Indiana DNR Law Enforcement employees Tim Beck and Tony Mann received national awards at the 2026 IHEA-USA Meeting in Arizona. Beck earned the Hunter Education Coordinator of the Year Award, while Mann received the Tom Gallagher Award for Tree Stand Safety Awareness.
Hornady shooter Lauryl Akenhead won Top Lady honors at the Colemans Creek NRL Hunter match in Ellerbe, North Carolina, using Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor 140 gr. Match ammo and placing 4th overall in the Open Heavy division.
Team Beretta's JJ Racaza won the 2026 Handgun & PCC Puerto Rico Extreme Cup, an IPSC Level III match, competing with the Beretta 92X Performance. This marks his second major Level III victory in 2026, following his earlier Xtreme Open win in Florida.
Team Beretta achieved multiple podium finishes at the 2026 World Speed Shooting Championship in Talladega, Alabama. Salvador Luna won the Production Division World Championship title with the Beretta APX A1 Full Size and secured second-place finishes in Carry Optics and Limited Divisions. Cameron Templin earned third-place finishes in Carry Optics and Limited Optics Divisions with the Beretta 92 Elite LTT.
Keith Ditto won the U.S. Open High All Around Championship at the 2026 ATA U.S. Open in Sparta, Illinois, while teammate Dagen Voigtman claimed multiple titles including the White Flyer Doubles Championship and Winchester Singles Championship. Both competitors performed exceptionally with Winchester AA target loads.
Yamaha Rightwaters celebrated its seventh anniversary by highlighting significant conservation achievements, including removing 264.2 tons of debris, re-establishing 155 million oysters, and engaging 31,752 students through partnerships with organizations like Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful, the Billion Oyster Project, and Ducks Unlimited.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Michigan State University fish pathologists will investigate emaciated siscowet lake trout in Lake Superior's deepest waters aboard the RV Lake Char. These "zombie" fish, characterized by thin and undernourished bodies, have increased from 3% in 2015 to 20% in 2024-2025, with researchers exploring whether a pathogen or food scarcity is responsible.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission returned 18 donated largemouth bass to Arkansas lakes in May, completing the inaugural year of the Legacy Lunker Program. The fish were spawned with Titan Maxx Florida bass from Red Hills Fishery in Georgia at Joe Hogan State Fish Hatchery to develop trophy bass genetics. An end-of-year banquet on October 29 will celebrate participating anglers and feature a drawing for a 21-foot Xpress Boat.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Coastal Resources Division announced that Georgia's commercial and recreational food shrimp season will open in state territorial waters at 8 a.m. Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Shrimp trawlers must employ certified turtle excluder devices and bycatch reduction devices, with Estelle Beach in Chatham County remaining closed to commercial trawling.
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is accepting applications for 2026 moose hunting permits in Wildlife Management Unit E, with a June 17 deadline. The lottery offers 65 either-sex and 20 antlerless permits, with applications costing $10 for residents and $25 for nonresidents. The science-based hunt aims to reduce moose density and winter tick populations affecting moose health.
Orchid released its annual ranking of the top 30 largest U.S. firearm manufacturers based on ATF data, showing Ruger, Smith & Wesson, and Sig Sauer leading the market. The top 30 manufacturers accounted for 8.4 million of 9.6 million firearms produced domestically in 2024, with notable movements including Empire Precision Plastics entering the top 30 and Mossberg securing its fifth consecutive year as the top shotgun manufacturer.
The Michigan Invasive Species Program and North American Invasive Species Management Association are promoting PlayCleanGo Awareness Week (June 6-13) to educate outdoor enthusiasts on preventing invasive species spread. Joanne Foreman, communications specialist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, emphasizes that simple cleaning habits can help protect endangered wildlife and plants threatened by invasive species.
Kinsey Brands is hiring a Procurement & Supply Chain Analyst to support its Consumer Brands Division in Mount Joy, PA. The role involves managing manufacturing procurement, supply chain planning, logistics, and inventory across Kinsey's outdoor and hunting brands portfolio.
Smith & Wesson is hiring a Director of Procurement in Maryville, TN to oversee procurement and supply chain management across Tennessee, Massachusetts, and Maine locations. The role requires 10+ years of procurement experience, including 5+ years in leadership, with expertise in firearms manufacturing and strong supplier relationship management skills.
Kinsey Brands is hiring a Director of Brands to oversee its consumer brand portfolio, manage multi-channel sales strategies, guide product development, and lead supply chain operations. The role requires strong analytical skills and experience managing relationships with mass merchants, distributors, and international accounts.
Vortex and Hunter Constantine have partnered to release a limited-edition Vortex Constantine Carry Belt, with 250 units available. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Second Amendment Foundation's legal and educational efforts.
The Houston Safari Club Foundation's Hunting Matters podcast features Wayne Arrington, owner of Arride Bikes, discussing electric bikes' role in hunting, conservation, and outdoor recreation. Arrington shares insights from his entrepreneurial career and discusses how e-bikes improve mobility and reduce environmental impact for hunters and landowners.
Carter Andrews, host of "The Obsession of Carter Andrews," was featured on episode #32 of the Fly Fisherman Loop to Loop podcast with Editor/Publisher Ross Purnell. Andrews discussed his fishing career, conservation concerns, and his upcoming hour-long series "Gone Fishing with Carter Andrews" premiering July 6 on Outdoor Channel.
SK Guns announces a limited-edition "25 Years of Remembrance 9/11 2001–2026" 1911 Commander 9mm pistol featuring intricate engravings honoring the September 11 attacks. The firearm includes Twin Towers imagery and "We Will Never Forget" engraving, with only 100 individually numbered units produced and available for pre-order.
Moultrie urges hunters to deploy cellular trail cameras during early summer to gather pre-season scouting intelligence on deer movement and patterns. The company's latest trail camera line offers HD imaging, 100-foot detection range, and the Moultrie App for real-time photo and video delivery to phones, featuring species recognition and interactive mapping tools for smarter hunt planning.
Steelhead Outdoors, headquartered in Shakopee, Minnesota, promotes its Drifter 2 pistol lock box as an ideal Father's Day gift. The TSA-compliant lockbox stores two handguns, features 16-gauge steel construction, and costs $109 USD, while the smaller Drifter 1 model retails for $99 USD.
ShellShock Protection launches the EXO Pro Elite™ electronic hearing protection system on June 20, 2026, featuring a 23 NRR/28 SNR rating, enhanced audio clarity, and improved noise compression. Priced at $119 MSRP with a free protective case, the product is available for preorder and designed for shooters, hunters, and firearms professionals.
Vortex announced a limited-edition collaboration with Hunter Constantine featuring the Vortex Constantine Carry Belt, with only 250 units available. A portion of proceeds benefits the Second Amendment Foundation to support constitutional freedoms.
Iron Valley Supply and Colt are releasing an exclusive serialized 1911 Classic Government Model featuring gold embellishments commemorating America's 250th Anniversary and the Declaration of Independence. The limited-edition pistols are available through IronValleySupply.com.
Guns.com and Outlier announced a nationwide promotion offering customers a free Outlier Backdraft suppressor (valued up to $335) with any firearm purchase through June 21, 2026. The suppressor is USA-designed and manufactured, available in multiple sizes and calibers, with an upgrade option to the stainless-steel Poacher model.
Outdoor Indiana magazine's Summer issue features a cover story on beavers and their impact on the state's history and landscape, plus a feature on Busseron Creek Fish & Wildlife Area, the DNR's newest FWA. The magazine is available at Indiana State Park Inns for $4 or by subscription.
Master carvers Pat Gregory and Joshua Brewer will present live decoy carving and painting demonstrations at the Delta Waterfowl Duck Hunters Expo presented by Hevi, July 24-26 in Des Moines, Iowa. The Waterfowl Hunting Heritage Booth will feature demonstrations throughout all three days, showcasing the traditional craft of waterfowl decoy making.
D&M Holding Company, the global leader in ammunition, primer, and propellant manufacturing solutions, will exhibit at Eurosatory 2026 in Paris, France, June 15-19. The company, along with subsidiary White River Energetics, will showcase its comprehensive manufacturing capabilities in Booth #D309 in the USA Pavilion.
Shell Shock Technologies and CBC Global Ammunition will formally commemorate their Memorandum of Understanding at Eurosatory 2026 in Paris on June 15, 2026. The partnership focuses on industrializing and commercializing SST's proprietary NAS3™ lightweight ammunition technology across military, law enforcement, and commercial markets worldwide.
Rocky Boots, a family-owned footwear company since 1932, continues its partnership as a national sponsor of Whitetails Unlimited. WTU President Jeff Schinkten praised Rocky Boots for delivering dependable, weather-resistant footwear essential for hunters.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host a free bear awareness event on June 24 at their Missoula office from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Participants can practice using bear spray and learn safety information from FWP staff.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the city of Jeffersonville celebrated the opening of a 0.35-mile Ohio River Greenway extension, funded by a $2,359,832 grant. The trail connects Jeffersonville to Clarksville, New Albany, and Louisville, supporting Governor Mike Braun's outdoor recreation initiatives.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' Region 6 Citizen Advisory Committee will meet July 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at FWP Region 6 Headquarters in Glasgow. The public is welcome to attend the meeting featuring regional updates and CAC roundtable discussions.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission provides essential water safety tips for summer recreation, including swimming with a friend, wearing U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets, avoiding alcohol, and monitoring weather conditions to prevent drowning and boating accidents.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on environmental assessments including recovering northern leopard frogs in western Montana and a Foys to Blacktail conservation easement project with the Flathead Land Trust. The Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting on June 12 also accepts in-person and virtual comments.
Deer & Wildlife Stories with Keith Warren features Tajada Whitetails, owned by George Tunal, a legendary Texas deer breeding operation. The farm produced 38 bucks with inside spreads of 38 inches or more this season, utilizing Gunslinger genetics through sires like Bad Bart and Six Shooter. The episode airs on Pursuit Channel and YouTube's Deer Farming Channel.
Antelope Island State Park hosts one of the nation's largest public bison herds, with 500-550 animals in winter and over 700 after spring calving. Park Manager Doranne Pittz and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Coordinator Rusty Robinson urge visitors to maintain safe distances and avoid approaching bison for photographs to prevent dangerous encounters.
Father’s Day is a secondary holiday, at best. As a kid growing up I never knew what my dad wanted for Father’s Day. Suggestions were never offered, and the obvious golfing related presents my dad might like were well out of reach.
Plus, he usually won his clubs.
Dads want stuff, but they know kids usually aren't in a position to buy those gifts. So the default guidance is usually something along the lines of “Anything you get me I will love.”
The reality is that what dads want most is the weekend to themselves, but “How about you leave me alone all weekend” isn’t really something you can say to a child.
I fall squarely into the category of wanting nothing, expecting nothing, and most of the time suggesting nothing. I do the same for my birthday, and Christmas.
Yeah, it’s odd, I know. It also makes me rather hard to shop for by anyone but myself.
This coming Father’s Day, don’t be like me. Come up with a list of possible presents you actually want, and your family can afford. Which, let’s face it, often means what dad can afford.
If you know, you know.
Regardless, Father’s Day is upon us and here are some suggestions that might be useful as you head out to shop.
Kitchen Knives Dads Will Love
Several knife makers from the tactical and EDC realm now make their own version of kitchen cutlery. They’re offering a full block of knives designed specifically for food prep in the kitchen with chef knives, boning knives, fillet knives, and steak knives.
The full block set might be a bit much to bite off all at once, so start with just one piece and build your way towards the full set.
It’s Gotta Be The Fishooz
If dad likes a good pair of comfortable slip-on shoes, then take a look at the Sunwashed Men's Slip-On from Fishooz. I have a pair that I have worn while traveling through airports and on the last day of trade shows when your feet have had about all they can take.
They come in Black/White, Grey/White, Navy/White, and Teal/White. They also offer a lace up version in the same colorways.
I’ve become a huge fan of 5.11’s travel gear and bags. The SOMS 3.0 126L is the bag I have been traveling with and I honestly love it. It comes in Black, Ranger Green, and Kangaroo (tan).
If your dad is going to head to the airport with this bag, get one in black. The other colors are awesome, and I have the Kangaroo version, but airport baggage handlers remain undefeated when it comes to turning a brand-new bag into a well-used one after a single trip.
Black will disguise the scuff marks, along with the dirt and grime. If dad isn’t flying with the bag, definitely pick the color you or he likes best.
As for sizing, you can go with the smaller 90L version (only in Black) or scale up with the 186L model (above) which comes in the same three colors as the 126L bag. The cost for each bag is $325 for the 90L, $400 for the 126L, and $425 for the 186L. If you're hesitant about the cost, don't be. These bags are durable and will be around for the long haul.
Leather For The Discerning Pistolero
In the age of Kydex, a leather holster isn’t for everyone, but if dad would rock a leather holster there are few options better than those from Kirkpatrick Custom Holsters.
A couple Christmases ago I ordered one of their QuickShip holsters for the 1911 as a gift for a family member. The QuickShip line is made up of popular fits—1911, Glock 19, Sig P320, P365, and P365X Macro—that are ready-made and in inventory for, as the name implies, shipping quickly.
The holster looked great, as all their hand-dyed brown holsters do. Their QuickShip holsters run from $130 to $140.
OWB and IWB holsters range in price from $130 to $260 while their full rigs run anywhere from $385 up to $1,000.
The Classic Field Coat
If you are from the Northeast then you probably received a few L.L. Bean catalogs. Their catalog was a staple in our house. Besides clothes for school, one of my favorite L.L. Bean items is their Men's Original Field Coat.
Living in Arizona gives me very few opportunities to wear mine but I wouldn’t part with it. Originally introduced in 1924, the coat is made from heavy-duty two-ply 10-ounce cotton canvas and arrives pre-washed for a broken-in feel. It also comes with a button-on wool/nylon liner for those cooler fall, early winter days.
It's designed with two angled hand pockets, two patch pockets, one zippered chest pocket, and a button front. The sleeves feature 100-gram polyester Thinsulation™ insulation. Watch this product video for a better understanding of why this L.L. Bean garment is so beloved by customers.
If dad’s an outdoors guy this might be just the casual everyday coat he’ll want to add to his wardrobe. This model goes for $220, and a cotton-lined version runs $180. Sizes run Small to 3XL in either regular or tall. There’s also an Upland Field Jacket variant for $200, in case dad’s a hunter.
Available in sizes 7-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17, the insole is a performance-enhancing orthotic designed to fit into any footwear. The insoles feature a sculpted footbed geometry and thermoformable EVA footbed for custom support. A high-rebound EVA heel insert increases energy return, while a molded TPU arch support structure provides stability.
The key to their design is in the thermoformable EVA footbed. To customize the fit you remove the old insole then place it on top of the Ruck insole and trim away the excess forefoot material. After you confirm the fit, you place the insoles into an oven preheated to 215 degrees for 120 seconds. VIKTOS recommends using a timer.
When time’s up, remove and insert the insole into footwear, and put footwear on. Bear weight evenly on the warm insoles for ninety seconds or until cooled. Do NOT walk. Once the cooled, the insoles maintain their custom shape.
The Ruck Recovery Thermomoldable Insole retails for $30 per pair. Please note that due to the customization, insole sales are final and there are no returns or exchanges.
Dad’s Bag of Tricks
Another VIKTOS product that caught my eye at this year’s SHOT Show is their Counteract Organizer Kit. This versatile bag can be used for everything from toiletries to tactical gear.
The overall dimensions of this compact bag are 7.5" H × 10.5" W × 3" D. It features a clamshell zip opening for full access, YKK® zippers for durability, a weather and stain-resistant Tuff Hyde™ chassis, and internal compartments sized for toiletries, first aid, or gun-cleaning supplies.
The Counteract Organizer Kit comes in either Black or Green and retails for $50.00. Its versatility makes it an easy gift recommendation when you're not entirely sure how dad will use it.
– Paul Erhardt, Managing Editor, the Outdoor Wire Digital Network
