Today's edition of The Outdoor Wire is split into two: the morning edition you are reading now, and an afternoon edition that you will receive closer to noon Eastern Time. The split editions are due to the large volume of releases appearing today.

NOMAD Outdoor launches the Harvester VX3 collection featuring sherpa-lined, windproof hunting apparel designed for fall whitetail season. The lineup includes pants, jackets, vests, beanies, and gloves with four-way stretch and Silver Z Scent Suppression System, available in Mossy Oak New Break-Up and Bottomland patterns.

Carbon Express announced that 16-year-old Chloe Nelsen, the first woman to win the Vegas Shoot Championship Compound Young Adult title, has joined its professional shooting team. The Wisconsin archer previously won the Lancaster Archery Classic Youth Female Open and set a world record at JOAD Nationals with the Nano Pro RZ.

Leupold & Stevens, Inc.'s LCO Pro F2 red dot sight has been named "Optic of the Year" by Guns & Ammo magazine. The award recognizes the optic's exceptional optical clarity, rugged reliability, and professional-grade features designed for shooters and professionals demanding industry-leading performance.

Boaters and anglers across Arkansas face lower-than-usual water levels on rivers and reservoirs this fall. The AGFC and Army Corps of Engineers recommend checking posted signs, slowing down to avoid hazards, monitoring depth finders, and trimming motors up to safely navigate changing conditions.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is requesting hunters to submit deer for chronic wasting disease testing from Mecosta, Newaygo, Kent, Montcalm, and Ionia counties during the 2026 hunting season. The DNR, led by deer management specialist Brent Rudolph, aims to understand how CWD prevalence has changed since 2019 testing to determine disease management options.

Benelli Pro Staff shooter Heather Eckhardt led Team USA to gold in the Ladies Modified division at the 2026 IPSC Shotgun World Shoot in Corinth, Greece, defeating over 900 competitors from around the world. Eckhardt's championship-winning setup featured the Benelli M2 Speed shotgun.

Wild Giants Conservation Fund announced Stealth Cam as an equipment sponsor of the Georgia Wildlife Monitoring Program, providing DS4K Ultimate 32MP 4K Video trail cameras to document wildlife including Persian leopard, lynx, and brown bear across the High Caucasus mountains.

Montana's Youth Hunting Story Contest is open for its fifth year, inviting hunters ages 10-17 to submit stories for a chance to visit the governor and win prizes from Sitka, Stone Glacier, Kenetrek Boots, and other partners. Entries are due December 2 at youthhunting.mt.gov.

The ATF released guidance for dealers and consumers in response to the Jensen v. ATF injunction, ceasing enforcement of NFA provisions for short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, silencers, and other weapons effective October 9. The Second Amendment Foundation, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, FPC Action Foundation, and Texas Rifle Association continue pursuing additional legal challenges to permanently eliminate NFA registration requirements.

Indiana Conservation Officers recovered the body of Jeremy Gettys, 38, from Fall Creek in Indianapolis. Gettys was not wearing a personal flotation device when he entered the water. The circumstances of the drowning remain under investigation by conservation officers and the Lawrence Police Department.

Nebraska's Oct. 24-25 youth pheasant, quail and partridge season for hunters ages 15 and younger offers mentoring opportunities. Bryan O'Connor, upland game program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, highlights the low-pressure environment for building skills and confidence. Special Youth Hunt locations across the state will have rooster pheasants released for youth and accompanying adults.

Wyoming hunters are donating harvested big game through the Food from the Field program, a statewide partnership launched in 2020 by First Lady Jennie Gordon. Since 2020, hunters have donated 78,529 pounds of wild game meat, with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Wyoming Department of Agriculture coordinating with meat processors to support anti-hunger efforts.

The Hunters Feeding Michigan program allows hunters to donate deer at participating processors or donation drives, with each deer providing approximately 160 meals. Through partnerships with the DNR, Feeding America, and statewide processors, venison donations support Michigan residents in need. Non-hunters can also contribute monetary donations to help cover processing costs.

Luth-AR founder and NRA Board of Directors member Randy Luth attended the Friends of NRA fundraiser in Park Rapids, MN on October 3, 2026, featuring raffles, silent auctions, and the Wall of Guns.

Primary Arms Optics announced the promotion of Jeff Scheider to Vice President of Sales. Scheider, who previously served as National Sales Manager, will lead sales strategy and strengthen dealer partnerships for the Houston-based optics company.

HeadHunters NW clarified that ZEV Technologies was a victim of a recruiting scam, not its source. A fraudulent recruiter exploited a genuine Vice President of Sales opening that HeadHunters NW was recruiting for, using fake emails to solicit payment from candidates.

B&T USA, a plaintiff in Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF, welcomed ATF guidance applying a federal court ruling nationwide that eliminates registration and approval requirements for suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns. Suppressors now transfer through licensed dealers with Form 4473 and background checks like other firearms.

Primary Arms Optics, a Houston-based tactical optics manufacturer founded in 2008, is hiring a Product Development Engineer II to design and develop new optics and products. The role requires a mechanical engineering degree with 3-5 years of firearms or optics industry experience and expertise in manufacturing processes including milling, turning, molding, and casting.

Springfield Armory introduced the Echelon Pro Comp line of 9mm pistols in three variants: 4.0C compact, 4.0FC hybrid, and 4.5F full-size. The pistols feature enhanced performance elements including LightForged grip texture, integrally compensated slides, and modular design with an MSRP of $899.

NEXTORCH, the primary U.S. distributor of NEXTORCH Industries, announced the NP12 Ti Bolt-Action Titanium Tactical Pen, featuring aerospace-grade TC4 titanium construction, a German SCHMIDT easy FLOW 9000M refill, and an integrated kinetic spinner for stress relief. The tactical pen combines premium writing performance with emergency glass-breaking capability at an MSRP of $79.99.

Hornady has redesigned its Lock-N-Load Classic Pro Press with 17 refined features, including precision-machined surfaces, brass bushings, and an integrated grease zerk. The press maintains the legendary Lock-N-Load die bushing system while delivering smoother operation and tighter, more repeatable reloading results for serious precision shooters.

MDT announced the Scope Tube Mount with V-Mount, a clamp-on mount for riflescopes in 30mm, 34mm, 35mm, and 36mm sizes. The mount provides V-Mount and Picatinny mounting points for accessories like levels and red dots while freeing up rail space on rifles, available October 9, 2026.

Canik launched the METE MC9LS Flying Ace, a WWII aviation-inspired special edition pistol featuring laser-ablated Cerakote artwork on the proven MC9LS platform. The 9mm compact-to-full-size handgun offers 17+1 capacity, optics-ready slide, and reversible magazine catch with an MSRP of $549.99.

Meta Tactical launched the Vector Green MX-1 handgun conversion kit on October 9, 2026, featuring a digital green camouflage pattern and tool-free installation. Compatible with over 70 handgun models including Glock, P80s, PSA Daggers, and Ruger RXM, the MX-1 offers six configurations priced from $399.99 to $429.99 MSRP.

Crow Wholesale announced an exclusive MTP Holiday promotion featuring Colt products with special promotional pricing for dealers October 12-16. The limited-time offer helps Crow dealers prepare for the holiday selling season with access to select Colt products while supplies last.

Silencer Central is running a weeklong SilencerCo takeover through October 18, offering customers a $150 rebate coupon and double Silencer Central Rewards points on qualifying SilencerCo suppressor purchases. Rebate codes can be redeemed toward future SilencerCo suppressors or accessories by November 25, 2026.

Firearms News releases its October 2026 issue featuring Field Editor Patrick Sweeney's review of the Springfield Armory Saint Victor PDW-Type Pistol. The magazine, celebrating its 80th anniversary, includes articles on firearms from Q, Live Free Armory, Smith & Wesson, Dead Air, and coverage of NFA rulings and Second Amendment news by Editor-in-Chief Vincent L. DeNiro and other contributors.

Tac Shield will debut its new Modular Suppressor Cover and Fixed Length Suppressor Cover at the 2026 NASGW Annual Meeting & Expo in Phoenix, Arizona. Both mil-spec covers feature high-temperature insulation withstanding up to 2,000 degrees and are designed to reduce heat mirage and improve sight picture clarity.

Legacy Sports International will exhibit at the 2026 NASGW Show in Phoenix, Arizona, October 13-16, featuring HOWA, POINTER, and CITADEL brand firearms. The company will showcase popular products including HOWA Superlite Gen 2 rifles, POINTER shotguns, and CITADEL Boss25 AR-style shotguns to top distributors.

Brandecation will sponsor the 2026 NASGW Expo (October 13-15 in Phoenix) and exhibit in the Business Solutions Center. The company manages branded training and rewards programs for dealer networks, with CZ Firearms seeing ninefold increases in monthly sales claims since partnering with Brandecation in April.

Bilson Arms, an American-made tactical rifle and pistol manufacturer based in Louisiana, has joined Whitetails Unlimited as a national sponsor. The company specializes in innovative AR platform firearms, including their pump-style charging system and Blue-Collar Suppressors line.

Michigan's forests showcase vibrant fall foliage across thousands of miles of trails accessible by foot, bike, horse, off-road vehicle, and kayak. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore the autumn colors through various recreational activities throughout the state.

The High Road with Keith Warren releases a new episode featuring Keith Warren and Johnny Piazza hunting whitetail deer in Montana's Powder River Basin with Blue Rock Outfitters owner Mike Zmek. The episode showcases hunting with Shaw Barrels custom rifles and Berger Bullets, airing on Pursuit Channel and online platforms.

A woman was injured by a cow moose on October 3 near McAllister while walking her dogs on private land. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens responded but did not locate the moose, determining it likely acted defensively. The woman received treatment at Madison Valley Medical Center for significant but non-life-threatening injuries.

Over a recent  two week stretch, I took four international flights, rode four trains, innumerable taxis and Ubers, and drove a rental car hundreds of kilometers on narrow, twisty and totally unfamiliar roads. With the exception of the departure and return flights, all outside the United States.

In the past, that could have been an excerpt from a typical monthly calendar. Travel was an essential for my job. Most was spur-of-the-moment. Some was completely ad-libbed. Sometimes, it was improvisation; others, it approached pure luck, or total lunacy.

But I made it work.

Today, racing to be the last guy on an ancient Aeroflot plane with grimy horsehair seats and engines dripping oil that will depart on time, despite a near blizzard, has lost all romantic appeal.

Recent travel was a more proof that I no no longer bounce, I splatter.

Two European trips this year have changed how I traveled. The first taught me I was making it unnecessarily tough, even for someone in reasonably decent health (for his age).

The sobering realization and subsequent modifications lead the offer of some unsolicited advice for anyone nearing my age eagerly awaiting hunting season.

First, I get it. Hunting is a special, almost religious experience. My hunting memories cover nearly 70 seasons. The memories, unlike my vision, remain crisp and sharp.

If you’re older and fail to adjust to having aged, the near-religious hunting experience could morph into a near-death encounter.

Every year state fish and wildlife agencies send us releases recounting the rescue (ideal) or recovery (not good) of elderly hunters, anglers and hikers who ignored what were probably clear signals they had lost a step or two.

Do everyone a favor and do some honest self evaluation of your physical capacities. Before you clamber out of bed in the wee small hours of opening day and  squeeze yourself into last season’s mysteriously shrunken camo.

Certainly before you hoist that twenty-three pound “day pack” of snacks and energy drinks onto your aching, arthritic shoulder and head to the safe to retrieve your rifle and full combat load of ammo.

Before you start all that, slow your roll. Get honest about your conditioning -or lack thereof.

Especially if you plan on humping that load a half mile back into the woods beyond where you’ll park your ATV. 

If you run on mental memory, not physical reality, you are risking having your world fade to black rather than “watching the woods come alive.”

You’re probably closer to my level of conditioning than my friends who train year-round to go “out West” hunting. They apparently chase down antelope and strangle them barehanded.

The rest of us have zero business trying to do the things we remember doing as a youth.

We’re not kids anymore. That’s it in a nutshell.

We don’t need most of what’s stuffed into our day pack. Toss the beef sticks, most of the protein bars and all the energy drinks. Replace them with a decent IFAK with tourniquet and a satellite signaling device.

The IFAK can save your life in an emergency. The satellite device makes finding you easier if you need evacuation…or wait too long to call for help.

This was a very long distance to travel to a truth you may be ignoring: doing the things you used to do will not be accomplished by adding another piece of gear to your pack.

To enjoy (and survive) another hunting season, slow down and evaluate your actual capabilities. Not fearing the reaper is different from double-dog daring him to punch your ticket.

Minimizing my load made for a better trip. I’m carrying that into my hunting and fishing travel, too.

Direct flights, when possible, eliminate a lot of airport time and most of the concerns of lost luggage. Whether you’re traveling with a hunting rifle or camera equipment, lost gear is a major concern.

Since few hunting destinations are near major hubs, allow a bit more time for a realistic flight connection. That makes your luggage far more likely to be waiting for you at your destination, too.

To me, spending a few extra minutes with a beverage waiting on a connection instead of racing down a concourse hoping to make it is the better choice… and allows time to visit the men’s room.

Applying that to hunting means taking the easier but slightly longer route to my hunting spot.

The steeper, slippery more direct route might save me a few minutes, but a tumble down the hillside could mean hunting season’s over before it starts.

None of us want to admit diminished capabilities, but denying them demonstrates diminished capacities.

My goal is to enjoy this hunting season without having to distribute  state agency releases about of rescues or recoveries. So don’t even start me on tree stands.

Hunt. Enjoy. Get home safely.

We’ll keep you posted.

—Jim Shepherd