Exhibitors came from 49 countries. Attendees represented 121 nations, with Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, France, the UK, China, Turkey, Switzerland, Spain and Denmark registering the most attendees.
As Leege explained, “What we experience here is more than a product show – it is a global network that intensifies, renews and strengthens itself over four days. For many businesses, particularly smaller retailers from niche markets or highly specialized suppliers, IWA is a decisive moment in the business calendar: they can meet international partners, test products, make comparisons and take strategic decisions on the spot.”
One surprising part of IWA was the heavy emphasis on knives, especially since we were warned in advance against having knives due to new German laws. Inside the IWA halls, knives were there in abundance. In fact, there was a Knife Demonstration Area where there were hands-on demonstrations and even an IWA Knife Awards competition, with 63 competitors across two categories (fixed blades/folders).
IWA’s Knife Area was a very upscale equivalent to the U.S.’s BLADE Show. The knives, however, were targeted to outdoor enthusiasts, not custom blade smiths and collectors.)
IWA has a decidedly different atmosphere from SHOT Show. It features a far more leisurely pace, lots of coffee in the mornings and plenty of beer in the afternoons. Nuremberg, unlike Las Vegas, is built around mass transit and is extremely easy to transit- unless there’s a transit strike. Even then, fleets of cabs make it possible to get around far easier than you might expect.
The next IWA OutdoorClassics is set for March 4-7, 2027 in Nuremberg. I’m thinking it might be worth a second visit, but as always, we’ll keep you posted.
