Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

SENTRY’s new line of Every Day Carry holsters offers a super sleek design with adjustable settings for a comfortable, all-day fit. 

SENTRY Tactical enters the holster market with five new inside-the-waistband holsters and magazine pouches. Using the latest polymer injection technology and thermoforming, SENTRY’s EDC holsters offer superior strength and flexibility with adjustable settings to create a perfect fit whether worn behind the back, appendix carry, or cross draw. Worn under a shirt or vest, SENTRY’s EDC holsters offer minimal printing, level 1 or 2 retention, and all carry the SENTRY Lifetime Warranty.

The SENTRY Inside the Pant/Tuckable Holster is a concealed carry holster thermoformed out of SENTRY’S proprietary Polyform. Designed with a Level 1 retention the Tuckable holster employs SENTRY’s Drop Retention Safety Device, a semi-spherical protrusion that acts on the trigger guard to adjust the weapon draw resistance providing confidence in carry. A pre-formed sight channel prevents any catching while drawing or reholstering. SENTRY’s innovative Rubber-Tech loop on the holster side, facing the body allows the user to customize the height and angle carry using the two available screws. Available in black for GLOCK Model, 43, S&W Shield 9/40, and SIG 320 with an MSRP of $48.99.

The SENTRY Ultra Carry Inside the Pant/Tuckable Holster is an injection molded soft polymer blend concealed carry holster providing low profile with comfort and flexibility. The Level 2 retention Tuckable holster with the Drop Retention Safety Device and the STR System, allows a retention screw operating on the weapon’s slide to be adjusted for a smooth draw and re-holstering. The Ultra Carry also features the Rubber-Tech adjustable system. Available in black for GLOCK Model G43 and SIG Model 365 with an MSRP of $34.99.

SENTRY’s Angle Adjustable Belt Slide Holster allows for comfortable and secure belt-worn carry in an injection molded, adjustable retention holster. Ride height and angle are fully adjustable. Available in black or coyote brown for GLOCK Models G17, G19 and G43 with an MSRP of $64.99 to $79.99.

Spring Hill, Tenn. — Aaron Burns, a second-generation union autoworker from Footville, Wisconsin, heads to the heart of the Mississippi Flyway for epic waterfowl action when the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance’s Brotherhood Outdoors airs this week on the Sportsman Channel.

Mallards and teal are the main menu items when Burns, a member of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 1268 and Team Leader at the Belvidere Auto Assembly Plant, hunts the marshes and flooded brush managed by Habitat Flats Waterfowl Lodge in Missouri’s prime duck country. Warm weather means a slow start for the hunter, but when the temperature falls on the second day, birds pile into the decoys and feathers fly.

“This is by far the best duck hunting I’ve ever experienced,” Burns said. “I mean, I saw more ducks on this hunt than any other time I’ve been hunting them.”

Burns is chairman of his local union’s Sportsmen’s Committee and organizes events and fundraisers for his fellow union members. Back home in Wisconsin, the Brotherhood Outdoors camera crew caught up with him and his union brothers during a charity pheasant hunt at a local hunt club where they raised money for the Rock County Cancer Coalition.

“As a committee, we bring our union brothers and sisters and their families together in the outdoors,” he said, “and every year, this hunt gets bigger, which means that every year we can help a couple more people.”

Shimano Curado MGL 150 and Sustain FJ, G. Loomis GCX JWR and Jackall Bling 55 Earn Industry Accolades

Shimano, G. Loomis and Jackall have earned high honors among the annual ‘Best New Bass Fishing Gear’ awards from mega-retailer Tackle Warehouse.  The Shimano Curado MGL 150 and Shimano Sustain FJ, the G. Loomis GCX Jig and Worm Rod (JWR) and the Jackall Bling 55 crankbait all earned top marks in their respective categories.

The Shimano Curado family is the well-established workhorse of the bass fishing universe.  A quick scan of the boat decks at any tournament reveals the Curado in its many past iterations, attesting to its popularity among anglers seeking rock-solid performance at an accessible price point.  In 2021, Shimano expanded the Curado franchise with the introduction of the Curado MGL 150.  By incorporating a feathery MagnumLite (MGL) spool – delivering longer, more accurate casts – into a 150-size frame, this dynamo now reigns as the lightest weight Curado in the lineup. However, this reel can still handle the heavyweights, as it maintains the rigid aluminum HAGANE Body and a durable Cross Carbon drag that outputs 13 pounds of stopping power.

The fishing public’s response to the Curado MGL 150 has been nothing short of outstanding, as the reel garnered 31% of the Tackle Warehouse Viewer’s Choice votes – doubling its nearest competitor. The Tackle Warehouse staff pick was even more overwhelming, with the Curado MGL 150 collecting 65% of the vote – far outpacing the rest of the pack.
The Curado 150 MGL reel offers unparalleled versatility and a virtually endless range of applications by combining increased casting distance with improved accuracy. Matt Allen of Tactical Bassin’ remarked, “I loved the Curado 200 – I think it is one of the workhorse reels on the market. The Curado 150 MGL takes it a step further.”

While the Curado 150 MGL was sweeping the baitcasting reel awards, the Shimano Sustain FJ earned top marks among all spinning reels in the Tackle Warehouse Viewer’s Choice category.  The Sustain is one of the strongest in the MagnumLite (MGL) Series of spinning reels, capable of handling the toughest of inshore or freshwater species. The Sustain FJ features a litany of advanced technologies and refined aesthetics, headlined by a MagnumLite rotor for light start-up rotation and faster hooksets. The reel’s rigid aluminum HAGANE Body minimizes flex when battling hard-pulling fish, all in a package that’s even lighter than its predecessor.

Just in time for the holiday gift-giving season, Al’s Goldfish Lure Company announces the immediate availability of two Christmas Kits: a small kit with four lures and a large kit with six lures. These limited availability signature gift kits are named in honor of Kenneth Kieser, outdoor writer and National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame inductee who has been a fan of the lures since the 60’s and has personally selected some of his favorite lures for each kit.

Last year Al’s Goldfish Lure Company introduced its first Kenny Kieser Christmas Kit with four of the company’s best trout spoons – one 3/16 oz. Goldfish in gold, one 1/4 oz. Goldfish in nickel, one 1/4 oz. Helgy in copper, and one 1/4 oz. Lil’ 49er in nickel/blue – designed to catch everything from trout to bass, to panfish. That was such a success that this year Al’s is also offering a larger version of Kenny’s Christmas Kit.

The new six-lure kit includes Kenny’s carefully selected assortment of the classics: one 3/16 oz. Goldfish in gold, one 1/4 oz. Goldfish in copper, one 1/4 oz. Helgy in black, and one 1/4 oz. Lil’ 49er in nickel/blue plus two larger spoons – a ½ oz. Goldfish in nickel and one 5/16 oz. Forty Niner in gold/red to target bigger species such as walleye and salmon.

“I first discovered the Al’s Goldfish in the mid 1960’s when we had old-fashioned spoons that worked but had less twist and flash in the water. The first day I caught a big rainbow trout on my second cast while my buddies could not get one strike. My limit of two trout was quickly secured and the boys begged to use my amazing spoon,” said Kieser.

“I gave in and my first Al’s Goldfish was lost on the second cast. Soon we were all using Al’s Goldfish and releasing trout before securing our limit by day’s end. Remarkably, this is still the most productive trout spoon some fifty years later and highly productive for bass, walleye and crappie. Now my grandchildren are using my Al’s Goldfish spoons.”

Delta-McKenzie announces the innovative new Big 8 target, the latest development from Delta’s Premium Backyard Series broadhead targets. 

Big 8 features an innovative asymmetric hexagon shape, providing eight shooting faces. The asymmetric target design greatly increases usable life with any type of bow or crossbow.  Big 8’s design provides a larger shooting area versus conventional square targets, giving shooters confidence to stretch the distance without fear of missing the target. 

Delta’s Big 8 also utilizes a new premium competition-grade “self-healing” foam, developed in conjunction with the ASA Pro 3D tournament circuit.  This new foam withstands even heavy tournament use, lasting up to 8-times longer, while maintaining a lower pull force for easier arrow or bolt extraction.

The Big 8 target is both field point and broadhead compatible, and is speed rated for all high-performance bows and crossbows.

Available in a highly portable 16” size, or the long-distance-effective 20” model.  Both models are self-supporting with no need for a target stand—just drop and shoot.

Remington Ammunition is giving Core-Lokt® fans nationwide a chance to win big and become a part of the Remington family by joining the new Core-Lokt Club. The Core-Lokt Club is a place for hunters to share pictures, recipes, stories and more within the community. Participating members can enter for a chance to randomly win from a variety of prizes at Remington.com.

“Core-Lokt Club is a cool new way for hunters to join Big Green and be a part of this coast-to-coast hunt club,” said Joel Hodgdon, Remington’s Marketing Director. “So many of us grew up sharing stories, bragging about big bucks and feeling right at home in deer camp. With the Core-Lokt Club, hunters can do just that on a digital platform with hunters from all over the country and even have a chance to win some awesome prizes.”

Beginning November 15, 2021, and running through January 31, 2022, Core-Lokt Club members will have multiple chances to win from a stacked deck of prizes. One grand prize winner will be invited on a guided big game hunt with Remington, while other winners will take home ammunition and exclusive Club swag. Winners will be chosen at random from participating club members. Abbreviated sweepstakes rules can be found below, for full sweepstakes rules, visit Remington.com/core-lokt-club.

To be the first to hear about product availability, exciting new products and everything Remington ammo, visitors to  www.remington.com are encouraged to sign up for Remington’s e-newsletter or follow Remington on social media.

Find Big Green Remington ammunition at dealers nationwide and online. For more information on Remington ammunition and accessories, visit www.remington.com

Industry Professional Katie Rohs Specialized Shooting Industry Recruiter

“We are pleased to welcome Rohs to our rapidly growing business,” said Shaylene Keiner, President of HeadHunters NW. “She brings extensive networking, human resources, and industry experience that strengthens our niche firm’s position at the forefront of the firearms industry.”

Rohs joins HeadHunters NW as Sourcing, Recruiting Assistant and brings nearly a decade of experience in training and development, customer service, and community engagement to the role. “The skills she has cultivated in combination with her strong affiliations across the industry make her a perfect addition to our team,” Keiner said about Rohs.

“The HeadHunters NW commitment and standard of quality for its clients is positioned to deliver mission-critical talent to the companies in our industry,” stated Rohs. “I am excited to be part of this world-class firm as we advance the success of organizations in the firearms industry, and I am eager to play my role in sustaining that effort,” she added.

According to Keiner, Rohs will be on site with the rest of the HeadHunters NW team at the NSSF’s upcoming SHOT Show in January. “It is not too early to set appointments with us during SHOT Show,” stated Keiner. “The triumph of ‘our’ industry is what drives us, and we are keen to champion your prosperity with perfectly matched talent.”

With the introduction of the Winchester Ladies Cup in 2021 — a yearlong tour of seven major sporting clays regional championships and the recent championship finale in San Antonio, Texas — female competitors (and spectators) had renewed energy and excitement for the game. The Winchester Ladies Cup provided added incentives, more money to the winners, and promoted the shooting sports as fun and exciting entertainment.

According to the National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA), the 2021 Championship Tour, Powered by Winchester, saw a substantial increase in female competitors in 2021, resulting in more female competitors than ever before. 

“I have been amazed at the excitement from people, not only female competitors but also sporting clays competitors all across the board, who are following along with the Winchester Ladies Cup this year,” said Team Winchester’s Desirae Edmunds, who finished third in the full-year points total and also helped shape the structure of the Winchester Ladies Cup. “The Winchester Ladies Cup has succeeded in drawing attention and excitement to the continually growing group of female clay target shooters. These types of opportunities and rewards have never been available for female shooters in this sport before. I am grateful and proud to stand by Winchester and their continued support of our industry.”

Also representing Team Winchester in San Antonio were outstanding shooters Kemble DuPont and Kayla Wilgus.  

Female shooters, who have been challenging their male counterparts for decades, had the added incentive in 2021 of competing for the first time for the Winchester Ladies Cup across the span of the NSCA Championship Tour, Powered by Winchester. In its inaugural year, the Winchester Ladies Cup came with serious money. The top three shooters at each regional event split $5,000 (with $2,500 going to the champion, $1,500 to the runner-up and $1,000 to the third-place winner) paid out by Winchester. Then, during the grand finale in San Antonio, a $10,000 prize was split among the top three female competitors who headlined the full-season point race. More money. More incentive. More participation. 

Irving, TX – Hawk, an industry leader in hunt stand technology and innovation, takes treestand minimalism to the next level with the introduction of the all-new Rival Micro treestand.

Today’s hunters leverage new technology and innovation with time-tested hunting tactics to ensure success. That often means taking more gear into the field. To reduce the weight and bulk hunters carry, Hawk developed the Rival Micro stand to be exceptionally lightweight, highly compact, and easy to secure to a daypack or to carry into the woods.

The Rival Micro is based on a minimalized 20.5 x 17.5-inch platform and flip-up seat. The assembly folds flat for easy, unobtrusive transport and the simple design and low weight make it easy to install onto a tree with the included ratchet tree straps. For added safety, the Rival Micro comes with a full-body safety harness.

Hawk Rival Micro Treestand Specifications

For maximum portability, ease of setup, and all the ergonomic and performance features needed for a comfortable and productive time in the stand without the bulk, the new Hawk Rival Micro treestand is the obvious solution.

St. Louis, MO –  Richard Karn knows a thing or two about work boots. He has been working with the tools of the trade for decades, first as Al Borland on ABC’s Home Improvement and most recently on the History Channel’s Assembly Required.  Karn, in a brand new series of six videos, heaps heavy praise on some of the toughest work boots around, Iron Age Work Boots.

In one video, Karn educates on how to save one’s foot with metatarsal protective footwear from Iron Age.  In another, he invites viewers to “just say no to (boot) crack” with Iron Age’s industry-only crack-resistant leather. Other spots highlight the importance of picking out the right boot for the right job, and Karn even gives tough workers the okay to wear soft toes for some jobs, profiling Iron Age’s first-ever soft toe offering, a boot not a slipper. With humor, straight talk, and good old-fashioned wisdom, Karn profiles an Old School Tough Work Boot brand that has helped build America since 1918.

Check out Richard Karn’s Iron Age videos on the Iron age YouTube Channel: Iron Age Footwear – YouTube. Please utilize these videos on any of your social media channels and use hashtag #ironagefootwaer

Iron Age Footwear is a brand of Warson Brands, also known as Warson Group, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, MO. Warson Brands is a global manufacturer and marketer of military, tactical, and industrial safety footwear since 1989, and provides a variety of work and duty footwear under the world’s finest brand names, Reebok, Rockport Works, Florsheim, Iron Age, Grabbers, and Knapp. Iron Age was the first protective toe footwear manufacturer in the United States, originating in Pittsburgh, PA in 1918. For more information, visit www.ironagefootwear.com. For all of our latest news, updates, events, promotions, and new product introductions, visit www.facebook.com/ironagfootwear and www.instagram.com/ironagefootwear.  

Team Federal Precision Rifle Series shooter Buck Holly finished strong at the 2021 Precision Rifle Series Finale. The event was held at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico, November 6-7. Team Federal shooter Buck Holly earned an invitation to this PRS season finale event as one of the top Gas Gun Division shooters in the nation, tied for first place going into the match. With 220 shooters in attendance, Holly landed a third-place finish in the Gas Gun Division for the match and for the season. 

“Congratulations to Buck on his top-three finish for the 2021 season and at the Finale. His effort this year was impressive and the level of competition in the Gas Gun Division just keeps growing,” said Federal Shooting Sports Promotions Manager Jason Spradling. “Buck is a hardcore competitor. He has the experience and grit to shoot well in spite of adverse conditions. I’m proud to know that Federal Gold Medal ammunition was a part of his recipe for success all season long.”

Holly, who hails from Richmond Hill, Georgia, uses Federal Gold Medal 6mm Creedmoor factory ammunition loaded with 105-grain Berger Hybrid bullets in his GA Precision MSR-style rifle when competing.

“As a busy small business owner and equally busy family man, Federal’s Gold Medal 6mm Creedmoor ammunition allows me the ability to compete at the highest level without spending unnecessary time in front of a reloading bench,” said Holly. “I am proud of the successes I experienced this year shooting Gold Medal and am looking forward to a continued relationship on Team Federal. The 2022 season kicks off in just over a month and I am already working towards earning a spot in the coveted finale next year.”

For more information on all products from Federal or to shop online, visit www.federalpremium.com.

Ducks Unlimited’s Chief Conservation Officer joins North American Wetlands Conservation Council and Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Advisory Group

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland recently appointed Ducks Unlimited (DU) Chief Conservation Officer Dr. Karen Waldrop to the North American Wetlands Conservation Council (NAWCC) and the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Advisory Group (NMBCAG).

Before joining DU’s senior leadership team, Waldrop served as Deputy Commissioner for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR). She also gained years of professional experience with waterfowl and migratory bird conservation while serving as Kentucky’s representative to the Mississippi Flyway Council. In addition, she oversaw the coordination and development of wetland complexes in Kentucky’s premier waterfowl management areas. Waldrop also served as an Executive Council member of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative.

“I am honored and humbled to be appointed to such a prestigious group,” Waldrop said. “The important work this council conducts guides and recommends how critical funding for wetlands and waterfowl conservation is leveraged across the U.S. These projects are vital to sustaining waterfowl and migratory bird populations.”

Waldrop serves as a strategic leader and member of DU’s senior leadership team. She also leads a national/regional department with approximately 215 employees. In addition, Waldrop oversees a conservation program operating budget of more than $100 million.

BOZEMAN, Mont. – Just in time for the arrival of winter and gift-giving season, Duckworth’s Powder collection of premium Merino Wool apparel is being updated with new styles and new colors. New garments include the Men’s Powder Quarter Zip pullover and an improved Men’s Powder Pant. The Men’s Powder Hoody and Women’s Powder High Neck are available in new colors, Auburn and Midnight. 100% Montana-grown and 100% American-made with its Sheep to Shelf supply chain, Duckworth is proud to be the world’s only source-verified, single-origin Merino wool clothing company.

“Powder is one of our most popular collections, made with a proprietary Merino Wool fleece,” said Mike Somerby, Director of Marketing at Duckworth. “The fabric is soft and lofty, and offers incredible warmth and insulation, making for tops and bottoms that are perfect as casual wear around the house or as the ultimate baselayer for skiing the backcountry or fishing a frozen lake. And one piece usually isn’t enough for Powder fans – they end up owning two or three.” 

Perfected in the high-altitude mountain ranges of western Montana, Duckworth’s Powder collection is the pinnacle of cozy Merino Wool layers. Featuring a proprietary 300 gsm engineered Merino Wool fleece composition that is 50% Montana-grown Merino Wool, 30% acrylic and 20% American polyester, and a brushed-soft liner for direct-to-skin comfort, Powder wicks moisture, traps heat, repels odor and stays oh-so-soft.

The collection includes:

To purchase garments in the Powder collection and Duckworth’s other premium Merino Wool apparel, visit  https://www.duckworthco.com/.

Pit Viper will donate up to 1,200 pairs to military personnel in celebration of Veterans Day.

Sunglass and apparel manufacturer, Pit Viper, released today, three ballistics-rated sunglass models, dubbed BALL-ISTIC Pit Vipers, made specifically for military personnel. In celebration of Veterans Day, Pit Viper will donate up to 1,200 pairs of BALL-ISTIC sunglasses with the purchase of a pair, while supplies last. The brand will also be giving out sunglasses to military members at this weekend’s Salute to Service game in conjunction with the Washington Football Team. BALL-ISTIC Pit Vipers can be found online at www.pitviper.com/collections/ball-istic

Pit Viper was established in 2012 by entrepreneurial two ski bums: Chuck Mumford and Chris Garcin. The duo sold hand-painted military specs from the ‘90s, building a cult-like following that has since evolved into a multi-million dollar business, partnerships with major NFL teams, and athletes like Travis Pastrana and Rob Gronkowski. 

“We are thrilled to come full circle and release BALL-ISTIC Pit Vipers,” said co-founder, Garcin. “We’ve come a long way from our original product, and are proud to create the first-ever Pit Vipers made specifically to be worn in uniform.”

To honor veterans and active military personnel, the brand is donating one pair of the BALL-ISTIC Pit Vipers to active military members, for every pair purchased – up to 1,200 pairs. A few hundred of these will be distributed to active and retired military at the November 14th Washington Football Team Salute to Service game, as part of Pit Viper’s official partnership with the team. 

Bass Pro Shops to begin 50th Anniversary Celebration with 350 amateur teams competing for $1 million prize

Fans of all ages welcome to enjoy a week of daily FREE family fun

WHAT:           

The Bass Pro Shops U.S. Open National Bass Fishing Amateur Team Championships – a first-of-its-kind amateur fishing tournament offering the biggest payout in freshwater fishing history – will conclude on Table Rock Lake from Nov. 19-21 and be broadcast to an international television audience on NBC.

With proceeds benefiting conservation, the fan-friendly event is a true celebration of bass fishing with a guaranteed purse value of $4.3 million and $1 million for the first-place team. The festive environment at the three-day National Championship will include activities for the entire family beginning daily at 11 a.m.

LINCOLN, Neb. – For hunters in Nebraska’s inaugural Special Landowner Deer Season, their season is over.

The $8 Special Landowner Deer Permit, of which 3,690 were sold, was valid only for the three-day season, which ended Nov. 8, and is not valid for any other deer season.

According to preliminary results from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, hunters had a 24% success rate during the Special Landowner Deer Season.

The harvest includes 590 whitetail bucks, 100 whitetail does, 177 mule deer bucks, and 21 mule deer does.

Overall harvest was highest in the Blue Northwest (81), Frenchman (81), Wahoo (77), Blue Southeast (71), Platte (68), Elkhorn (66), and Loup East (64) deer management units.

AmericanTrucks’ New ‘The Haul’ Episode Takes Viewers to Vegas

In this episode of American Trucks’ (AT) ‘The Haul’ YouTube series, Justin Dugan is on location in Las Vegas, NV to check out the“biggest and baddest”Ford truck builds at SEMA 2021. The video includes vehicle walk around, event coverage, and what to expect at this year’s show

“We’re going to be bringing you the hottest trucks of the show, not just F-150’s but also the little guys, the big guys, and everything in between,”says Justin. After taking in the sights and sounds of the Ford Out Front playground, Justin heads over to some standout truck builds to give viewers a taste of what to expect when visiting the show. Inside at the Ford Booth, Justin shares footage and commentary on some of top picks: a BTR Customs F-150 Tremor, Ford F-100 Eluminator, Ford Performance Sport truck, 2021 F-150 Lighting, Tucci Hotrods’ Maverick, Skyjacker Suspensions’ 2021 Ranger, Air Design’s Maverick, and Addictive Desert Design’s Raptor

AT’s new episode of ‘The Haul’ shares the excitement of SEMA with a focus on noteworthy Ford truck builds. From thetried-and-true F150s/F250’s to new products like the Maverick and Bronco; there’s something for everyone at SEMA2021. AT is committedto its community of truck owners and enthusiasts with event coverage, how-to videos, partsreviews, customer builds, and much more.

About American Trucks
American Trucks is regarded as one of the best, most reliable online aftermarket retailers providing parts and accessories for F 150,F 250,Ranger, Silverado, Sierra,and RAM. Catering to the needs and demands of late-model truck owners and enthusiasts, American Trucks provides the best parts with support from genuine truck experts. Located just out side of Philadelphia, American Trucks is dedicated to offering the truck community with the highest quality of parts and customer service. Please visit https://www.americantrucks.com for more information.

Winners of the 2021 Annual Davey Awards have been announced by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts. With over 2,000 entries from across the U.S. and from around the world, the Davey Awards honors the finest creative work from the best small shops, firms, and companies worldwide. Please visit daveyawards.com to view the full winners list.

HSCF’s Hunter’s Horn magazine has been recognized as a Gold Award Winner, in the Consumer Magazine category, by the Davey Awards-the highest honor given by these annual awards! HSCF extends it congratulations and sincere appreciation to Carla Nielsen, HSCF Marketing & Publications Manager, Jeff Birmingham and his team at Alliance Printing & Graphics and Madavor Media, HSCF’s editing and compilation partner, for their diligent efforts in making HSCF’s magazine a multiple award winner and the premier magazine in the outdoor space.

The Daveys are judged and overseen by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA). The AIVA is an invitation-only member-based organization of leading professionals from various disciplines of the visual arts dedicated to embracing progress and the evolving nature of traditional and interactive media. Current membership represents a “Who’s Who” of acclaimed media, advertising, and marketing firms including: Spotify, Majestyk, Big Spaceship, Nissan, Tinder, Conde Nast, Disney, Microsoft, GE Digital, JP Morgan, PGA Tour, Wired, and many others.

About the Davey Awards

The Davey Awards exclusively honor the “Davids” of creativity, the finest small shops, firms, agencies, and companies worldwide. David defeated the giant Goliath with a big idea and a little rock – the sort of thing small agencies do each year. The annual International Davey Awards honors the achievements of the “Creative Davids”, who derive their strength from big ideas rather than big budgets. The Davey Awards is the leading awards competition specifically for smaller agencies as they compete with their peers to win the recognition they deserve.

Federal sponsored shooter Payton DeTavernier capped off a strong season with a coveted ATA certificate. The college student at Doane University in Nebraska, earned the AAA27AAA achievement recognition in trapshooting.

To qualify for this one-time designation, DeTavernier finished the year in the Lady 1 Division with an average above 98% in Singles (2,500 targets), 96% average in Doubles (750) and being on the 27 yard-line over the course of the year.

“This is an outstanding achievement,” stated Jason Nash, VP of Marketing at Federal Ammunition. “Payton was new to the Federal Team this year and we are excited to watch her growth in the shooting sports.”

According to the ATA website, DeTavernier is one of seventeen shooters who obtained this achievement during the 2021 target season. The Doane University student shoots Federal’s line-up of Premium target loads while competing.

“This achievement is something I knew I wanted to obtain since I started shooting ATA. It shows that my hard work, dedication and commitment has paid off and I couldn’t be happier,” said DeTavernier. “I have worked extremely hard to accomplish this and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my parents, Federal, Elite Shotguns and Kolar. It means so much to me that I have an amazing support system and people who are always there to help me.”

By themselves or as a supplement to food plots, mast orchards provide a great way to attract and hold more wildlife on your property. One benefit of orchards is that once established, they require less effort to maintain. They also add more diversity, and by planting the right combination and variety of mast trees you can significantly widen the window of attractiveness to your land.

When most people think of mast orchards they picture nut-producing trees like chestnuts and oaks. But soft mast producers like apple trees add greater diversity to your wildlife banquet, providing fruit for, and appealing to a different and broader variety of wildlife species, and at different times.

Chestnut Hill Outdoors offers a variety of apples, each differing in chilling requirement, the degree of winter temperatures necessary to induce the tree to break dormancy and begin flowering and bearing.  They list the Plant Hardiness Zones that each variety is best suited for, and they offer some older varieties that are disease resistant so they require less attention.

Furthermore, they offer several native varieties of crabapples that require virtually no care or maintenance and have high survival rates because they’re being placed into the natural environment in which they’ve evolved over eons, including soil, moisture and temperature.

Another nice thing about apples and crabapples is that they begin bearing fruit in a relatively short time, often 3-5 years depending on the variety. Also, Chestnut Hill Outdoors has selected varieties with longer ripening times. They hold their fruit over a longer period so deer and other wildlife keep coming back to feed throughout the fall, from September through December.