Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

Sportsmen’s Alliance, Safari Club International, SoCal Top Guns and Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation cite violations of well-established and constitutionally protected rights in 1st, 2nd, 5th and 14th Amendments

A coalition of outdoor groups sued the State of California today in federal district court in Sacramento challenging a recently passed law banning the “marketing” of firearms to minors. The legal challenge by Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, SoCal Top Guns, Safari Club International and Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation seeks to protect youth hunting, shooting sports and education in the state.

Although described by Gov. Newsom and supporters as a prohibition on marketing the sale of firearms to youth, the new law goes well beyond direct advertising to include any marketing activity involving firearms and firearm accessories. This includes not only the purchase of firearms, but lawful use. The law’s broad terms also prohibit marketing hunter education, school-sponsored firearms teams, youth hunts, youth camps that include firearms training and even short seminars or “how to” events. The law is so broadly written that it bans social media, leaflets or flyers, videos, magazine articles or any other communication that showcases or illustrates the use of firearms by youth.

Because of its overly broad language, the new law does more than just violate constitutional freedoms – it decimates youth firearms training and education in the state. Whatever the intent of its sponsors, eliminating youth safety programs is the only foreseeable result.

“Our entire youth education program is on hold because of this law,” said Paul Cain, president of So Cal Top Guns. “Thousands of kids have learned firearm safety and have competed at local, state and national events for decades – and now that’s all gone.”

Firearm innovators Extar USA has awarded Chevalier Advertising public relations, media planning, creative, and media buying duties as its new agency of record. This new partnership will combine Extar USA’s 27 years of innovation and manufacturing with Chevalier’s 60-plus years of experience in public relations, advertising and marketing within the shooting and outdoors industries.

In 1995, the staff behind Extar USA were the first in the world to develop molded rifle-caliber receiver sets. In 2018 they shifted focus towards pistol-caliber designs and patented the original last-round bolt-hold-open for Glock-type magazine-fed personal defense weapons. After years of designing, licensing, and manufacturing for other companies it was time for Extar USA to be recognized as its own brand. 

Extar USA continues exceeding its goal of making innovative, lightweight, affordable arms and ensuring pricing equity by selling direct to consumer. The EP9 Gen 2 is the embodiment of these principles offering a reliable large-format 9mm pistol that weighs just over four pounds yet sells for just $449.

“Chevalier Advertising is known for being instrumental in strategic and tactical-level public relations campaigns and advertising,” said Joshua Zeman, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Our customers know we have outstanding products at excellent prices, it’s time the rest of America knows.”

“Companies like Extar USA are excellent to work with,” said Greg Chevalier, President of Chevalier Advertising. “This is a passionate company that truly works to improve things for the consumer. We’re proud to align with Extar USA.”

Finally, an Auto-Drive that Doesn’t Require Modification to the Dillon 1050

Farmington, MO – Fast and Friendly Brass, a premier brand in tooling and processing equipment and supplies for optimal efficiency in brass loading and reloading, has exactly what you need to add an Auto Drive to your Dillon 1050 without having to add specialized modifications.

“If you want to automate the process of your Dillon Precision 1050 Reloader, we designed the ultimate auto drive for it,” said Bill Birmingham, Owner of Fast and Friendly Brass. “One drive to rule them all. The smallest footprint. The most ergonomic. The smoothest operation. We could go on.”

The Auto-Drive is made in the U.S. using 6061-T6 billet aluminum and hardened 4140 billet steel. It works for the full stroke of the stock Dillon Super 1050 and has a direct drive with no belts or chains. The Auto Drive runs on a VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) controlled 1/4HP motor that runs on standard 110/120 VAC and is rated for well over 10,000 hours of service. The kicker with the Fast and Friendly Brass auto-drive is that it is crankshaft driven, running continuously in one direction. This means it runs smoother and more efficiently. Competing drives waste time and energy by using a back and forth motion. By the way, did we mention smooth? No other drive runs as smooth as this drive.

The drive was designed with simplicity in mind, and all of the high-wear parts are standardized, “off-the-shelf” components, meaning you’ll never need to order specialized Fast & Friendly Brass parts should something go down during production. It is as simple as it gets, all in an effort to reduce down time and speed up production.

New Ulm, Minnesota – The Archery Trade Association anounces registration is now open for the exclusive 2023 ATA Trade Show. This year’s members-only event is Jan. 11-13 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. The ATA’s official hotel block is also open. Press registration opens Sept. 27.

“The ATA Show is the premier archery event of the year, putting more buyers in front of more sellers than any other show,” said Jeff Poole, ATA president and CEO. “It’s also the best place to network, see the latest products and take advantage of educational opportunities, all under one roof.”

Over the last five in-person events, the ATA Show has averaged more than 600 exhibitors and 8,000-plus attendees. The ATA’s 2022 post-Show survey indicated 74% of exhibitors planned to release at least one new product at the 2023 Show.

Attendees can check out the latest gear, find new vendors, take advantage of exclusive Show offers and participate in educational opportunities. The 2023 Masterclass sessions will be presented by industry experts, seminars will be offered to help retailers navigate today’s business climate and informal Coffee Talks will be held on the Show floor.

Buyer Day, dedicated specifically to verified buyers and exhibitors, kicks off the Show on Wednesday, Jan. 11. The buyers have the floor to themselves, which allows plenty of opportunities to conduct business and network with the exhibitors. All other badge types, including press, media, supporting and nonprofit members, state agency representatives and nonexhibiting manufacturers, can access the Show floor on Thursday and Friday.

It is disappointing when you do not have a sharp knife when needed. Whether in the kitchen, on the dock, or in the field, a dull knife causes extra work, and sometimes even the inability to get the job done. Unless you are using a V-sharp Classic II from Warthog Knife Sharpeners, properly sharpening a knife requires a certain amount of expertise, experience and an array of equipment including stones and fixtures. 

The traditional stone and steel method of sharpening a knife is time-consuming and takes a lot of practice (i.e., damaged knives) to perfect. Tungsten pull through sharpeners are only set at one angle and can damage the blade, and you do not get a sharp edge. Electric sharpeners with their coarse and fine wheel options sell themselves on getting the job done quickly but risk heating the steel blade and causing damage.

With the Warthog V-sharp Classic II, there is no advanced knowledge, assembly, or complicated accessories needed. Simply take the Warthog out of the box, set it on the counter, and make a slicing motion against the vertical blade guide. There is no risk of knife damage or overheating the blade.

The sharpener hones both sides of the blade at the same time. The user strokes the blade against a guide, using minimal pressure to run the edge past two angled, spring-tensioned diamond surfaces. It takes around 20 strokes to get the ‘average’ knife into shape. Then it is a matter of reversing the diamond to expose the steeling hones– a few more strokes, and the blade is ready to go. It is that simple; the Warthog V-sharp Classic II allows anyone and everyone to get any knife razor-sharp edge in minutes.

If you can slice a tomato, you can sharpen a knife.

Superior, WI — FeraDyne® Outdoors, manufacturer of Rage®, Muzzy®, Wac Em®, and Rocky Mountain® broadheads reminds bowhunters across the nation that for the first time ever — mechanical broadheads are now legal in all 50 states during the 2022 fall hunting season. 

For the first time since their inception some 30 years ago, mechanical broadheads are now legal in all 50 states. As announced earlier this year, the final stand-out, Idaho will now allow bowhunters to enjoy the exceptional benefits of mechanical broadhead designs while hunting big game. With seasons just around the corner now is a great time to give mechanical heads a shot. 

“Unlike early models, where material shortcomings and poor designs compromised lethality, today’s mechanical broadheads are more fatal than ever and have proven themselves the be extremely reliable and durable on all of North America’s big game animals,” said FeraDyne Outdoors Chief Commercial Officer Jon Syverson. 

Advancements in both design and materials have led stalwart states into reversing previous opinions on the lethality of mechanical heads. With numerous studies and field-proven citizen science, there’s no question as to the impact modern-day mechanical broadhead designs have on recovery and success on big game. FeraDyne® Outdoors, a multi-brand family of broadhead companies brings to market the world’s deepest variety of mechanical and hybrid mechanical broadhead designs from Rage, Muzzy, Wac Em and Rocky Mountain. Through the use of premium titanium, stainless steel and aircraft-grade aluminum broadhead ferrules have never been stronger or more consistent. Meanwhile, today’s custom-hardened steel blades are sharp, durable, and devastating upon delivery. With a wide variety of blade angle configurations, tip styles, and grain weights there’s a mechanical broadhead to fit the needs of nearly all bowhunters regardless of individual setup.

With their increased tunability and accuracy at longer ranges, the gaping wounds of expandable broadheads continue to prove themselves to millions of bowhunters coast to coast. FeraDyne applauds Idaho on their measure to expand their use for big game bowhunters this fall.  To read more on this topic please visit https://www.feradyne.com/whats-the-deal-with-mechanical-broadheads/ or to learn about FeraDyne’s entire family of field-proven mechanical broadhead designs go to  https://www.feradyne.com/.

CAMP PERRY, Ohio – Blustery winds, not uncommon to the outdoor ranges of Camp Perry, once again spilled over the target line and challenged competitors firing within the National Rimfire Sporter Match – held as part of the annual National Matches for the last 20 years.

The 2022 National Rimfire Sporter Match was fired Sunday, July 24, on Camp Perry’s Viale Range. During the event, competitors fired from 50 and 25 yards in prone, sitting or kneeling and standing positions. Over 250 competitors took to the firing line during the match in Open Sight (O), Telescope Sight (T) and Tactical Unlimited (TU) classes.

Current national record holder and two-time champion of the T-Class, Samuel Payne, 23, of Kingston, Georgia, returned to Camp Perry to again claim the overall win in the match with a score of 592-22X. Payne tallied perfect scores at prone slow and rapid, while adding scores of 99 at sitting rapid and standing slow. A talented marksman in the National Rimfire Sporter match, Payne is also a past winner of the O-Class.

Jeff Collings, 42, of Frankenmuth, Michigan, reached second behind Payne with 587-18X, while Andy Miller, 47, of Coshocton, Ohio, followed in third.

Connor Stout, 20, of Waterford, Michigan, earned the High Junior honor in the T-Class, as Major Jeffrey Knop, 62, of Brighton, Michigan was named High Senior. Brianna Toikkanen, 24, of Conneaut, Ohio, marked fifth overall in the match and the High Woman title, with her score of 583-27X.

BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA —Ensuring the future of waterfowl hunting is a priority of The Duck Hunters Organization, and Delta is proud to recognize the exemplary contributions of individuals striving for the same goal.

Delta Waterfowl’s first-ever Waterfowling Legacy Awards were presented to Aaron Mize, Kate Harrigan and Julie Henning of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Travis Thompson of Winter Haven, Florida, during the Champions of Delta Luncheon on July 30 at the Delta Waterfowl Duck Hunters Expo in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The award recognizes the important contributions of Mize, Harrigan and Henning to advance station-specific hunting and sport fishing regulations. Known commonly as the “Hunt-Fish Rule,” this policy has opened or expanded hunting access on millions of acres at National Wildlife Refuges across the United States. Since its inception in 2019, the rule has offered increased opportunity to waterfowl hunters nationwide.

In an effort to reduce regulation complexity, the rule also continually revises, updates and augments National Wildlife Refuge hunting regulations to align with state and local regulations more closely.

“Providing large-scale, high quality, incremental public access for sportsmen and women has been one of Delta’s highest organizational focuses over the years” said John Devney, Delta’s chief policy officer. “Through the hard work of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and more directly, Aaron, Kate and Julie, these rules provide generational opportunities for duck hunters across the United States.”

Barnett’s Explorer crossbow series include user-friendly features and premium upgrades for an outstanding hunting experience. The series’ three compound crossbows deliver impressive power with velocities up to 400 feet per second. For the best value in a ready-to-hunt crossbow package, look no farther than an Explorer by Barnett.  

Explorer crossbows include performance features typical of crossbows costing much more. An adjustable butt stock allows quick length-of-pull changes, adding versatility for use by different-sized shooters or when wearing bulky layers. A CNC machined aluminum flight track ensures an ultra-smooth release for improved accuracy. The crossbows’ laminated limbs add durability and only require a single bolt for quick out-of-the-box assembly. Three Picatinny rails are included for optics and accessories.

A TriggerTech frictionless release technology trigger (a $200 value) and a Metal Injection Molded (MIM) trigger come standard on all Explorers. This premium upgrade integrates perfectly with the safety system, improving accuracy and creating a buttery smooth trigger pull. Each crossbow in the explorer series is CCD (Crank Cocking Device) compatible, so crossbow hunters that have difficulty with a Rope Cocking Device can safely & comfortably cock their Explorer Crossbow. 

Like all Barnett crossbows, safety is paramount in this series. Its Anti-Dry Fire (ADF) trigger system automatically engages upon cocking the crossbow; it cannot fire without loading and securing a bolt under the patented Soft Lok floating bristle arrow retainer. The crossbow’s generous pass-through foregrip keeps the hunter’s hand in a safe position. 

Barnett differentiates Explorer models by arrow velocity. The XP400 shoots at 400 fps, the XP380 at 380 fps and the XP370 at 370 fps – all capable of delivering deep-penetrating hits on target. As expected, the XP400 is the fastest and flattest shooting crossbow, while its little brother, the XP370, with lower draw weight, is easier to cock. The XP380 resides halfway between the speed and draw weight of its siblings.

Lusardi will oversee the customer life cycle, ensuring positive seller and buyer connection through Everest.com

Everest.com, the only online marketplace geared toward enthusiasts with a passion for the great outdoors, has announced the appointment of Vince Lusardi as Chief Experience Officer. In this position, Lusardi will implement his years of experience and understanding of the consumer market to build and expand the online community.

Prior to working with Everest.com, Lusardi served as Chief Design Officer and then later as Chief Creative Officer at Catch Co. for 10 years during which he focused on DTC e-Commerce and lead generation. Lusardi has ample understanding of the consumer market and the ability to develop a sense of brand community and believes strongly in the power of brand experience through design, storytelling, and content strategy.

“My mission as Chief Experience Officer of Everest.com is to empower the connection between sellers and consumers through engagement by celebrating the outdoors,” said Lusardi. “I’m passionate about wellness and love how the outdoors helps us grow into better versions of ourselves. That’s what excites me about Everest’s mission, helping individuals find their Everest.”

To bring this differentiation to Everest, Lusardi plans to implement two-way community engagement strategies. He believes strongly in the power of engaging with consumers to build relationships and connections, ensuring the brand effectively meets customer needs. Through this method Lusardi will assist Everest.com in delivering a new definition of outdoor niche marketplace experiences that serve the goals of the outdoor community.

CAMP PERRY, Ohio – Members of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) proved their talents at the 2022 National Trophy Pistol Matches – essentially sweeping the board of prominent awards. The matches were hosted by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) and fired July 16 on the ranges of historic Camp Perry, where the National Trophy Matches have been held for over a century.

Taking home the esteemed President’s Pistol Trophy for the overall win was the USAMU’s SP4 Jason Gregoire, 34. Gregoire surpassed his teammate, SFC Greg Markowski, 48, by just two points in the win – reaching a score of 386-9X. Mason Talbert, 24, of College Station, Texas, followed in third.

Another USAMU member claiming a celebrated win was SSG Carl Clegg, 36, who led the National Trophy Individual (NTI) Match with a score of 291-15X. Clegg landed in the top spot by only one point above the second and third place finishers Travis Jorgenson, 44, of Dent, Minnesota, and Keith Sanderson, 47, of Monument, Colorado. Jorgenson was also the High Civilian of the match.

Continuing their commanding performances, USAMU Blue (SSG Clegg, SFC Markowski, SFC Josh Farmer and SFC Ryan Franks) claimed the Gold Cup Trophy as the overall ranked team in the National Trophy Team (NTT) match with a score of 1118-35X. High Civilian team of the event was ANJRPC-Hardball (David Lange, Lateif Dickerson, Michael Spingeld and Edward Reineke), which earned second overall.

SFC Ryan Franks, 34, was awarded The General Patton Trophy as the High Active Army competitor in the NTI/NTT Aggregate, with a score of 585-23X. Franks also fired the overall individual service pistol aggregate score of 966-27X during his 2022 National Matches excursion.

There is still time to enter animals into Pope and Young’s 9th Edition Record Book

Pope and Young, America’s leading bowhunting conservation organization, announces the deadline for entry into the two-volume 9th edition Record Book.  The 32nd Recording Period will end on December 31, 2022.  This will be the deadline for consideration in the massive two volume Pope & Young 9th Edition Record Book.  To be considered for entry, your official entry must be post-marked by 12/31/22.  

“Entering an animal in the books is something special, something that everyone with a qualifying animal should consider” says Dylan Ray, Marketing Director. “It isn’t about the hunter, it’s about honoring the animal, an animal that deserves to be in a book amongst his peers, for everyone to celebrate. We put our animals on a wall, and celebrate them in our own homes, but putting them in a record book will honor that animal forever, for everyone to celebrate.”

With over 14,000 new entries since the 8th edition was printed in 2017, this
two-book set will be the best edition yet. The Pope and Young Record Book has more entries than any other record book in North America.  This book is set to be published and available in April 2023. In it you will see 75 new Top five all time ranking trophies and 14 confirmed new world Records.  With the possibility of an additional 12 new World Records that are still currently ‘Pending’, there isn’t another record book that has ever showcased this many highly ranked animals.

“If you are a hunter, a bowhunter, or a collector of record books, this two-book set will be like no other”, stated Tim Rozewski, Director of Records. “With a limited printing, this book will be hard to get. If you are a hunter and have thought about putting your trophy in the record books, now is the time to do it!”

175 Inch Non-Typical Columbia Blacktail wins prestigious award.

Pope and Young, North America’s leading bowhunting conservation organization is pleased to announce the recipient of the coveted Glenn St. Charles award.  The award is reserved for exceptional bowhunting entries within the Boone and Crockett record books. This year’s award went to Tavis Rogers for his impressive 175 0/8-inch Non-Typical Columbia Blacktail.  The presentation was made at the annual Boone and Crockett big game awards banquet held this past weekend in Springfield, Missouri.  

“It’s just humbling to even see an animal in this class, of any species,” stated Tavis Rogers. “It’s a deer of many lifetimes and it was a real blessing to get the chance to spend time hunting him, much less get an arrow in him. My sincere thanks go to Boone and Crockett and Pope and Young for all of the work they do in conserving the big game animals of North America and protecting our privilege to hunt them. I’ve hunted in other countries and none of them have what North America has to offer. I attribute that to the tireless efforts of these amazing organizations.”

Tavis Rogers entered this truly amazing, 175 0/8-inch Columbia Blacktail in the 31st annual Boone and Crockett Big Game Awards Program. Shot with his bow in Oregon, this deer is one of those once in a lifetime trophy that is deserving of any and all recognition that can be given.

“You hear about these kinds of deer, and it’s kind of hard to believe until you get to see it” stated Dylan Ray, Pope and Young Marketing Director. “It truly is special when we get to recognize an animal like this.” 

Kicker CrabZ and DieZel Eye Jighead earn New Products Showcase trophies

Where guides fish on their days off creates a pretty tempting trail of breadcrumbs. A similar perception often applies to fishing tackle makers and their after-hours aquatic venues of choice. Want to know wherethe fish are biting? Tailpipe the trucks and boats of a true fish head straight to the ramp. Want to find out where the heart of a lure maker lies? Come to ICAST.

“Even though we build over a hundred lures for freshwater fishing, most of us are saltwater junkies at heart,” admits Shane Clevenger, Creative Director for the coastal Charleston, South Carolina company. 

“We’re surrounded by freshwater bass meccas like Santee-Cooper, Hartwell and Murray—and we spend plenty of time on those lakes,” adds Clevenger. “But given the freedom to cast anywhere, many of us launch along the Intracoastal Waterway and sling ElaZtech baits for redfish or seatrout. Even if we’re just testing or fine tuning a new Z-Man lure, having so many saltwater opportunities near the office provides a constant temptation. It’s all strictly in the name of research, of course.”

Not that Z-Man expected to win two New Product Showcase awards at the 2022 ICAST show. “But admittedly, we put a lot of heart and soul into our saltwater creations,” said Clevenger. “I guess you could say the ICAST wins validate all the passion and fishing time we put into our baits. Most days, we’re just out to catch fish with stuff that works, like every other angler on the water.” 

BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA — Jon Aulbert of Spring, Texas, and Corey LeRiche of Port Aux Basques, Newfoundland, are Delta Waterfowl’s top volunteers for 2022.

The Delta Waterfowl Volunteer of the Year Award, which is sponsored by Stoeger, is presented to recognize the extraordinary effort and achievement of top chapter leaders. The collective effort of more than 5,000 Delta Waterfowl dedicated volunteers across the United States and Canada advances the goals of The Duck Hunters Organization to produce ducks and to secure the future of waterfowl hunting.

Each of Delta’s 305 chapters had the opportunity to nominate a candidate to be considered for the award. The pool of chapter nominees was narrowed to nine finalists. The selection committee then chose Aulbert and LeRiche, both whom have demonstrated the highest degree of commitment to the Delta’s mission and ideals.

LeRiche hails from the Sou’Wes Newfoundland Chapter in Port Aux Basques, Newfoundland.  His chapter has led Canada in net revenue for the past two years, in large part because of this savvy volunteer. When the COVID-19 pandemic prevented in-person events, LeRiche wasn’t discouraged. Instead, he embraced innovative fundraising strategies. The online raffles and silent auctions he initiated raised the funds to enroll 60 first-time hunters in Hunter Safety Certification, lead shoreline cleanups and fund additional events.

“During the pandemic, Corey LeRiche embraced the diversity of problems that we encountered in eastern Canada,” said John Clements, Delta’s regional director of Atlantic Canada. “His ability to adapt was nothing short of epic.”

Fairfax, Va. – The National Rifle Association of America is pleased to announce the opening of the 2022 application period for the NRA School Shield Grant Program. Available to all accredited non-profit and public K-12 schools, including private and parochial schools, grants are provided by The NRA Foundation for school security improvements and related activities. The grant application period is open until the end of the day on August 31, 2022.

“The NRA has been at the forefront of providing training and financial resources to keep our children safe and secure in school,” said Joseph P. DeBergalis, Jr., executive director of NRA General Operations. “Many schools indicate insufficient funding as the reason for not enhancing security. Recognizing that school security is a multifaceted issue, The NRA Foundation is making it possible for educational institutions to implement necessary enhancements to keep their students safe.”

First introduced in 2012, NRA School Shield has a singular mission – to protect our Nation’s most precious resources: our children. NRA School Shield offers local law enforcement officials free training on how to conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of school security. The NRA School Shield Grant Program is a key component of NRA School Shield, providing financial resources for necessary projects and activities to create a safe learning environment. During the last request period for NRA School Shield grants, over one million dollars was awarded to schools across America.

Projects and activities eligible for NRA School Shield grants include improvements to infrastructure, technology, training, and policies to enact best practices in school security. This can include, but is not limited to, perimeter fencing updates and repairs, secured visitor entry systems, surveillance equipment, improved communication systems, and emergency kits. Grants awarded by The NRA Foundation for NRA School Shield are made possible due to the generosity of NRA members, in large part through the Friends of the NRA program. The NRA Foundation is America’s largest charitable organization in support of the shooting sports and NRA programs, including NRA School Shield.

For more information about the NRA School Shield Grant Program, or to apply, visit www.nraschoolshield.org/grants/. Further information about NRA’s work to safeguard America’s schools can be found online at www.nraschoolshield.org.

Silencer Central, America’s largest silencer dealer, will attend the 2022 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and pre-rally events in Sturgis, South Dakota, beginning August 2. Silencer Central will be present at three locations throughout the event.

“The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has become a tradition for Silencer Central,” said Brandon Maddox, CEO of Silencer Central. “The raucous energy of the rally is incredible and there’s no better place for us to interact with so many of our customers and future customers. And this year, we’ll be bringing a Polaris General XP 1000 that will be topped with a FN M249, which is sure to be popular with attendees.”

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and its pre-rally festivities are an annual tradition that peaks with 10 Days and Nights of riding, street food, and live music performances. More than 50,000 riders, music fans and attendees make the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally a one-of-a-kind event.

Silencer Central will be at the following locations:

The Polaris General XP 1000 with its FN M249 SAW will be at Silencer Central’s One Eyed Jack’s location for the duration of the show.

Competitive shotgun sports is an exhilarating experience that takes precise marksmanship, balance, and a spirit for the challenge of shooting. Firearm manufacturers worldwide take pride in building their finest shotguns for these extreme shooting competitions. 

Designed to simulate “taking a bird on the wing,” Sporting Clay, Skeet, and Trap are the most exhilarating shotgun shooting disciplines. These three shooting sports will capture a shooter’s intrigue for competing at the highest level, from the newest beginner to seasoned pros.

Sporting Clay Competition

Sporting clay simulates a variety of natural field situations. Shooters are presented with a wide variety of targets to duplicate the flight path of game birds. Flushing, crossing, incoming, and angling targets are part of the challenge. From any of five or more stations, targets are thrown as singles, simultaneous pairs, following pairs, or reports pairs. The size of the targets further challenges shooters, from standard clay targets to mini or flat disc-shaped battue targets. Get all the information you need from the National Sporting Clay Association.

The inherently challenging and precise nature of the sport requires a capable, precise shotgun:

Trap Shooting

Trap competition is the oldest shooting competition in America. Shooters aim at clay targets thrown from a Trap House. Targets are thrown away from the shooter in random sequence, angling from the right, left, and flying straightaway. Five clay targets called birds are thrown for each shooter at each station. After firing five rounds in rotation, squad members move to another station. Look to the Amateur Trapshooting Association for more information about this wonderful shooting sport.  

Another record-breaking season was set in July at the 2022 Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) National Championships. Hosted at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio, the annual youth shooting sports competition once again set the mark for the largest shoot in Cardinal Center history. Between the two youth programs, 39 states were represented at the National Championships.

SASP participation continues to grow throughout the nation and had a strong presence at the National Championship. Once again in 2022, the SASP broke the record for the largest action shooting event in the world. With over 2,200 entries, athletes safely fired over 500,000 rounds of ammunition without incident. SCTP participation surged as well with nearly 3,000 athletes and over 8,000 event entries during the twelve-day event schedule. This marks the largest national championship the SCTP has ever conducted, with over 1.5 million targets being thrown in competition and tens of thousands more being thrown in practice and side competitions.

A staple of additional activities at SCTP Nationals is the Last Competitor Standing or “Annie Oakley” event. This massive scale elimination event saw well over 700 clay target athletes lined up across the length of two-dozen trap fields to determine who would come home with bragging rights and impressive prizes from SCTP sponsors.

SCTP and SASP members benefit from a year-long season, with local, state, and regional events, culminating in the National Championship each July. As the largest youth shooting sports event in the world, the youth development programs hold industry-wide support, with many sponsors present on site to support the event such as GLOCK, CZ-USA, Browning, Kolar, Beretta, Ruger, and more. Both programs serve as official youth feeders for the respective sports of USA Shooting. Athletes competing in the international disciplines of the SCTP and SASP often have Junior Olympic and Olympic goals in mind, with the youth feeding programs fostering those ambitions with additional opportunities.

Shooting sports continues to be a level-playing field where winning can be achieved without being the strongest or the fastest runner. Athletes come from a wide range of backgrounds and some that do not find their place in traditional ball sports often find success in shooting sports as well as socially. Athletes also find enormous success in youth shooting sports, regardless of gender. 1 out of every 3 of the programs’ action shooting, international skeet, and bunker trap athletes are female, with many out-shooting the males outright for high overall awards. The SASP and SCTP programs focus on team-based youth shooting sports as the catalyst for youth development into high-quality, responsible young adults.

A fifth-generation Californian and former USMC officer, Manifor will spearhead the Western states expansion of Morphy’s Firearms, Militaria & Edged Weapons Division

Dan Morphy, founder and president of Morphy Auctions, takes great pleasure in announcing the appointment of Brian Manifor to the full-time position of Firearms Acquisitions & Promotions Specialist. For the past four years, Manifor has served as a consultant to Morphy’s, utilizing his exceptional knowledge of Gold Rush, Western and Indian relics and art.

“As part of Morphy’s firearms expert team since 2018, I’ve focused on US martial long arms and pistols, cannons, frontier and Indian war items, US militaria from 1776 through 1945, and cowboy bits, spurs, bridles and saddles,” Manifor said. “I have a passion for deep historical research that articulates each item’s full story in a catalog description. It’s a commitment I find very rewarding because when you give bidders the background and details they want, they bid confidently, which maximizes value for our consignors.”

Manifor’s own lineage is steeped in red, white and blue. A fifth-generation Californian raised in the historic Gold Rush town of Nevada City, he can trace his family tree to immigrants who arrived on American shores in 1632. His sixth great-grandfather was Chief of Scouts for the famed Rogers’ Rangers during the French and Indian War and later fought at the Battle of Saratoga, with his son by his side. Manifor’s great-great-grandfather was with the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry, part of the detachment that captured the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis. More recently, his family has produced distinguished veterans of World War II, the Vietnam War and the global war on terror. Manifor, himself, is a retired US Marine Corps infantry officer, as well as a former police officer and deputy sheriff.

Manifor earned a bachelor of science degree in Criminal Investigations and Management from California State University, Sacramento. He also attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, Virginia, and is a graduate of the San Diego Police Academy in Miramar, California.