Hunting and Fishing News & Blog Articles

Convenience and versatility are two keys to any tool today. In an era when you need to carry as much as you can in as small a space as possible, having a lighting tool that can serve several functions is not just a must, it can be a lifesaver.

Whether you’re working on a late-night project or you’re stranded on the side of the road at night with a cell phone low on power, having a small, compact flashlight that can fit in a pocket would be invaluable to making a deadline, fixing a car or even calling for help.

That makes NEBO’s newest product, the SLIM+ 1200, the perfect all-in-one pocket light and power bank. This powerful, compact, sleek, rechargeable light illuminates any area with 1,200 lumens of brightness, providing an extremely bright, even wash of light, while fitting comfortably in your pocket or clipped to your belt.

In addition, the SLIM+ 1200 serves as a power bank that can recharge a cell phone or any other USB-powered device, while on the go. It also serves as a convenient laser pointer, using a red laser for quick visual acquisition.

In addition to its size, the SLIM+ 1200 is also one of the most versatile lighting tools on the market. It is waterproof (IPX7) and can be submerged to depths of up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. And for those late-night jobs, it features a red C-O-B mode that helps preserve night vision. It has both a red and a white flashing mode that can alert passersby to an emergency roadside situation.

Mogadore, OH- Industry leader TenPoint Crossbows is excited to announce its attendance at 2022 NWTF Sport Show in Nashville, TN. Throughout the three-day event, consumers can stop by booth #2042 to see the full 2022 TenPoint and Wicked Ridge line-up. TenPoint personnel will be at the booth to answer any questions.

At 505 FPS, the NEW Nitro 505 has been one of the most talked about crossbow since mid-December. As the fastest crossbow in the world, it highlights TenPoint’s 2022 lineup. In addition, their Wicked Ridge lineup is highlighted by safe de-cocking at just $799 with the NEW Rader 400 De-Cock.

Visit TenPoint Crossbows at the NWTF Sport Show

Booth 2042

Nashville, TN
Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center

Lyons Falls, NY: Otis Technology announced their 2021 Customer Awards. These awards encompassed all three of their brands – Otis Technology, Shooter’s Choice and DRD Tactical.

Big Rock Sports was named the Customer of the Year for Otis Technology & Shooter’s Choice.  “Big Rock was one of Otis Technology’s very first distributors and holds a special place in our company’s history”, states Kenda Campbell, Sales Manager for Otis Technology.  “We’ve worked closely to nurture and grow this account and as a result of our collaborative efforts, we’ve seen over 500% growth since 2019.  We look forward to our continued relationship and growth in 2022 and beyond.”

Additionally, Otis Technology awarded Shoot Straight as its Elite Partner of the Year for 2021.  “They are a top notch dealer in our Elite Partner Program. They recognize the importance of selling American made and high margin accessories to complement their firearms and are shown a premium placement in store,” states Tom Knudtson, Director of Commercial Sales.  He continues, “their employees show exceptional product expertise and passion when selling the Otis products, and we appreciate the dedication Shoot Straight shows to our brands.”

The 2021 DRD Tactical Customer of the Year was awarded to Discount Gun Mart.  “Discount Gun Mart has been a loyal supporter of Otis for many, many years.  With the addition of the DRD products to their store, we’ve seen over 3500% growth in 2021 and they’ve earned the spot as one of our top Elite Partner Program accounts for DRD Tactical,” states Matt Ferland, National Sales Manager for DRD Tactical .

Otis Technology is known for manufacturing the most advanced gun cleaning systems and accessories available.  The superior Breech-to-Muzzle® design combined with unmatched quality has positioned Otis as the gun care system of choice with the US Military. 

“We all hunt for meat, trophies, sport, and many more reasons that are much harder to define. So as you read through this issue, I hope those played-out lines of division begin to dissolve and are replaced by more useful definitions of why we each paddle out into our own frozen marshes.”
—Alex Robinson, Editor-in-Chief

ANY. LEGAL. BULL.

Low success rates and crowded public forests be damned. For Midwestern deer hunters, a Colorado bull elk is still the most accessible and coveted trophy of all. “If I hunted in Colorado for six seasons and killed one bull, I’d be on par with the average. Still, the number of nonresident hunters ticks up each year,” writes Robinson. This is the story of one Minnesotan’s willingness to hike 10,000 feet, hunt hard, and experience the failures and successes of one of the most elusive, yet still attainable, Western hunts out there. 

TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN 

Trophy hunting helped save North America’s wildlife, but somewhere along the way it earned a bad reputation. These days, many hunters tend to celebrate meat hunting and distance themselves from trophy hunting. In Head & Horns, Outdoor Life contributor, Christine Peterson explores why this is, and what role trophy hunting plays in our future. Meanwhile, in Trouble on the Tundra, Alaska resident and Outdoor Life Staff Writer, Tyler Freel, digs into the controversy of a federal caribou unit that could close to all but hyper-local hunters. Which is also a perfect example of why it’s not possible to separate meat hunters from trophy hunters. 

WILD GIFTS

Curtis LeDue’s family hunted and fished in the Yukon long before this was a Canadian territory, before Ross River got a hockey rink or a government-run hospital, and before the village was nicknamed “Ross Vegas.” Like many of the Kaska Tribe, LeDue has a foot in both the modern and ancient worlds, which his work as a moose guide helps him maintain. Hunting Editor Andrew McKean traversed the Pelly Mountains with LeDue for some hard hunting for moose. 

THE SMALLEST TROPHY 

For a typical whitetail buck to be entered in the Boone and Crockett Club records, the minimum score is 160 inches; for a Coues deer, it’s 100. Despite their desert range, the deer are hard to spot and harder to get close to. “It doesn’t matter that Coues deer are tiny whitetails with undersized antlers. The physical and mental challenge of hunting mature desert bucks isn’t just worth it—it’s the whole point,” writes Senior Deputy Editor Natalie Krebs, who traveled to the Arizona-Mexico border in pursuit of these evasive bucks.

Shoot Like A Girl is bringing the 2022 Sea to Shining Sea Tour to The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Convention & Sport Show in Nashville, Tennessee this weekend for an interactive event that introduces women and their families to shooting sports in a fun, safe and comfortable atmosphere. Experience the state-of-the-art mobile gun range and join their certified female instructors as they share their extensive knowledge of firearms, archery, outdoor accessories and safety with guests while promoting confidence within shooting sports. Tickets are required for entry into the NWTF Convention and may be purchased here.  Once inside the convention, the Shoot Like A Girl experience is free to attendees.

Shoot Like A Girl’s unique events connect brands, products and the public. Attendees are never charged and are given one-one-one attention from passionate experts in the shooting sports field.

What to Expect

New and experienced shooters are invited to stop by the Shoot Like A Girl mobile range event to learn more about ways to get involved in the shooting sports. Inside the mobile range, using a military-grade firearm simulator which provides immediate recoil, impact and sound feedback, guests who are 16 years of age or older will gain confidence through handling and shooting handguns and long guns through this immersive event. Guests will also be supported by archery coaches through a live archery demonstration, allowing attendees to experience archery firsthand and learn more about the sport through hands-on instruction.

Shoot Like A Girl strives to empower women through shooting sports demonstrations and events while opening a discussion surrounding sports and outdoors. Attendees are encouraged to bring their families and children to discuss and learn more about firearm safety in a comfortable and controlled environment. No experience is necessary to participate in this free event, and all equipment is provided to guests upon their arrival.

EDGEFIELD, S.C.—Through 45 years of the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Grand National Calling Championships, many individuals were involved in its success. They played vital roles in promoting the sport of competitive turkey calling, supported callers and contests across the country and mentored the generations of turkey callers who followed. Through induction in the third class  of the NWTF Grand National Calling Championships Hall of Fame Saturday, Feb. 19 in Nashville, the NWTF will pay tribute to five individuals who left their lasting mark on the championships and the sport of competition calling.

The 2022 NWTF Grand National Calling Championships Hall of Fame induction ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. (CDT) Feb. 19 at the NWTF Convention and Sport Show inside Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. This free event in the Governor’s Ballroom is open to the public to honor and celebrate these remarkable individuals. The ceremony also will be streamed on the NWTF’s Facebook page.

The 2022 class of the NWTF Grand National Calling Championships Hall of Fame includes:

Chris Parrish, Centralia, Missouri
Parrish’s win list is extensive: three World Senior titles (1994, 2004, 2009), two Grand Nationals Senior titles (2000, 2001), three U.S. Open titles (1999, 2006, 2007), plus nine second-place finishes at Grand Nationals. The list goes on: 10 overall GNCC wins (two Senior, three Team, five Champion of Champions), four Mid-America open titles, Two King of Calls in the World Championships, three World Team championships, one North American Open Championship and 10 Missouri State championships. For 25 years, Chris was extensively involved with designing and manufacturing top-end diaphragms and other game calls for Knight & Hale. He has appeared in countless hunting videos and online instructionals.

Preston Pittman, Pickens, Mississippi
With nine GNCC titles (Gobbling, Team Challenge, Champion of Champions), Pittman has accrued unbelievable success in the world of turkey calling. Other titles include: 1983 World champion, World Natural Voice Turkey Calling Contest, World Two-Man Team Turkey Calling Contest, World Gobbling Turkey Calling Contest and World All-Call Turkey Calling Contest. He is the only person to hold five different World titles. Pittman has also won seven National Championships, nine National Champ of Champs and is a U.S. Gobbling Champion. He is in the National Outdoor Hall of Fame, Mississippi Outdoor Hall of Fame and Kansas Governor’s Turkey Hunt Hall of Fame.

An animal-rights group and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have announced settlement discussions over a lawsuit that could revoke hunting opportunities on nearly 100 National Wildlife Refuges nationwide. In November, the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) filed suit over the 2020 expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities on 2.2 million acres within the refuge system. The litigious group alleges that hunting on refuges threatens endangered species due to hunters trampling critical habitat, through lead poisoning as a result of spent ammunition and because grizzly bears are mistakenly shot by hunters believing them to be black bears or in self-defense.

The lawsuit seemed a long shot given the 1997 National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act, landmark legislation drafted and pushed through Congress by the Sportsmen’s Alliance, which ensured that hunting, fishing and trapping would occur on any refuge where it is compatible. The historic law has opened millions of acres to hunting as every Presidential administration since has touted expansion of opportunities within the system.

However, the surprise joint filing by the Biden Administration and CBD asking for a delay in the court proceedings while the two sides conduct settlement talks sends an alarming message to hunting groups that are preparing to intervene in the lawsuit to ensure the rights of sportsmen are protected.  Should the administration reach an agreement, CBD would likely not have to spend a single legal dollar, as these settlements often include payment of legal fees using taxpayer dollars. Worse, any settlement will likely include restrictions or revocation of hunting opportunities. The Sportsmen’s Alliance and other conservation groups were offered no warning of the pending talks, nor offered a seat at the table.

“A few short months ago, the Biden Administration was touting the  largest expansion of hunting and fishing in history on these lands and now they’re negotiating with animal-rights activists over hunting opportunities, while excluding sportsmen from having a seat at the table,” said Evan Heusinkveld, president and CEO of the Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation, which has been preparing to defend hunting on refuges in the case. “It’s no surprise that animal-rights and anti-hunting groups want to stop hunting, but sportsmen shouldn’t tolerate being shut out as the Biden Administration negotiates away hunting opportunities on public lands.”

The best way to save these hunting opportunities from being lost is for American sportsmen to contact their U.S. Congressmen and U.S. Senators to oppose these backroom negotiations.

FISHERS, IN – Base Camp Leasing, American Hunting Lease Association and Base Camp Country Real Estate are proud to support Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, an organization that focuses on providing food for those who are in need of food to feed their families.  Working with local farmers and hunters for harvest donations, FHFH is able to transform a God-Given resource into food for those in need!  Base Camp Leasing, American Hunting Lease Association and Base Camp Country Real Estate are eager to support this organization and their mission.  

“Supporting FHFH is an honor for BCL, AHLA and BCCRE. The work that they do to feed needy families with quality venison is simply outstanding.”  -JT Kreager, CEO Base Camp Leasing.

“We are thankful for our ongoing partnership with BCL and AHLA! Their generous support is helping hunters and farmers across America bless the needy of their communities with nutritious meat from their deer and livestock donations.” -Josh Wilson, Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry.About Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry:  FHFH is the only venison donation ministry actively setting up chapters across the nation and seeking to collaborate with other existing state and local venison donation programs. FHFH reaches an audience within both the hunting and non-hunting communities and provides the #1 most difficult item for food banks and feeding ministries to obtain – protein-based red-meat. Since 1997 FHFH has provided more than 20.5 million servings of meat for people in our country struggling with hunger. Click here to donate to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry

About Base Camp Leasing:  Base Camp Leasing was established in 1999 and developed a mutually beneficial business model to serve both landowners and hunters alike.  Base Camp Leasing has led the way in the hunting lease industry and continues to expand into new states.  Base Camp Leasing is “Powered by the American Landowner”, where we see first-hand the joy, memories, and trusted relationships between our landowners and hunters. www.basecampleasing.com

About American Hunting Lease Association:  Created in 2010, the American Hunting Lease Association is committed to serving landowners, hunters and the hunting lease industry by providing the tools and resources needed to lease or share access to private property.  They believe the hunter/landowner relationship is the key to preserving quality hunting habitat and ensuring hunters can access private property safely and provide their landowners with peace of mind.  Offering resources such as free lease agreement templates and professional guidance for leasing hunting access. In addition, the AHLA offers the most affordable and extensive hunting liability insurance policies on the market. www.ahuntinglease.org

Over the last two years, the Mule Deer Foundation has invested $9.9 million that was matched by $35.8 million in agency and partner funds as well as volunteer in-kind hours to implement 200 conservation projects across the West. This overall investment of $45.7 million resulted in 264,685 acres being improved through wildlife research, habitat conservation and restoration, water improvements, and more. In addition, 115 miles of fencing was removed or converted to wildlife-friendly designs to help reduce barriers to wildlife movement. A new video released today entitled “Ensuring the Future” shows these conservation efforts and MDF’s vision for the future to achieve its mission of “ensuring the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer, and their habitat.”

“Even in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mule Deer Foundation continued to increase our conservation footprint to make a difference for deer across the West. When tallied up, our $9.9 million investment was matched 3.6 to 1 by our partners and through our volunteers’ hard work,” commented Mule Deer Foundation President/CEO Joel Pedersen. “Moving forward, MDF will continue to use science to identify the priority landscapes where deer need the most help. This will allow us to focus on doing the right work, in the right place, at the right scale to ensure that we have healthy, sustainable populations of deer that can be enjoyed by future generations.”

Habitat improvements are the key to successful conservation of mule deer and black-tailed deer. Through new research, state and federal agencies have identified priority corridors and seasonal ranges. Using this information, MDF and our partners have focused on projects like habitat improvement, invasive weed management, and transitioning to wildlife-friendly fencing in the places where we can make the greatest conservation impacts for mule deer populations. MDF’s project funding is generated through grants, federal land stewardship agreements, chapter fundraisers, and more. This funding is leveraged with other partner dollars and in-kind volunteer efforts to maximize the impact on the landscape. 

As an example, in Nevada’s Toano Mountains—home to a mule deer herd of around 4,000 animals—MDF’s Great Basin Chapter matched a grant of $20,000 from the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund that leveraged an additional $120,000 from the Nevada Heritage Fund. The restoration project completed by the Nevada Department of Wildlife removed invasive juniper on 400 acres of sagebrush, ultimately improving over 3,000 acres of winter range habitat for the top priority mule deer migration herd in Nevada. Other projects include efforts to control invasive cheatgrass in Idaho and Wyoming, replanting sagebrush or clearing burned trees after fires in California and Colorado, transitioning to wildlife-friendly fencing in Arizona and Montana, and thinning dense forest to reduce potential for catastrophic wildfire as well as improve forage for deer and other wildlife in Utah and other states.

To explore future opportunities to improve conservation efforts and discuss the current issues impacting mule deer across the West, MDF will be hosting its first Mule Deer Summit today during the Western Hunting & Conservation Expo in Salt Lake City. The Mule Deer Summit is designed to identify and discuss the most pressing issues that mule deer are currently experiencing, and those areas where MDF can best apply resources and efforts in coordination. The summit will include presentations by MDF staff and top mule deer experts talking about using science to direct conservation action, how states and the federal government are working through Secretarial Order 3362 to step up projects, the impacts of development on mule deer, and how chronic wasting disease is affecting mule deer and hunting. Interested individuals can watch the morning session that will be livestreamed at https://huntexpo-online.com. 

Federal Ammunition announces new line options to the HST product family with the addition of Personal Defense HST 357 Magnum and 327 Federal Magnum. Continuing to build off an already extensive line of personal defense ammunition options, the addition of these magnum loads gives users a reliable and effective personal defense option for revolvers.

“When it comes to choosing a caliber for personal defense, the 357 Magnum and 327 Federal Magnum continue to be popular choices,” said Federal Ammunition Handgun Product Director, Mike Holm. “A big reason for the continued popularity of these calibers is the preference to carry a revolver for everyday carry. We are excited to add these new loads to the already proven line of HST Personal Defense handgun ammunition.”

Reliability is key especially when it comes to choosing self-defense ammo. To remove any doubts of performance, the HST 357 Magnum and 327 Federal Magnum boast a nickel-plated case for long-term corrosion resistance. The high-performance primer ensures consistent ignition when it is needed most. 

“Users that want to carry a magnum caliber for personal defense, want to utilize the full benefit of them. The specially engineered 104-grain 327 Federal Magnum and 154-grain 357 Magnum HST Jacketed Hollow Points were designed to take full advantage of magnum cartridges with consistent terminal performance,” continued Holm.” The bullet still has to perform well in personal defense scenarios. This is why the HST JHP was built to pass through a variety of materials without plugging up. The bullet jacket and core hold together to provide nearly 100-percent weight retention through common defensive barriers.”

The HST 357 Magnum and 327 Federal Magnum join an already proven line of Personal Defense HST products that include 30 Super Carry, 9mm Luger, 9mm Luger +P, 357 SIG, 40 S&W, 10mm Auto, 45 Auto, and 45 Auto +P. 

Spc. Ivan Roe, current member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU), is a fierce athlete to watch out for on the range.

In 2021, Spc. Roe, 26, was the leading scorer of the CMP’s Three-Position Aggregate Smallbore competition held during the annual National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio. It was his first trip to the event, where he also earned third overall in the Prone 6400 Aggregate Championship, fourth in the Prone Iron Sight and Any Sight competitions and led the Smallbore Prone Elimination event.

“I really had no expectations,” he said, at the time, of his first trip to Camp Perry. “Every day I got down, it was, ‘What’s going to happen today?’ It’s been a learning experience the entire time.”

The same can be said, up to this point, about his career in marksmanship.

Roe became involved in the sport when his dad signed him up for local BB gun courses at Jaycees Club, around his hometown of Manhattan, Montana, when he was 7 years old. There, he learned about gun safety and proper shooting techniques. After his first year, he decided to keep on shooting and hasn’t stopped since.

(Summerville, SC) – American Tactical, Inc., U.S. manufacturer and worldwide importer of firearms, ammunition and tactical equipment, is proud to offer ROMTES target systems.

ROMTES specializes in interactive live-fire targets and tactical training target systems. The ROMTES product line is centered around their patented Short Circuit Target (SCT) system, which provides immediate live-fire feedback. 

The SCT technology offers valuable training benefits for civilians, law enforcement and military applications. The instant feedback saves invaluable training time on the range. Real-time hit scoring enables immediate correction and results. The target systems have near 100% accuracy for reliable scoring. The high volume hit absorption saves time and money. ROMTES targets offer multiple scoring zones for advanced and focused results. They are tactically modular so that every training session can recreate real-life scenarios. The wireless system gives the user the freedom of mobility and ease of transportation. The SCT database offers continuous shooting skill monitoring, allowing the user to easily keep track of improvement.

“We think the ROMTES target systems are a natural fit for our product line,” says Tony DiChario of American Tactical, Inc. “These target systems will pair perfectly with our extensive lineup of firearms and accessories to give our consumers a complete shooting package.”

MSRP for the ROMTES SCT PRO target system is $999.95. Additional scoring targets may be purchased for $28.95.

Record funding highlights strong outdoor recreation economy, underscores importance of fishing, hunting, and shooting sports to conservation efforts 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced a record $1.5 billion in annual funding through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) Program to support state and local outdoor recreational opportunities, and wildlife and habitat conservation efforts. The WSFR Program  contains two funding sources: the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, which was reauthorized as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Wildlife Restoration Program.

“Hunters, anglers, and sportsmen and women have some of the deepest connections to nature. For 85 years, this program has been foundational to wildlife and habitat conservation and outdoor recreation throughout the country,” said Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau, who will highlight the historic disbursements in remarks at the Mule Deer Foundation’s Inaugural Summit today. “With the historic investments from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and opportunities through the Great American Outdoors Act, these grants will make significant progress in our work to protect our cherished wild treasures.”

The WSFR Program, also known as Pittman-Robertson Dingell-Johnson/Wallop-Breaux, apportions excise taxes on hunting, shooting and fishing equipment, and boat fuel to all 50 states and U.S. territories. The core value of all WSFR Programs is fostering cooperative partnerships between federal and state agencies, working alongside hunters, anglers, and other outdoor interests, to enhance recreational opportunities while advancing sustainable resource goals.

These goals are consistent with President Biden’s America the Beautiful initiative to support locally led efforts to conserve and restore our nation’s lands, waters, and wildlife. The initiative’s inclusive approach recognizes that hunters, fishers, private landowners, ranchers, farmers, Tribes, traditional land users, and everyone has a role to play in conservation to conserve America’s lands and waters for future generations.

The National Wildlife Federation and 24 state affiliates urged the Members of Congress in a letter to cosponsor and support passage of the Tribal Wildlife Corridors Act introduced by Senator Luján (D-N.M.) and Representative Gallego (D-Ariz.). The bill will fund critical wildlife migration pathways on tribal lands, ensuring tribes have resources to implement conservation measures that protect fish and wildlife and boost biodiversity.

The signatories highlight how conserving migration corridors makes critical habitats more resilient to the increasing impacts of climate change. Moreover, the development and maintenance of wildlife corridors supports efforts to increase connectivity for a variety of species, resulting in more collaboration amongst stakeholders.

“Federally recognized Tribes and Sovereign Nations have access to very limited resources to adopt and implement such management practices. The Tribal Wildlife Corridors Act takes an important step toward filling this capacity gap for Tribes by providing grant funding and technical assistance to Tribal Nations. Increasing the capacity and resources for Tribes and Sovereign Nations to properly and effectively manage for wildlife and habitat connectivity also benefits adjacent land jurisdictions such as local, state, federal and private,” the organizations said in the letter.

“In order to ensure our wildlife heritage, it is critical to protect fish and wildlife connectivity across jurisdictional boundaries. The Tribal Wildlife Corridors Act would foster wildlife movement and conservation between tribal, private, state, and federal lands,” said Garrit Voggesser, director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Tribal Partnerships Program.

Wildlife move both daily and seasonally to survive. However, the habitats animals rely on continue to be broken up by both man-made infrastructure and the consequences of climate change, exacerbated by lack of adequate and equitable funding for wildlife conservation on Tribal lands. As a result, animals are struggling more than ever to reach food, water, shelter and breeding sites. Investments in wildlife migration corridors will allow wildlife to disperse throughout the country and ensure species are better able to adapt to our changing climate. 

Channing Tatum (co-director/star) and Reid Carolin (co-director/writer) join to support military veterans in celebration of their new film “Dog”

5.11, Inc., the global innovator of purpose-built apparel, footwear and gear, has teamed up with Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM), United Artists Releasing (UAR) and K9s For Warriors to support military veterans in celebration of the February 18 theatrical release of the upcoming film, ‘Dog’ starring Channing Tatum and co-directed by Tatum and Reid Carolin. As part of the collaboration, 5.11 will donate $25,000 to K9s For Warriors, the nation’s largest provider of trained service dogs to military veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and/or military sexual trauma. 

As a part of the initiative, Carolin, Tatum and K9s For Warriors delivered a service dog to a well-deserving member of the U.S. Military earlier this month. Active Navy Captain, Jon, and his new Labrador, Winston, will complete a 3-week training program at K9s For Warriors’ headquarters in Florida where will build an unwavering bond.

Tatum reflected on the opportunity to unite a deserving veteran with his dog saying, “it is an honor to be a part of this moment.” Around creating the film, Tatum remarked, “It was a really beautiful journey for us to learn the depth of the bond between a soldier and a dog.” 

DOG is a buddy comedy that follows the misadventures of two former Army Rangers paired against their will on the road trip of a lifetime. Army Ranger Briggs (Channing Tatum) and Lulu (a Belgian Malinois dog) buckle into a 1984 Ford Bronco and race down the Pacific Coast in hopes of making it to a fellow soldier’s funeral on time. Along the way, they’ll drive each other completely crazy, break a small handful of laws, narrowly evade death, and learn to let down their guards in order to have a fighting chance of finding happiness. With roots in servicing military communities, 5.11 products appear throughout the film, including the RUSH24™ 2.0 Backpack used by Tatum’s character.

Source Outdoor Media Group is proud to announce that they are joining forces with NEBO, manufacturers of some of the world’s best-selling lines of innovative, consumer-friendly LED lighting products and tools.

NEBO, a member of ACG Brands headquartered in Forth Worth, Texas, is an innovator in LED flashlight-based products, providing consumers with everything from handheld, ergonomically friendly flashlights to standalone lanterns capable of lighting up small areas and recharging personal digital devices.

Headquartered in Gainesville, Georgia, Source Outdoor Group is a full-service marketing agency with a decade of experience representing companies in both regional and national markets. 

“We couldn’t be more proud to welcome NEBO to our family of clients,” said Aaron McCaleb, president of Source Outdoor Group. “Over our nearly ten-year history, our primary focus is to connect businesses to the consumers, and NEBO’s innovative product line is sure to make a distinct impact with the public.

“We’re very proud to help introduce more people to NEBO’s game-changing lighting solutions.”

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that following a U.S. District court’s ruling on Feb. 10 returning wolves in the lower 48 states (except the northern Rocky Mountains region) to the Federal Endangered Species List, Wisconsin is not authorized to implement a wolf harvest season. The DNR is reviewing the ruling to determine how it impacts hunters and trappers who purchased licenses for the Fall 2021 wolf hunt.

Wisconsin’s wolf population remains healthy and secure in the state. The department will continue its robust wolf population monitoring program to ensure the population remains healthy and sustainable into the future.

The DNR will also continue working towards promulgation of rules and the completion of a wolf management plan to guide management decisions. The DNR is reviewing the decision to determine how it impacts Wisconsin’s wolf management program. 

Other immediate implications of this ruling include the following:

The DNR remains committed to assisting individuals that experience conflicts with wolves through an interagency cooperative agreement with USDA-Wildlife Services for abatement and control.

Columbia, MO – Minnesota based outdoor company, Reed’s Family Outdoor Outfitters, has joined the growing list of sponsors supporting MidwayUSA Foundation. “Reeds Family Outdoor Outfitters has a long history supporting youth shooting sports across the Midwest. They understand how critical it is to get the next generation outdoors and connecting with nature. We cannot thank them enough for stepping up and supporting our mission to change the future of youth shooting sports,” said John Linquist, MidwayUSA Foundation Relationship Manager.

Thousands of youth shooting teams, including approximately 200 in Minnesota, rely on the annual cash provided by their MidwayUSA Foundation endowment to fund their youth shooting team’s activities. Every team can grow its respective endowment through donations and fundraising. This Reed’s sponsorship will provide products for fundraising opportunities and assist MidwayUSA Foundation events that also serve as endowment fundraisers.

MidwayUSA Foundation and its industry partners offer quality items teams can use in their local fundraisers. Proceeds raised with the items can be split between the team’s endowment, where they are matched for long-term funding, and used to cover immediate expenses of the team. In addition, every team can receive a donation through the MidwayUSA Foundation website and donations are generously matched by Larry and Brenda Potterfield, owners of MidwayUSA.

Industry leaders interested in joining Reed’s Family Outdoor Outfitters as a sponsor of MidwayUSA Foundation can receive great brand exposure with current and future consumers. Interested business leaders are encouraged to contact John Linquist, MidwayUSA Foundation Relationship Manager, by email  JLinquist@Midwa​yUSAFoundation.​org or phone 573-219-7688.

About Reed’s Family Outdoor Outfitters: Since 1952, Reeds Sports has been known for providing the best service, best brands, and best price anywhere. We do the deals the big box stores can’t and won’t do. Reeds is nationally known for its award-winning professional sales expertise and always offering the best deals. Reed’s Family Outdoor Outfitters is one of the nation’s oldest, most renowned outdoor outfitters. Family-owned, customer-driven for 50 years. Reeds offer a complete hunting department with firearms, ammunition, scopes, binoculars, spotting scopes, duck & goose decoys, tree stands, duck blinds, electronic dog training collars, and containment systems. Learn more about Reeds at reedssports.com.

Notes from the Publisher

By Kevin C. Paulson

This is our third issue, and we have a quick announcement: we have hired a professional editor for the magazine. I will remain on as the publisher but editing is not a skill I have readily available. This change will allow me to focus the lion’s share of my time on our monthly notes, an article for every issue and running our business, HuntingLife.com. I am excited about our new editor, and we will make formal introductions in our next issue.

January is show month to all of us in the hunting industry. In most cases, but not all, we wrap up our hunting for the year on the first couple of days in January. Then it is off to the races for the rest of the month with shows across the country. We rounded out our hunting season on December 31st with a young doe (black powder) bringing a last bit of luck and some meat into our freezer for the season. We had the good fortune of taking six hunters out in 2021, a combination of old and new friends, and we put them through the paces on public land. We saw a few dream bucks that gave us serious hope for the 2022 season, and then called it a season.

This year’s line-up for January included Dallas Safari Club, Archery Trade Association (ATA) Show, Wild Sheep Show, Grand Slam Ovis, SCI and the big daddy of them all – the NSSF SHOT Show. We focused on two shows this year, choosing to concentrate our efforts on one big trip where we knew it would bring the most bang for our efforts. They did come through for us. 

No matter what kind of hunting you’re excited to dive into for the first time, there is always a lot to learn and a lot to stock up on. A hunting trip is not something to do on a whim and requires quite a few essential pieces of equipment.

From hunting basics to exciting trinkets and gadgets that could improve your experience, you might never finish building your hunting gear stockpile. However, if you’re just getting started, here are the 6 most important things you’ll need to pack to take along with you every single time.

You’ll thank yourself in the long run for investing in good quality options for each of these items since you’ll use them over and over again.

Guns and Ammo or Other Weapons

Of course, the most important part of your hunting trip is your weaponry – you won’t be taking anything down without the right equipment.

You’ll need to take along your weapon of choice, whether that’s a bow or a gun, as well as any add-ons you might need for it. Ammunition, arrows for a bow, and additional pieces for your weapon such as an enhanced ALG AK trigger will be the foundation of your hunting gear.