The Outdoor Wire

Organizations

MidwayUSA Foundation's Hometown Challenge raised $1,002,911.19 for youth shooting sports, with $993,777.66 supporting team endowments matched dollar-for-dollar by Larry and Brenda Potterfield. Hudson Farm Foundation won first place with $199,800 in donations, while industry sponsors including SK Guns, UMAREX, and Savage Arms contributed prizes.

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The Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association named Candace Johnson as its new marketing director. Johnson, a Black Belt native with over 20 years of tourism experience, previously directed tourism and community development at The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development and founded Candace Johnson Consulting.

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Safari Club International leaders, including President Jeff Meyerl and incoming President Mike Crawford, joined President Trump and U.S. Sen. Dan S. Sullivan in Alaska following SCI-PAC's endorsement of Sullivan's reelection campaign. Sullivan has consistently defended Alaska's wildlife management authority and supported hunting access and school hunting programs.

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The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation hosted its 22nd Annual Wine, Wheels & Wildlife event at Childress Vineyards in Lexington, NC, co-hosted by Board Member Richard Childress. The gathering brought together lawmakers, industry leaders, and conservation partners to celebrate outdoor traditions and advance hunting, fishing, shooting, trapping, and wildlife conservation efforts.

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Safari Club International (SCI) reports significant advocacy victories in Q1 FY2026, including restoring Florida's black bear hunt, advancing pro-hunting legislation through the House Natural Resources Committee, and securing court protection for hunters' personal information. SCI continues challenging restrictive policies and defending hunting rights globally.

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The National Rifle Association released a 30-second ad targeting Democrat U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico's support for banning assault weapons and standard-capacity magazines. The ad is part of the NRA's multi-million dollar investment to retain pro-gun majorities in Congress, supported by the Gun Bus tour and grassroots get-out-the-vote efforts across Texas.

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The Second Amendment Foundation released a fact sheet refuting 85 predictions from anti-gun groups including Brady, Everytown, Giffords, and March For Our Lives that claimed pro-Second Amendment court rulings would increase violence. FBI data shows three consecutive years of declining murder rates and the largest one-year drop in violent crime on record in 2025.

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Outdoor Mentors, formerly known as Pass It On โ€“ Outdoor Mentors, has unveiled a new brand identity including a shortened name and logo. Led by CEO Dr. Scott Petrie, the nonprofit organization is expanding its mentorship programs across eight states with plans to reach 30 states by 2030, connecting young people with hunting, fishing, and conservation experiences.

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The South Carolina Waterfowl Association launched its 2026 Mega Conservation Education Raffle offering over $290,000 in prizes, including vehicles from Midlands Chevy Dealers and Bentley Pontoons, to fund wildlife education programs at its Wildlife Education Center in Pinewood. Ticket sales continue through December 15.

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SCI Foundation completed the first national-scale leopard assessment in Botswana from September 2022 through December 2024, surveying 20 sites with over 1,000 trail cameras and identifying 434 individual leopards. The study estimated Botswana's leopard population at approximately 6,262 and provides wildlife managers with site-specific data for sustainable management decisions.

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The African Wildlife Consultative Forum, Safari Club International Foundation's flagship event, will convene November 15-21 in Arusha, Tanzania, with 110 registered delegates. The forum will address sustainable wildlife use, featuring discussions on African elephant, rhinoceros, lion, and leopard conservation, with participation from Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and Tanzania's government.

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The Mule Deer Foundation and Infinite Outdoors announced their Access Granted partnership has generated $92,805 year-to-date, potentially unlocking access to 185,610 acres of landlocked public land. The initiative supports habitat restoration and wildlife corridors while connecting outdoor enthusiasts with conservation opportunities across western landscapes.

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