The Kinetic Group was named Rural King's Sporting Goods Vendor of the Year at the 2026 Annual Vendor Summit in Mattoon, Illinois. The award recognizes TKG's Federal Ammunition and affiliate brands for excellence, growth, and dedication to supporting Rural King's retail operations across rural America.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks honored volunteer education instructors in Miles City, naming Ed Joiner of Lame Deer as Hunter Education Instructor of the Year after 21 years of service. Eugene Vennes and Gary Huber received lifetime achievement awards for 54 and 48 years of teaching, respectively.
Wildlife for Tomorrow and the Arizona Game and Fish Department are accepting nominations for the 28th Annual Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame, which recognizes individuals and organizations impacting wildlife conservation and outdoor heritage. The nomination deadline is May 4, 2026, with inductees honored at an August 22, 2026 banquet at The Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park, Arizona.
USA Archery National Head Coach Elias Cuesta has been named World Archery Coach of the Year for 2025, recognizing his outstanding first year leading the U.S. program. Cuesta guided Team USA to historic results on the World Cup circuit and secured podium finishes at both the World Archery Championships and World Archery Youth Championships.
The National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) congratulates board member Barb Terry on receiving the ATA's Industry Impact Award at the 2026 ATA Trade Show. Terry has served on the NBEF board, instructed bowhunter education classes, and mentored youth and veterans on hunts in Ohio for over a decade.
The South Carolina Waterfowl Association has named TrueTimber CEO Rusty Sellars as its 2026 Member of the Year, recognizing his outstanding commitment to wildlife conservation and education. TrueTimber is serving its third consecutive year as a $150,000 Mission Partner, supporting SCWA's youth education programs, conservation initiatives, and outdoor experiences.
APEX Ammunition's 12-gauge Mossy Oak Greenleaf Turkey TSS won Outdoor Life's Editor's Choice award for best TSS load. The ammunition, featuring #9 and #10 pellets with 1,096 pellet count, earned praise from Editor-in-Chief Alex Robinson for exceptional pattern density and penetration at 60 yards.
SPYPOINT received multiple gold awards in the 2026 Readers' Choice Awards from Bowhunting World and Predator Xtreme, including Best New Product for the FLEX-DARK Series and top honors in trail camera and cellular trail camera categories. The awards were voted on directly by hunters across North America, marking the first time any company has swept all categories.
Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. announced ten retailers nationwide as 2025 Ambassador Dealers, including Americana Arms, Not Just Guns, H&H Shooting Sports, Fuquay Gun, Fin Feather Fur Outfitters, Magnum Shooting Center, Freedom Firearms, Idaho Guns & Outdoors, Shoot Straight, and Smoky Mountain Guns & Ammo, recognizing their exceptional sales performance and customer service.
The Arkansas Wildlife Federation presented the Harold Alexander Lifetime Conservation Achievement Award to the late John Patrick "Pat" Fitts, former Arkansas Game and Fish Commission director. Fitts served as the AGFC's 18th director from 2018-2021, capping a 32-year career with the agency.
Ducks Unlimited announced its 2025 Excellence in Conservation Awards recognizing outstanding staff accomplishments. Terry Gwin received the Lifetime Career Achievement Award for 26 years of service, while teams from projects including McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge Shoreline Protection in Texas, Sheboygan Marsh in Wisconsin, and Henry Gray Hurricane Lake in Arkansas earned Exemplary Project Excellence Awards.
Marilyn Bentz, Executive Director of the National Bowhunter Education Foundation since 2003, received the ATA's Industry Impact Award at the 2026 ATA Trade Show in Indianapolis. The award recognizes her contributions to growing participation and promoting safety in archery and bowhunting.
Empowered 2A announced that the Derya DY9Z, manufactured by Derya Arms, has been named the 2026 Empowered 2A Gun of the Year. The striker-fired 9mm pistol features a compact profile, 15+1 capacity, optics-ready slide, and vibrant color options designed to appeal to diverse firearm owners, particularly women seeking performance and style.
Wildlife Research Center® won the 2026 Kinsey's Dealer Choice Award for Best in Category – Hunting Accessory, as voted by Kinsey's dealers. The award recognizes the company's commitment to quality, innovation, and performance in hunting scents and accessories.
Streamlight Inc. awarded 144th Marketing Group LLC the 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for Law Enforcement at SHOT Show in Las Vegas. The Peachtree City, GA-based manufacturers' representative agency was recognized for outstanding sales achievement in Southeast territories.
Streamlight Inc. recognized Odle Sales as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award recipient for the Sporting Goods Market at SHOT Show in Las Vegas. The Columbia, Missouri-based manufacturers' representative agency was honored for exceptional sales achievement and advancing Streamlight's presence in the shooting, hunting, and outdoor industry.
The Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation presented Smith & Wesson with its 2026 Conservation Partner of the Year award. Over the past five years, Smith & Wesson has provided more than $236 million in Pittman-Robertson funds, making it one of the largest funders of wildlife conservation in America.
Big Game Treestands earned the 2026 Readers' Choice Gold Award from Bowhunting World in the Ladder/Tripod category, recognized for smart design and proven performance. The award highlights Big Game's commitment to stability, comfort, and reliability in elevated hunting solutions.
ALPS OutdoorZ and founder Dennis Brune received the Lynn Boykin Hunting Heritage Award from the National Wild Turkey Federation at their 50th Annual National Convention. The company has contributed over $800,000 to NWTF's mission, including $170,000 for education and outreach, supporting mentored hunting and next-generation hunters since 2008.
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.