Organizations

Rather Outdoors, representing brands including Lew's, Strike King, Zebco, and Quantum Fishing, held its National Sales Meeting at the South Carolina Waterfowl Association's Wildlife Education Center in Pinewood. The multi-day event brought together sales representatives and outdoor industry professionals for strategic planning, networking, and hands-on outdoor experiences while showcasing SCWA's conservation mission.

The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms praised prosecutors in Powhatan, Pulaski, Smyth, and Spotsylvania counties—Phillip Blevins Jr., Rob Cerullo, Justin L. Griffin, and Ryan Mehaffey—for refusing to enforce Virginia's assault firearms ban signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger, citing Second Amendment violations.

Safari Club International praises the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for expanding hunting and fishing opportunities across 111 National Wildlife Refuges and National Fish Hatcheries in 32 states. The initiative, supported by Secretary Burgum and USFWS Director Nesvik, opens access at 14 refuges and three hatcheries for the first time, with over 95% of the National Wildlife Refuge System now available for hunting.

The U.S. Forest Service and Boone and Crockett Club signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance outdoor recreation opportunities on public lands, with 14 partner organizations including Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership collaborating to improve hunting, angling, and wildlife conservation access.

Turkeys for Tomorrow honors veterans and conservation efforts as America celebrates its 250th anniversary. Director of Outreach Pete Dougherty, a 22-year National Guard veteran, emphasizes the connection between military sacrifice and wildlife conservation, highlighting how dedicated conservationists practice self-imposed restrictions to ensure wild turkey populations thrive for future generations.

The Powell's Hunting Preserve hosted 27 Auburn University students and professors Steve Ditchkoff and Dylan Thomas for the SCIF-Sables University Program's culminating event, made possible by the Holland and Carolyn Powell Foundation for Hunting-Conservation & Preservation. Students toured the 6,000-acre facility and learned about wildlife enterprise management careers.

Gun Owners of America endorsed Representative Jimmy Patronis' Firearm Freedom Act to repeal the Hughes Amendment, which banned post-1986 machine gun sales. GOA Senior Vice President Erich Pratt called the 40-year-old restriction an egregious infringement on Second Amendment rights.

Women For Gun Rights state leaders Susan Myers, Theresa Inacker, and Sandy Hickerson participated in Missouri's HB 1866 school safety bill signing with Governor Mike Kehoe and engaged with Atlantic County Sheriff Joe O'sonoghue on emergency preparedness and Stop the Bleed training initiatives in New Jersey.

The South Carolina Waterfowl Association's Camp Woodie has launched staff training for Summer 2026 at the SCWA Wildlife Education Center in Pinewood, SC. The program features a restructured staffing model with new Camp Care Specialist and Lead Facilitator positions to enhance camper support and outdoor programming in shooting sports, archery, fishing, and conservation education.

The Wild Sheep Foundation held its fourth Thinhorn Summit in Prince George, British Columbia, bringing together 65 in-person and 24 virtual participants to advance Dall's and Stone's sheep conservation. The event focused on applied conservation science, climate resilience, habitat management, and practical strategies to sustain thinhorn populations across northwestern North America.

The International Hunter Education Association-USA (IHEA-USA) is offering final registration for its 2026 Annual Meeting & Training, June 1–4 in Glendale, Arizona. The event features AI workshops, online learning research, blood trailing app technology, and networking opportunities, with free virtual access available for IHEA volunteer members and in-person attendance options.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation announced KUIU as its Official Hunting Apparel Partner. KUIU, a Dixon, California-based ultralight hunting gear company founded in 2011, will support RMEF's habitat stewardship, conservation, and hunting education programs while offering products at the RMEF Visitor Center in Missoula, Montana.

The Wild Sheep Foundation concluded its third Thinhorn summit in Whitehorse, Yukon, with over 110 participants focused on Dall's and Stone's sheep conservation. Key outcomes include regulatory updates across Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and British Columbia to reduce disease transmission risks and enhance Thinhorn populations.

The South Carolina Waterfowl Association released initial tracking data from its Mallard Research Project, revealing diverse migration patterns among three GPS-tagged mallard drakes captured near Lake Marion. The collaborative study with Clemson Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation Center, University of Texas at El Paso, and Palmetto Waterfowl Conservation examines wild and game farm mallard behavior in the Atlantic Flyway.

The Boone and Crockett Club announced onX Hunt as a Gold Trailblazer in Conservation partner, expanding their existing licensing agreement with a new advertising partnership. onX will be the first advertiser featured in the Club's "Heritage of the Hunt" podcast, reinforcing both organizations' commitment to wildlife conservation and ethical hunting practices.

The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) recognized six Academic All-American Teams of 24 students each for demonstrating excellence in academics and archery. NASP President Tommy Floyd highlighted how the program encourages students to succeed both in the classroom and on the range through discipline and dedication.

Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) and FPC Action Foundation (FPCAF) filed comments with the U.S. Postal Service on proposed rule changes that would allow lawful handguns to be mailed under the same terms as rifles and shotguns, following a January OLC opinion determining the current prohibition violates the Second Amendment.

The Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports (CAHSS) and International Hunter Education Association-USA (IHEA-USA) released PUP AI, an interactive chat tool providing quick access to National R3 Clearinghouse research on Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation. The tool helps agencies and professionals explore hunting and shooting sports data more efficiently.

Turkeys for Tomorrow is leading a four-year predator-prey study across nine states with researchers including Craig Harper and David Buehler from the University of Tennessee, Marcus Lashley from the University of Florida, and others to assess predator impacts on declining wild turkey populations.

SLG2, Inc. released its Q1 2026 Report highlighting the Grand Safety Tour's impact across four states with 1,155 participants. The tour visited five premier destinations and reported that 39% of guests improved their attitude toward firearms, while 72% indicated plans to purchase a firearm following their experience.