ScentLok has released its Women's Ridge Jacket and Pant system, featuring Carbon Alloy® scent adsorption, Silver Alloy™ antimicrobial protection, and Precip-X™ weather finish. The purpose-built collection combines an athletic silhouette with ultra-quiet micro-tricot fabric and lofted Berber fleece lining for superior midseason whitetail hunting performance.

Marilyn Bentz, Executive Director of the National Bowhunter Education Foundation since 2003, received the Ann Weber Hoyt Award of Merit for her excellence in archery and bowhunting. Bentz has been instrumental in advancing bowhunter education and safety through her leadership roles and contributions to the archery community.

Skeeter Boats introduced the new FXE bass boat model line featuring advanced hull design, Yamaha V MAX SHO 250-horsepower outboards, and precision manufacturing technology. The models deliver improved acceleration, handling, and performance across various water conditions, with availability through authorized Skeeter dealerships in late June 2026.

Michigan DNR Conservation Officers Chris Kravitsky and Mark Siemen rescued two Ohio visitors from Lake Huron after their kayaks capsized approximately 1 mile offshore. The couple, who were not wearing life jackets, had been pushed farther from shore by increasing offshore winds. The incident highlights the importance of wearing Coast Guard-approved life jackets and understanding cold water dangers on the Great Lakes.

The Kalamazoo River Cleanup Initiative on Saturday, June 20, invites families, paddlers, and fishermen to remove debris and trash from the Kalamazoo River, banks, and trails across Kalamazoo, Comstock, and Parchment. The event runs 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a celebration at Mayors Riverfront Park.

Wildlife Forever announced the 2026 Guy Harvey Shark Award winners, a special division of the Art of Conservation Fish Art Contest sponsored by the Guy Harvey Foundation. Winners from K-12th grade received signed prints from marine artist Dr. Guy Harvey for their original shark artwork and conservation writing.

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating the death of an adult male recovered from the St. Joseph River in South Bend on Wednesday evening. The South Bend Fire Department, South Bend Police, and Indiana Conservation Officers responded to the scene at 700 Riverside Drive. The cause of death has not yet been determined.

SLG2, Inc. will bring its Shoot Like A Girl experience to Bass Pro Shops in Niles, Ohio on June 13-14 as part of its 2026 Grand Safety Tour. The free event features hands-on firearm and archery experiences, product demonstrations, and outdoor education in a mobile range and gun bar setting for women, families, and outdoor enthusiasts of all experience levels.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers reported multiple violations of walleye possession limits on the Detroit River during spring patrols. The legal daily limit is six walleye per angler, and DNR 1st Lt. Damon Owens emphasized enforcement efforts to protect the fishery resource from depletion.

The Lake St. Clair Fish Cleaning Foundation is raising $90,000 for a public fish cleaning station at Clinton River Cutoff DNR Boating Access Site in Harrison Township. Donations through July 31 will be matched through a grant program. The station will feature a Barracuda 1 premium fish cleaning station and meet ADA guidelines.

The Gulf Council met in Tampa, Florida, June 1-3, 2026, awarding Officer Specialists Kyle Yurewitch and Mathew Rubenstein of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission the 2025 Law Enforcement Team of the Year Award. The Council took final action on Reef Fish Amendment 63 for red grouper quota distribution and discussed regional management of greater amberjack, for-hire data collection, and essential fish habitat updates.

Lumenok has released the Fish-On Fishing Pole Light, a bite-activated light that automatically illuminates when a fish strikes, helping anglers detect bites day or night. The durable light works on most fishing poles, comes in green and red, features a replaceable battery, and is available in 2-packs for $29.99.

The DNR hosts a Free Family Fishing Derby at Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area in Lapeer County on June 13 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Open to all ages, participants can fish Lake Minnawanna with no license required during the annual Free Fishing Weekend.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the towns of Burns Harbor and Porter celebrated the groundbreaking of two Marquette Greenway segments totaling 1.86 miles. Burns Harbor received a $5 million DNR grant for 0.82 miles, while Porter received $2,077,016 for 1.04 miles, aligning with Governor Mike Braun's commitment to outdoor recreation.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department announces new crossbow permit and Challenged Hunter Access/Mobility Permit (CHAMP) applications are now available. All existing permits expire June 30, 2026, and hunters must complete new medical evaluations and submit applications to AZGFD offices by mail or in-person for hunting after July 1, 2026.

Silent Steel USA, a veteran-owned suppressor manufacturer, named Route 1A Advertising as its Advertising and Branding Agency of Record and Walk 2 West as its Social Media Marketing Agency of Record to accelerate brand awareness and market expansion.

The Mule Deer Foundation applauds the U.S. Department of the Interior's proposal to expand hunting and fishing access on National Wildlife Refuges, making over 92 million acres available for sportsmen and women. The initiative would create more than 1,450 new hunting and sport fishing opportunities across 111 field stations, reinforcing hunting and angling as conservation tools.

Federal Ammunition announces the 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak, a high-pressure cartridge using patented Peak Alloy case technology loaded to 80,000 psi. The new round delivers 300 fps faster velocities than standard 6.5 Creedmoor while maintaining similar recoil and compatibility with existing rifles. Initial offerings include 130-grain Terminal Ascent and 155-grain Fusion Tipped loads, shipping to dealers in August 2026.

Crosman Corporation introduced the Raiden, its first battery-powered fully automatic BB gun featuring semi-auto and full-auto modes, 430 fps velocity, an 80-round magazine, and approximately 2,200 shots per charge.

TWN Industries announced the release of Bone Maniacs Camo, a new hydrographic film developed with the Bone Maniacs brand. The style-driven pattern features a layered gray base with contour linework designed for firearms, automotive components, and outdoor gear, available as WTP-1131.

DeSantis Gunhide introduces the #236 Outback 2.0, an ambidextrous OWB/IWB holster made from center cut steer hide with a Tuck-able 360 clip for unlimited positioning. The holster accommodates most concealable handguns and popular Red Dot Sights, retailing at $55.99.

GRITR Sports, a Texas firearms retailer, has expanded its inventory with new arrivals from Warrior Systems, including WSM15 5.56mm NATO rifles in multiple finishes and billet AR-15 receiver components for custom rifle builds.

Stealth Cam has released the Deceptor MAX 3.0 Cellular Trail Camera, featuring AI-powered false image detection, PIR zone selection, and Rack Alert technology. The camera offers dual-core simultaneous image and video capture with 4K downloads via the Command app and new built-in charging capability with FieldMAX Lithium Rechargeable Batteries.

RCBS announces its 1776 Edition Rock Chucker Supreme and Die Sets to commemorate the United States' 250th Anniversary. The limited-edition press features classic red, white, and blue finish, while die sets come in a custom wooden presentation box and are available in six popular cartridges, all proudly made in the USA.

Firearms News released its June 2026 issue featuring James Tarr's cover story on Military Armament Corporation's MAC IX, a modular 9mm PCC. The issue includes reviews of firearms from Aly & Kaufman, Sig Sauer, and DS Arms, plus technical columns and analysis from contributors including Dr. Will Dabbs, Rick Rambo, and Patrick Sweeney.

The Reason Outdoors and Rick Rehm of Shooter1721 partnered to launch a benefit raffle featuring two autographed air rifles: a custom RAW Mini Hunter and an AirForce TEX-REX. Proceeds support The Reason Outdoors' Ecotherapy Program, providing outdoor healing experiences for veterans, first responders, and their families.

The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and Michigan Department of Natural Resources celebrate 50 years of impact by highlighting over $45 million in Detroit Riverfront improvements, including Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park, William G. Milliken State Park, and the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center, made possible through partnerships with the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy and Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation.

Dave Caserio, a local writer and educator, is leading a writing workshop at Pictograph Cave State Park on June 20 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Participants will use observations of the natural world and the area's historical, cultural, and geological background to create works in any writing genre.

Southern Michigan state parks are hosting volunteer stewardship workdays throughout June at seven locations including Bald Mountain Recreation Area, Saugatuck Dunes State Park, Warren Dunes State Park, Highland Recreation Area, Muskegon State Park, Waterloo Recreation Area, and Yankee Springs Recreation Area. Volunteers can help remove invasive species like garlic mustard, barberry, and autumn olive.

Friends of Clear Lake State Park hosts a Geocache 101 presentation on June 20 at 11 a.m., covering hiding, finding, trackables, and path tags. New geocaches will be released throughout the park during the event. A Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry.

GAME & FISH TV, powered by Outdoor Sportsman Group, launches "The Wild Life" programming block featuring Andrew Zimmern's Wild Game Kitchen, WildFed with Daniel Vitalis, and Hardcore Carnivore with Jess Pryles, available on Roku, Prime Video, VIZIO, Fire TV, and other platforms.

The High Road with Keith Warren releases a new episode featuring Keith Warren and Johnny Piazza managing deer and feral hogs in South Texas using equipment from Shaw Barrels, Vortex Optics, PyramydAir.com, Bering Optics, and Berger Ammunition while educating viewers on wildlife management practices.

Leupold & Stevens announces the launch of "Marco Polo: Bowhunting the Impossible," a film by Leupold Pro Team member Pedro Ampuero documenting his pursuit of a Marco Polo sheep in Kyrgyzstan using archery and the new Leupold BX-6 Range HD binocular with Precision Cut Archery software.

A partial closure is in effect at Point of Rocks Fishing Access Site on the upper Yellowstone River north of Carbella due to a grizzly bear feeding on an animal carcass. The northern portion east of U.S. Highway 89 is closed, while the southern portion and boat ramp remain open. Recreationists floating the river are advised to stay river right and avoid stopping between the Highway 89 bridge and 1 mile downstream.

Editor's Note: Today's feature addresses the ongoing fight between the NRA and NRA Foundation over control of charitable funds raised in the name of the NRA and for the purpose of funding the NRA's education and safety initiatives. The recently announced name change of the NRA Foundation follows a lawsuit filed by the NRA on January 5, 2026 in which it was announced that "The NRA's lawsuit seeks rulings preventing the Foundation from infringing the NRA's trademarks..." including the use of the name "NRA." 

America has produced some remarkable business models over the years. Apple convinced millions of people to stand in line overnight to buy phones that were only marginally different from the phones they already owned. Amazon persuaded consumers that waiting two days for a package constitutes a hardship. Coca-Cola somehow built one of the most valuable brands in human history selling flavored sugar water. Yet even these corporate giants may have to tip their hats to what could become one of the most audacious nonprofit maneuvers ever attempted: spend thirty-five years raising money under one of the most recognizable names in America, accumulate roughly $160 million in charitable assets through that association, then rebrand under a completely different name and act bewildered when donors ask whether the money was supposed to follow the brand that inspired the donations in the first place.

That, in simplified form, appears to be the proposition now confronting NRA members, volunteers, and donors as the organization formerly known as the NRA Foundation attempts to reinvent itself as the "1791 Foundation." The remarkable part is not the name change itself. Organizations rebrand all the time. Corporations do it. Nonprofits do it. Professional sports teams do it. The remarkable part is the apparent expectation that everyone should pretend the previous three decades never happened.

For most of its existence, the NRA Foundation enjoyed what marketers would describe as an unfair competitive advantage. It possessed a name that already meant something. It didn't have to spend decades building credibility because the credibility had already been built by generations of NRA members, instructors, volunteers, hunters, competitive shooters, youth coaches, and donors. Every Friends of NRA dinner, every fundraising banquet, every auction, raffle, sponsorship package, and donor appeal drew strength from those three letters. The Foundation wasn't shy about that relationship. In fact, the relationship was the entire fundraising proposition.

Nobody attended a Friends of NRA banquet because they were passionately devoted to the future vision of an organization called the 1791 Foundation. Nobody spent years volunteering because they hoped one day the NRA connection would become optional. Nobody sat through endless fundraising dinners thinking, "My greatest wish is that someday the organization using the NRA name to raise this money decides the NRA name wasn't really that important after all."

Yet that appears to be the argument donors are now being asked to accept. Somehow the NRA name was indispensable when raising the money but incidental when determining who should control it. That's an intellectual feat so impressive it deserves its own Olympic event. One can almost picture the judges awarding perfect scores for difficulty while deducting points for excessive use of donor amnesia.

Imagine if tomorrow Harvard announced it was changing its name to the New England Institute of Historical Learning but intended to keep every dime generated by a century of Harvard alumni giving while insisting the Harvard brand itself had little to do with the institution's success. Or imagine if Alabama football suddenly became the Southeastern Heritage Athletic Collective and expected boosters to shrug indifferently at the transition. Such arguments would be laughed out of the room before the speaker reached the second sentence. Yet a variation of that logic is now being presented with a straight face.

What makes the story particularly fascinating, however, is not merely the money. It is the personnel. Every political scandal, corporate meltdown, or institutional fiasco eventually develops a recurring cast of characters. The names change locations but somehow remain near the action. The final years of the Wayne LaPierre era produced a seemingly endless parade of governance controversies, lawsuits, boardroom disputes, spending scandals, and public embarrassments. NRA members spent years demanding reform. They voted accordingly. They replaced directors. They rejected entrenched factions. Many believed the organization was finally beginning to emerge from one of the darkest chapters in its history.

Then, in a plot twist that feels less like nonprofit governance and more like a low-budget sequel nobody requested, many of the same figures associated with that troubled era suddenly appear in leadership roles connected to the newly rebranded foundation. It's rather like spending years removing termites from your home only to discover they've incorporated as a property management company next door.

Of course, defenders will insist this is all coincidence. Perhaps it is merely happenstance that so many familiar names continue appearing whenever controversy follows the money. Perhaps it means nothing whatsoever. Then again, perhaps Elvis Presley currently operates a fly-fishing guide service in northern Arkansas. At a certain point skepticism ceases to be cynicism and becomes basic pattern recognition.

The larger issue remains donor trust. Every nonprofit in America speaks reverently about donor intent until donor intent becomes inconvenient. At that point entire battalions of lawyers emerge from the fog carrying binders, bylaws, memoranda, and legal theories explaining why what donors thought they were supporting may not be what they were actually supporting. Forests are sacrificed to produce explanatory documents. Consultants are retained. Definitions become surprisingly flexible.

But ordinary donors tend to think in simpler terms. If they attended a Friends of NRA banquet, bought auction items, purchased raffle tickets, and wrote checks because they believed they were supporting NRA-related charitable programs, then they naturally assume the money should continue serving the mission represented by the NRA name. That isn't a radical legal theory. It's common sense.

Which brings us to the question nobody involved seems eager to answer directly: if the NRA name generated the goodwill, inspired the donations, recruited the volunteers, filled the banquet halls, and built the fundraising network, who possesses the stronger moral claim to the resulting assets—the institution whose name created the value, or the people attempting to retain control of that value after abandoning the identity that produced it?

Courts will eventually wrestle with the legal dimensions of that question. Judges will parse documents, bylaws, restrictions, and charitable trust doctrines. Yet there is a parallel court already in session, and it consists of the millions of donors whose contributions built the Foundation in the first place. Their verdict may ultimately matter more. Trust, once squandered, is far harder to recover than money.

That is why transparency is not optional. Donors deserve a full accounting. They deserve to know how the funds were raised, what promises were made, how donor intent is being interpreted, and why assets accumulated under the NRA banner should remain under the control of an organization that now appears eager to distance itself from that banner. Most of all, they deserve an answer to a question so obvious it should not require litigation to ask:

If the NRA name was valuable enough to raise the money, why isn't it valuable enough to keep?

Until that question receives a convincing answer, many supporters may conclude that the only thing disappearing faster than the NRA Foundation's old name is the credibility of the people attempting to replace it.

– 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.