Team Mathews swept the Men's podium and claimed the top two spots in the Women's division at the USA Archery Outdoor Championships in Springfield, Missouri. Kyle Douglas, Jimmy Lutz, and Ace Coleman took first, second, and third place, while Olivia Dean and Katelyn Bordwell finished first and second in the Women's division. Olivia Dean also won the U.S. Open Women's division.

Team Carbon Express shooters excelled at USA Archery's Target Nationals in Springfield, Missouri, with James Lutz winning the inaugural USAT Series Finale and Robby Weissinger capturing the Senior Men's Barebow National Championship. The team's success showcased Carbon Express Nano Pro arrows and equipment performance.

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating the death of Jeffrey Cox, 58, of Indianapolis, whose body was recovered from Monroe Reservoir near Bloomington. Cox went missing while boating and was found unresponsive without a personal flotation device. Conservation Officers remind the public to wear life jackets at all times on or near water.

Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area's last public boat ramp closed August 15 due to low water levels and mud hazards. Private launch services from Van's Lakeview, Ski Patrol, and Big Mac Marina now provide primary lake access as drought conditions persist.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department requires hunters to process moose, deer, and elk from chronic wasting disease (CWD) areas before bringing them into Vermont. Nick Fortin, Vermont's deer and moose biologist, emphasizes the regulation's importance in preventing CWD spread. Violations carry fines up to $1,000 and loss of hunting licenses for one year.

Team Remington's Todd Hitch won the Main Event Championship at the U.S. Open Sporting Clays Championship for the second consecutive year, held at Game Unlimited in Hudson, Wisconsin. Hitch also won the Super Sporting and Beretta Gold Cup events, while teammate Mike Luongo finished Runner-Up in the Main Event using Remington Premier shotshells.

Lauryl Akenhead of Team Ruger won High Lady honors at the 2026 Peterson Cartridge Challenge in Kennerdell, Pennsylvania, competing with her Ruger American Gen II rifle. Her consistent performance demonstrated the rifle's capability in practical precision rifle competition across varying shooting positions and conditions.

Waterfowl hunting advocates raised $80,000 to restore operations at four Michigan DNR managed waterfowl areas this fall. Donations from Shiawassee Flats Citizens and Hunters Association, St. Clair Flats Waterfowlers and Harsens Island Waterfowl Hunters Association, Ducks Unlimited, Michigan Duck Hunters Association, and Delta Waterfowl will fund temporary staffing through Thanksgiving weekend.

The Black River hatchery near Onaway, Michigan is hosting free tours on September 5 featuring 3- to 4-month-old lake sturgeon. Researchers from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan State University, and Sturgeon for Tomorrow will discuss sturgeon biology and restoration efforts, followed by fingerling releases into the Black River and Mullett Lake.

Nebraska's dove hunting season opens September 1, 2026, with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission providing hunting recommendations and reminders. Hunters can pursue mourning doves, Eurasian collared-doves, and white-winged doves through October 30 with daily bag limits of 15 and possession limits of 45.

Indiana hunters can now apply for reserved hunts online at GoOutdoorsIN.com through September 16 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Available hunts include waterfowl, deer archery and firearms, and gamebird hunts on DNR Division of Fish, Wildlife & Nature Preserves properties, Indiana Private Lands Access properties, State Parks, and Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge.

North Dakota's deer bow season opens September 4 at noon through January 3, 2027. Nonresident hunters may only hunt private land for the first 9½ days, with public land access beginning September 14. All archers must purchase licenses through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department and receive bow tags by mail before hunting.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is conducting its annual grouse wing collection during the upland season starting September 1. Hunters in the east zone of U.S. Highway 81 are required to participate, while west zone hunters are encouraged to submit wings. The collected data helps wildlife biologists monitor harvest, assess population trends, and make informed management decisions.

Gearfire has launched Gearfire Point of Sale (GPOS), a cloud-based system designed for independent firearms, archery, and outdoor sports retailers. GPOS offers same-day setup, built-in compliance, serialized inventory management, FastBound integration, and real-time inventory synchronization with Gearfire eCommerce, starting at $149 per month.

Southwick Associates released its third-quarter 2026 Hunting & Shooting Market Pulse, a quarterly subscription newsletter providing market intelligence to industry leaders. The report highlights economic pressures affecting hunters and shooters, NICS trends, and retail shifts, with NSSF members receiving a 15% discount on subscriptions.

Federal Ammunition and Rob Roberts Custom Gunworks collaborated to develop specialized Raptor Steel waterfowl loads, now shipping to dealers nationwide in six options. The loads feature heavy payloads, high pellet counts, and velocities optimized for consistent patterns, with 12 and 20 gauge options priced from $34.99 to $36.99.

Guns & Ammo launches a new 6-part Personal Defense video series hosted by Gun Tech Editor Richard Nance and Managing Editor Jack Oller, in partnership with SureFire, Holosun, Smith & Wesson, and WeKnife. The series covers handgun use for personal protection, including parking lot threats, low-light defense, and everyday carry techniques, available at gapersonaldefense.com.

Vortex introduces the VMR-5 reticle option for the Razor HD Gen III 6-36x56 FFP riflescope, designed for PRS shooters to quickly see impact and adjust. The scope features 6-36x magnification, L-TEC+ zero system, and class-leading HD optics, available at MAP $2,999.99.

Turkeys for Tomorrow (TFT) announced three new board members for 2026: Chris Barbee, Donald Jarrett, and Shawn Calhoun. The additions strengthen TFT's leadership as the organization continues its wild turkey conservation efforts and enters its next growth phase.

The National Rifle Association issued a statement supporting the Department of Justice's Rule on Second Amendment Rights Restoration, calling it an important step toward restoring rights for individuals who have paid their debts to society and pose no public safety threat.

ShotPay, a 2A-friendly payments ecosystem, has partnered with the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) to donate a portion of transaction proceeds to support the organization's legal and educational efforts. ShotPay CEO Joe Fox and SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut announced the partnership, which aims to redirect firearms industry commerce away from institutions opposing Second Amendment rights.

HeadHunters NW Podcast Episode 65 features Trent Marsh of Riton Optics discussing FBI NICS data showing unprecedented multi-year firearm sales decline and exploring millennial leadership, marketing strategies, and AI's role in the firearms industry with host Shaylene Keiner.

The Maine Warden Service is investigating a fatal ATV crash in Fort Fairfield involving two 15-year-olds in a 2026 CF Moto Z Force side-by-side. The passenger died at the scene while the driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Neither occupant was wearing helmets or seatbelts.

Bruce Kennedy, age 20 of North Berwick, died in an ATV crash in Piscataquis County near Wadleigh Pond on August 15th. Kennedy lost control while negotiating a curve; speed was a factor and he was not wearing a helmet. The Maine Warden Service, LifeFlight, Brownville Fire Department, Milo Fire Department, Piscataquis Sheriff's Office, and Maine Forest Service responded.

CIVIVI introduces the Vyrent folding knife featuring the debut of Nitro-X7 steel in their lineup. The 3.48-inch blade offers enhanced toughness, edge stability, and corrosion resistance with ergonomic design and ambidextrous carry options available in multiple scale materials starting at $82.30.

Galco unveils the Combat Master 2.0, a professional-grade belt holster hand-molded for Springfield Armory Echelon pistols with or without carry optics. The updated design features modern EDC preferences, premium steerhide construction, and a high-riding pancake-style design for concealment and faster draws.

CIVIVI announced the global release of the Elementum Maze, a reimagined folding knife featuring a CNC-machined maze pattern with a ceramic ball in the handle. The knife upgrades the standard Elementum with Nitro-V blade steel, a Rock-Grind pattern finish, and lightweight Lexan and Ultem handle options.

Liberty Safe announced the introduction of Pro Flex interiors across its Colonial, Franklin, Lincoln, and Presidential safe families, offering customers flexible storage configurations and personalization options. The new system includes compatible accessories like jewelry doors, watch winders, and file drawers, allowing safes to adapt to changing storage needs over decades of ownership.

WE Knife Co. announced the global release of the WEKNIFE Elementum Flipper Knife WE18062XA Series on August 24th, featuring the company's first CPM MagnaCut steel blade paired with 6AL4V titanium handles machined with a three-dimensional topographic pattern. Available in black and gray finishes with an MSRP of $217.60.

Muzzy Broadheads, based in Superior, Wisconsin, has joined Whitetails Unlimited as a national sponsor. WTU President Jeff Schinkten praised the company's innovative broadhead designs and customer focus, welcoming them to the organization dedicated to white-tailed deer conservation and hunting traditions.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Coastal Resources Division is recruiting qualified applicants for the Coastal Advisory Council, which advises on conservation and management of coastal resources. Two vacancies are available: one for a Scientific Research Organization representative and one for State Government/Regional Commission representative. The application deadline is September 14, 2026.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on multiple environmental assessments and proposals, including W7 Ranch private pond licenses, Hannah Ranch conservation easement, Tongue River Reservoir wild fish transfer, Vande Sandt private pond license, wildlife management area plans, and the Statewide Fisheries Management Plan 2027-2030, with comment deadlines ranging from August 20 through September 14.

Outdoor Sportsman Group's GAME & FISH TV FAST channel achieved 10 million viewer tunings in Q2, with availability on 157 million devices across 96% of the U.S. population. The channel draws content from Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network, and MyOutdoorTV, expanding OSG's reach to 70 million outdoor enthusiasts.

On Aug. 8, 2026, a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas ruled in Silencer Shop v. ATF that most of the National Firearms Act (NFA) is unconstitutional, stating that portions of the NFA that no longer collect tax revenue as a result of cuts in last year's One Big Beautiful Bill can no longer be justified as a lawful exercise of Congress's taxing authority. The court concluded that the registration requirements and other regulations on items like silencers (suppressors), short-barrel rifles (SBRs) and short-barrel shotguns (SBSs) that are ostensibly justified as part of the tax collection process are unconstitutional.

The court entered a permanent injunction providing relief to only the plaintiffs in the legal challenge, and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) declined to seek an emergency appeal or stay of that decision, which means that the injunction is now in effect. However, DOJ still has until Oct. 5, 2026, to appeal or seek a stay of the final judgment, and there are many unanswered questions about the implications of the injunction.

NSSF has requested the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) issue guidance to the industry so that federal firearms licensees (FFLs) can remain in compliance with the law. In the meantime, NSSF is providing its understanding of the state of play. This is not legal advice. FFLs should consult with their attorney.

Who Does the Injunction Apply To?

The scope of the injunction is limited, and only extends to the named plaintiffs, their current and future members, and in the case of commercial plaintiffs or commercial members of plaintiff organizations, their current and future customers.

The plaintiffs in the Silencer Shop case include B&T USA, Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition, Gun Owners Foundation, Gun Owners of America, Palmetto State Armory, SilencerCo Weapons Research, Silencer Shop Foundation, the States of Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.

The plaintiffs in the Jensen v. ATF case include Texas State Rifle Association (NRA's Texas affiliate), Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, FPC Action Foundation and Hot Shots Custom.

If you are not a named plaintiff, the injunction will only cover your activities if you are a member of Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition, Gun Owners Foundation, Gun Owners of America, Texas State Rifle Association (NRA's Texas affiliate), Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms or FPC Action Foundation. If you are a member of these organizations, the injunction will be effective only as to transactions between you and your customers — it does not provide your customers any coverage outside of purchases from your business made under the injunction.

Additionally, if you are a member of Texas State Rifle Association, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, or the FPC Action Foundation, the injunction does not apply in the context of "Any Other Weapons" (AOWs) under the NFA.

While several states are plaintiffs, the court's injunction only extends to their agencies and political subdivisions. It does not cover the citizens of those states at large.

Enjoined Provisions

The NFA's registration and making/transfer approval requirements are enjoined as to silencers, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns for all of the plaintiffs. See 26 U.S.C. § 5812(a)–(b); 26 U.S.C. § 5822; 26 U.S.C. § 5841(a)–(c), (e); 26 U.S.C. § 5861(b)–(f); 27 C.F.R. § 479.62(a)–(d); and 27 C.F.R. § 479.84(a)–(d)).

The injunction also extends to the NFA's regulation of AOWs for only the Silencer Shop plaintiffs. See 26 U.S.C. § 5845(a)(5), (e).

Federal Provisions Not Enjoined

However, the practical effect of the injunction is likely more limited in scope due to several federal laws the court did not enjoin.

Most notably, the injunction seems to only clearly cover silencer transfers by covered entities and AOWs for members of Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition, Gun Owners Foundation and Gun Owners of America. 18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(4) makes it unlawful for a "licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector to sell or deliver . . . to any person any . . . short-barreled shotgun, or short-barreled rifle, except as specifically authorized by the Attorney General consistent with public safety and necessity." NFA compliance acted as the "authorization" under this provision, and it is currently unclear whether ATF will provide a new mechanism for getting authorization. Until then, the NFA procedures are the only available avenue for complying with this requirement for transferring short-barreled shotguns or short-barreled rifles.

The NFA also makes it unlawful for any person to "to transport, deliver, or receive any firearm in interstate commerce which has not been registered as required" by the NFA or to "to receive or possess a firearm which has been imported or brought into the United States" in violation of the NFA. 26 U.S.C. § 5861(j), (k). The district court did not enjoin these provisions. This would seem to indicate that NFA items must still be registered before they can be transferred between licensees across state lines, and it is unclear whether ATF will interpret these provisions as prohibiting the interstate transportation (including moving residences, transporting for hunting trips, shipping for repair, etc.) or re-importation of any unregistered silencer, even if it was purchased legally under the injunction. Currently, ATF has no authority to grant exceptions to these requirements. It is also unclear whether ATF will provide a mechanism for registering a silencer if the owner later wishes to transport it in interstate commerce or reimport it.

The district court also did not enjoin the Special Occupational Tax (SOT) regime applicable to FFLs engaged in the business of manufacturing, importing, or dealing in NFA firearms, as Congress did not eliminate these taxes in the One Big Beautiful Bill. It is unclear how the ATF will handle the transfer of NFA items from distributors or manufacturers to non-SOT dealers. Likewise, it is uncertain whether the ATF will provide an alternative mechanism for FFLs to remove an NFA item from its National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR) without a Form 4.

Finally, the district court did not enjoin any requirements of the Gun Control Act (GCA). Silencers and AOWs sold under the injunction are still subject to the background check requirement and require the FFL to fill out a Form 4473, for example. All other marking and recordkeeping requirements of the GCA remain in effect in relation to these items as well.

State Law Reminder

Many states also regulate the transfer or possession of NFA items. In many instances, compliance with state law is linked with registration or compliance with the NFA. The status of an unregistered item will depend on the wording of the individual law. For example, if the state law explicitly requires NFA registration for silencer possession, failure to go through the NFA process significantly risks violating that state law even if legally acquired under federal law pursuant to the injunction. Other states simply require lawful possession under federal law, and it is unclear whether coverage under the injunction satisfies that standard. NSSF encourages members to contact their state attorney general as to matters of state law.

This is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. You are strongly encouraged to consult with your attorney. And you should contact your local ATF office to request guidance.