Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

Olin Corporation (NYSE: OLN) announced an agreement to acquire the assets of White Flyer Targets, LLC, North America’s preeminent leader in recreational trap, skeet, and sporting clay targets, and combine it with the Winchester Ammunition business.

The acquisition includes White Flyer’s five state of the art manufacturing facilities in Coal Township, Pennsylvania; Dalton, Georgia; Webb City, Missouri; Knox, Indiana; and, San Bernardino, California and includes White Flyer’s recently announced ECO FLYER® target product line.

“We are extremely excited to bring together these two leading brands to serve the millions of people who participate in competitive and recreational shotgun shooting sports,” said Brett Flaugher, president of Winchester Ammunition. “The combination of Winchester and White Flyer should enhance the continued growth of trap, skeet, sporting clays, and other shotgun sports. This acquisition offers the unique opportunity to provide comprehensive ammunition and clay target solutions for the thousands of shooting ranges across America.”

Robert Lippert, President and CEO of Reagent Diversified Holdings, Inc., owner of White Flyer Targets, LLC, noted, “Winchester is the perfect choice to take ownership of our iconic brand. The pride our employees have in White Flyer Targets, LLC will only expand as they are welcomed into the Winchester team. We are confident that shooting sports, overall, will benefit from this pairing.”

The transaction is contingent on Olin’s completion of confirmatory due diligence, definitive agreements, and final approval of both companies’ Boards of Directors. The transaction is not expected to require any premerger filings and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2023. Olin would fund the transaction with cash on hand and anticipates that the transaction would be immediately accretive to Olin’s shareholders.

(Lincoln, NE) A new face will be working on behalf of Nebraska Sportsmen’s Foundation.  John Heaston is now leading the member-driven nonprofit’s advocacy on behalf of Nebraska’s anglers, trappers, hunters, and others. 

“When I think about the great legacy of the Nebraska Sportsmen’s Foundation and its membership and leadership, I recognize that I am standing on the shoulders of giants. I am excited to help guide NSF into a promising future by further enhancing NSF’s reputation for being a ‘go to’ organization for practical solutions to outdoor issues in Nebraska,” said Heaston. 

Heaston succeeds Scott Smathers in the role. “I want to build on Scott’s outstanding work over the last thirteen years to help grow the NSF’s membership, sponsorships, and partnerships across the state. Scott has left the NSF with an outstanding record of ensuring a legacy of outdoor recreation in harmony with the economics, ecology, and culture of the state.”

Heaston brings a wealth of experiences to the job, including more than two decades of experience in natural resources management, intra- and inter-state water research, policy, program development and management, conservation planning, project and partnership development, and conflict resolution.  He spent 16 years working on Platte River Basin issues including serving on the Platte River Recovery and Implementation Program Governance Committee.  He has also been a key player in developing multiple successful private lands conservation programs that focus on incorporating natural resource management into agriculture, industry, and communities.

Heaston succeeds Scott Smathers in the role. “I want to build on Scott’s outstanding work over the last thirteen years to help grow the NSF’s membership, sponsorships, and partnerships across the state. Scott has left the NSF with an outstanding record of ensuring a legacy of outdoor recreation in harmony with the economics, ecology, and culture of the state.”

Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) and “Hunting Matters” welcomes Kyle Green, Host and Executive Producer of The Green Way Outdoors. 

Kyle began his career in television as a fitness consultant for a local medical show, quickly rising through the ranks to become the Vice President. While producing many of his own shows, Kyle was nominated for 3 Emmys! Wanting to use his experience to promote his passion for the outdoors, he left the show to produce his own.

Of the original creators of the show, Kyle has always been described as “The Passion”. His love for the outdoors developed while learning from his Dad on countless hunting and fishing trips. Gaining this appreciation of the outdoors, Kyle has a wealth of experience in both hunting and fishing, but still enjoys learning new tactics with the audience.About Hunting Matters
Tune in to “Hunting Matters” with Houston Safari Club Foundation Executive Director Joe Betar as he engages in conversations with guests, from various backgrounds, who have a passion for hunting and conservation. Great discussions, news, hunting legislation updates and more! “Hunting Matters” airs each Saturday, 6am-7am CDT on KPRC AM 950 – Real Texas, Real Talk, a Houston iHeartMedia station, and Houston’s longest running radio station. “Hunting Matters” is also available via podcast on Apple/iTunes, iHeartMedia, Google, Overcast, PodBean and Spreaker. Subscribe, listen, rate and review. Hunting Matters is the recipient of a 2022 Gold AVA Digital award, a 2022 NYX/Marcom Silver award, a 2022 MARCOM Gold award, a 2022 Gold Davey Award, and a 2023 NYX/Marcom Silver award.

About Houston Safari Club Foundation
Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the sport of hunting through education, conservation, and the promotion of our hunting heritage. HSCF has awarded 646 scholarships totaling $2.92 million dollars. HSCF conducts youth outdoor education programs, career training, hunter education and field experiences throughout the year. HSCF has provided over $4 million in grants for hunter-funded wildlife, habitat, and various conservation initiatives. HSCF is an independent organization, is not affiliated with Safari Club International (SCI) or its affiliates and is not a chapter or affiliate of any other organization. Visit our website at wehuntwegive.org or call 713.623.8844 for more information. HSCF. We Hunt. We Give.

Conklin, NY — Dryshod, the new benchmark in performance waterproof footwear for outdoor recreation and occupational use, continues to advance footwear technology with the most comfortable, highest-performing, and now LIGHTEST WEIGHT waterproof boots on the market today. The all-new Evalusion Hunt, Evalusion Hi, and Evalusion Ankle boots boast a first-ever outsole material that makes them exceptionally light in weight but does so while delivering superior traction and support on any terrain.

Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts know that while waterproof boots are welcome assets in all manner of terrain and climate conditions, they often come at a “heavy” price. It is the weight of waterproof boots and the fatigue resulting from hours of walking difficult terrain that has limited their use for many outdoor adventurers. With the Dryshod Evalusion, that problem is solved.

The Evalusion is the first waterproof boot series to feature the Dryshod-exclusive Dureva outsole technology. Dureva is a lightweight and abrasion-resistant fusion compound that delivers the superior durability and traction demanded in a high-performance outsole while offering exceptional comfort, energy return, and stable footing. This means a secondary rubber outsole is no longer required. By eliminating the need for a secondary outsole, Evalusion boots are nearly one pound lighter than Dryshod’s already lightweight counterparts. Such weight reduction lets you go farther and for longer duration without the fatigue commonly associated with waterproof boots.

In addition to the weight reduction, the Dureva compound maximizes traction performance with the Evalusion’s multi-lug tread design. The tread offers optimal stealth by quietly flexing and bending over ground elements. This is of great value to hunters, of course, but also to anyone moving over difficult terrain where superior traction is essential.

To learn more about Dryshod’s ground-breaking Evalusion waterproof boot series or to see the company’s full line of waterproof footwear, visit DryshodUSA.com.

The organization’s Pappy raffle is back and it’s hotter than ever.

Back by popular demand, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kentuckiana (RMHCK) is raffling five Pappy bottles packaged as a flight. https://bit.ly/46WJ444

Each ticket will be sold for $100 each and 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit families who stay at the House when they travel to Louisville for medical care for their children. All programs and services are free of charge to families.

This year, the organization has sweetened the raffle pot. Julian Van Winkle III signed each bottle, adding value as well as bragging rights to this year’s collection. Van Winkle is a long-time supporter of RMHCK and serves as president of Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery.

The PappyRaffle.org flight includes one bottle each of Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year (2021); Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year (2021); Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year (2021); Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year, (2019); Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year (2022). Marc Abrams, a well-known bourbon expert based in Louisville, has personally authenticated each bottle and appraised the flight at more than $18,000.

BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation and one of its members, Donald S. Willey, a 64-year-old Marine Corps veteran, have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the so-called “red flag” law enacted by the State of Maryland five years ago.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division. Defendants are Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, Dorchester County, Dorchester County Planning and Zoning Director Susan E. Webb, and Dorchester County Sheriff James W. Phillips. All three are sued in their official capacities, and Webb is also being sued personally.

SAF and Willey are represented by attorneys Edward Andrew Paltzik and Serge Krimnus of the Bochner PLLC law firm in New York City.

According to the federal complaint, for almost two decades Dorchester County authorities have “relentlessly pursued Willey for de minimis nuisance and zoning infractions.” More than two years ago, Webb allegedly stepped up the effort by accusing Willey of operating an illegal business on his property, leaving his yard in poor condition and for an “unpermitted disturbance to a 100-foot tidewater buffer.” These complaints were ultimately withdrawn, resulting in a consent order regarding the alleged condition of Willey’s yard. 

Earlier this year, one of Webb’s inspectors entered Willey’s property to conduct a compliance inspection, culminating with Webb issuing new notices for Willey to make other improvements. Several days later, Webb and one of her inspectors visited Willey’s property without advance notice, as required by the consent order. At that time, Webb allegedly berated Willey before “violently” affixing Notices of Violation to a fiberglass cover on his boat, damaging the boat cover.

Setting ambitious goal to enroll 10K new acres of access per year to support rural economies

Pheasants Forever is proud to announce a new outdoor access initiative with the goal of enrolling 10,000 acres per year in South Dakota. The Public Access to Habitat (PATH) program will accelerate the statewide enrollment of lands in long-term conservation programs while bolstering participation in South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks’ (GFP) Walk-In Area (WIA) program. The inaugural year, fully funded at $250K through national sponsors onX Hunt and South Dakota Tourism, will open enrollment to landowners starting on September 1, 2023.

“PATH has all the ingredients to be a major statewide success for landowners, wildlife, hunters and rural communities in The Pheasant Capital,” said Matt Gottlob, Pheasants Forever’s state coordinator in South Dakota. “Through our tremendous partnerships with onX Hunt, South Dakota Tourism and GFP, this initiative can dramatically expand habitat and access in the world’s premier upland hunting destination. We view Public Access to Habitat as a win-win for landowners and hunters alike and designed it to be scalable for years to come.”

Additive to the current GFP Walk-In Area program and administered in a similar manner, PATH provides an additional sign-up incentive of up to $25 per acre, paid in advance, in return for 10 years of undisturbed habitat and access on private lands. Landowners work directly with biologists from Pheasants Forever or GFP for site evaluation and implementation, following approval from a review panel. When combined with other financial incentives (signing bonus and payment for Walk-in Access + conservation program payment), PATH enrollments pay landowners a competitive rate for a decade of habitat and access stewardship.

“Voluntary public access programs like PATH are what help make South Dakota a premier upland hunting destination,” said onX Hunt wingshooting manger, Ben Brettingen. “An impressive 1.4M acres, or nearly 30 percent of the state’s huntable grounds are accessible thanks to these unique agreements between private landowners and outdoorsmen facilitated by organizations like Pheasants Forever and South Dakota GFP. We’re proud to support Pheasants Forever and their mission of habitat conservation and access – helping expand hunting opportunity for the future and preserving sporting traditions for years to come.”

International campaign to raise a record amount for wetlands conservation

A coalition of conservation organizations has launched a historic $3 billion international fundraising campaign to protect and restore wetland habitats across North America, resulting in cleaner water for communities and wildlife.

Ducks Unlimited, Inc., Ducks Unlimited Canada, Ducks Unlimited de México and Wetlands America Trust have announced Conservation For A Continent. Our Wetlands. Our Legacy.

The campaign, one of the largest ever launched in North America devoted to landscape conservation and the future of our outdoors heritage, will fund ambitious projects to build back nature in all 50 states, Canada and Mexico. The goal is to secure support, donations and commitments totaling at least $3 billion by 2026.

Together the organizations have already conserved more than 16 million acres of wetlands and grasslands across the continent since 1937. In addition, the partners are part of a multi-year effort to advance species and habitat conservation across 1 billion acres of Canada’s Boreal Forest. This campaign builds on that momentum.

With the SharpForever program, customers can rest assured their handcrafted premium STEELPORT continues to be their best performing kitchen knife for a lifetime of use. 

Officially launching on National Knife Day, Thursday, August 24, 2023,handcrafted American-forged kitchen knife company STEELPORT Knife Co.’s new “SharpForever” program will now provide free knife sharpening services for life for any and all STEELPORT knives. STEELPORT’s SharpForever program is an extension of the company’s existing Lifetime Warranty, created to provide customers total coverage, convenience and care of their premium American handcrafted kitchen knives. 

With the new SharpForever program, STEELPORT’s team will expertly return an exceptionally sharp edge to any STEELPORT knife – free of charge – at their Portland, Oregon factory where they handcraft all of their knives.

“We launched STEELPORT three years ago with a Lifetime Warranty to ensure new STEELPORT customers would feel 100% confident in their heirloom purchase, knowing they are buying a knife built to last a lifetime,” says Ron Khormaei, Founder and CEO of STEELPORT Knife Co. “Our new SharpForever free sharpening service is a natural extension of this existing Lifetime Warranty to give our customers a carefree experience, trusting that STEELPORT is there for them with full support. Whether they are buying a STEELPORT for themself or as a gift,our customers know that their new knife is backed with the highest level of service and care.”

Using a properly sharpened knife creates a significantly more enjoyable, more efficient and safer cooking experience. STEELPORT knives can keep their sharp edge for 3x longer than the vast majority of kitchen knives in the world, thanks to their proprietary heat treatment which achieves an industry-leading 65 HRC hardness at the blade edge. Even so, with time and use, every kitchen knife – no matter the steel, style or quality – should be resharpened. Performing regular maintenance of honing and occasional sharpening will keep a knife at peak performance. With their new SharpForever free sharpening service, STEELPORT makes it convenient and free for customers to keep their premium heirloom knives in top condition at all times. 

There’s a reason canvas boat shoes are so popular in coastal communities: the sturdy yet comfortable, plain-woven fabric is well suited to boating and fishing activity. It improves with age and happily goes where leather shouldn’t, such as on sandy beaches and wet boat decks. On the other hand, Huk’s Brewster casual shoes are light and comfortable, built for life on the water.

The Brewsters embrace the time-honored canvas deck-shoe built with modern insoles, outsoles, and designed for a comfortable fit, safe traction and the durability to withstand the elements. Their GripX outsoles provide sure-footed stability and non skid on boat decks and wet surfaces. The EVA foam insoles cushion the heel and support the arch for long days on your feet.

Brewsters have collapsible heels so anglers can slip the shoes on like slides, but with the heels up, they’ll stay on even during vigorous activity. The elastic fabric along the tongue assures a close but casual fit. Like the original canvas deck shoe of the early 20th century, Classic Brewsters aren’t damaged by getting wet and will dry naturally. And because life on the water often means getting one’s shoes wet, Performance Brewsters feature rapid dry mesh uppers.

Breathable, lightweight footwear is essential for an enjoyable day. Huk Brewsters combine the comfort and durability of a traditional textile with a modern step-in style and smart, sporty looks. Brewsters offer optimal wearability, an updated take on a coastal tradition on and off the water. 

There are times when barefoot is perfect. But demanding days of fishing, followed by refreshments at the marina, call for footwear that look and feel great. Huk Performance Brewsters fit the bill.

PHOENIX, Ariz. – If you missed this year’s Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Western Games and Highpower Matches in the spring, here’s your second chance to attend!

The CMP will be returning to the Ben Avery Shooting Facility Oct. 10-15, 2023, for the Western Fall Classic – a condensed version of the Western CMP Games, CMP Pistol & CMP Highpower (HP) Rifle Matches. Despite the shorter schedule, the event will still offer a wide variety of events for rifle and pistol competitors alike.

The Western Fall Classic will feature three days of popular CMP Games competitions like the Garand/Springfield/Vintage & Modern Military Matches, a Carbine Match, a Rimfire Sporter Match and the Vintage Sniper Match for rifle along with the CMP Match Pistol 2700, EIC Service Pistol, EIC Service Revolver, EIC .22 Rimfire Pistol, Military & Police Service Pistol and As-Issued Pistol matches.

The Highpower Rifle portion of the Western Fall Classic will include a 2-Man Team Match, two days of CMP 800 Aggregate Matches, a CMP Service Rifle EIC Match and a Mid-Range 3×600 event.

For educational purposes, a Rifle & Pistol Marksmanship 101 Classes with accompanying introductory EIC Matches are also part of the October lineup.

Bushnell®, an industry leader in performance optics, congratulates pro shooter KC Eusebio for his latest in a string of match wins using the new Bushnell RXM-300 Reflex Sight. In his debut in the Limited Optics division, Eusebio took first place at the 2023 USPSA Berry’s Area 1 Championship held in Billings, Montana.

Eusebio’s Area 1 Championship win follows his Area 4 Championship, his 10th World Speed Shooting Championship and his victory at the US Steel Nationals. During all four matches, Eusebio used the new Bushnell RXM-300 Reflex Sight.

“What can I say, I just absolutely love this new dot,” said Eusebio. “The RXM-300’s large objective, clean glass and crisp red dot gives me everything I need to win at the highest level. It is the perfect reflex sight for competition, among many other things, and is by far my favorite red dot out of everything I’ve used during my career.”

Available for purchase at the end of the month, the RXM-300 is a versatile, large lens, 4 MOA red dot with 12 brightness settings plus an optimized hood geometry for faster target acquisition and shot follow-up without sacrificing durability. That not only makes it the perfect competition sight for pro shooters like Eusebio, but also makes it a great option for carry, home defense and hunting on long-guns and handguns alike. Other premium features of the RXM-300 are user selectable auto-ambient intensity, shake-awake with selectable defeat, and button lockout.

To learn more about the RXM-300 Reflex Sight or to see the full lineup of Bushnell optics, check out Bushnell.com.  

Being versatile in the woods and moving to heavy-traffic hunting areas is sometimes all it takes to fill tags. The difference maker can be the ability to get to the ground and move to a different tree. Even then, the tree within the area may not have the correct treestand set-up, forcing the hunter to improvise. Nothing is better than a lightweight, adjustable climbing stand when it comes time to move and get in position. None beat the versatility of the OL’MAN® Alumalite CTS or the Multi-Vision stand. 

The AlumaLite CTS is a winning choice when the hunt calls for making moves to get in range of target deer. The stand can be set up with the classic OL’MAN straight bar or the included reversible gun rest/footrest to accommodate both gun and bow hunters. The stand features a 21-inch wide ComforTech seat, engineered for long periods as hunters await the perfect moment a buck passes by. A super-strong, lightweight oval tubing and an improved cable system make for an efficient and quiet set-up. The stand also features pivoting, spreading arms for secure attachment to trees of various sizes. The lighter-designed 18×32 inch standing platform provides plenty of space. Tubing-style foot straps provide easy entry and a better grip. This stand is ready to hunt at just 21 lbs. total weight. 

The Multi-Vision climbing stand is the top choice for those who sit all day; and it’s ready for any weapon. It can be set up with a flat, compact classic OL’MAN straight bar. Or, the hunter can use the included reversible gun rest/footrest to configure the stand for both gun and bow hunting. The Multi-Vision Series boasts one of the quietest climbing stands on the market and remains OL’ MAN’S top-selling tree stand with a 21-inch wide net seat and an overall stand weight of 29 lbs. This stand can’t be beaten when hunting all day. 

Hunt with confidence and comfort, no matter what the hunt calls for. Hunt with the OL’MAN Alumalite CTS and Multi-Vision climbing stands this fall.

Alumalite CTS Specifications:

New for 2023, the Hyper Raptor leads the way with premium features, performance-driven innovation, and industry-leading technology to produce the smoothest, fastest, and easiest shooting experience on the market. Best of all, Barnett® offers all of this at an incredible retail price!

At the heart of every Barnett crossbow is quality and dependability. As the leading pioneer of the modern crossbow movement, Barnett’s never-compromising focus on precision, safety, and performance has earned the trust of hunters from every walk of life and every corner of the world. With over 60 years of experience and scrutinizing every aspect of every crossbow, Barnett is proud to be the world’s #1 manufacturer of crossbows.

The Hyper Raptor excels in every aspect of performance-inspired design and technology. With a lightweight composite riser and measuring just over seven inches axle-to-axle when cocked, the crossbow provides excellent maneuverability in tight-quartered hunting applications. Its pivoting limb pockets put less weight on the front of the crossbow while making a more durable shooting platform with reduced recoil and vibration. With its compact and energy-efficient design, the Hyper Raptor sends small-diameter HyperFlite arrows down-range with incredible speed – up to 410 feet per second and 142 ft. lbs. of energy for maximum bone-crushing penetration.

Like all crossbows in the Hyper series, the Hyper Raptor is paired with Barnett’s exclusive and patent-pending 20 in., .204 diameter HyperFlite arrows. The arrow’s 21% increased FOC (front of center) and 61% greater ballistic coefficient reduces wind drift, making for a deadly combination of blistering speed, downrange accuracy, and deeper penetration. With a straightness tolerance of +/- .001 in., HyperFlite arrows provide more than 25% deeper penetration than the competition. 

The Hyper Raptor is not only exceptionally fast but proves to be tack-driving accurate. Barnett’s new Halo System eliminates cable crossing and cam lean to create perfectly balanced string travel for superior accuracy. Additionally, arrows are held secure with Barnett’s Soft Lok Floating Bristle Arrow Retainer System and CNC machined aluminum flight track provides consistency shot after shot. 

BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation and one of its members, Donald S. Willey, a 64-year-old Marine Corps veteran, have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the so-called “red flag” law enacted by the State of Maryland five years ago.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division. Defendants are Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, Dorchester County, Dorchester County Planning and Zoning Director Susan E. Webb, and Dorchester County Sheriff James W. Phillips. All three are sued in their official capacities, and Webb is also being sued personally.

SAF and Willey are represented by attorneys Edward Andrew Paltzik and Serge Krimnus of the Bochner PLLC law firm in New York City.

According to the federal complaint, for almost two decades Dorchester County authorities have “relentlessly pursued Willey for de minimis nuisance and zoning infractions.” More than two years ago, Webb allegedly stepped up the effort by accusing Willey of operating an illegal business on his property, leaving his yard in poor condition and for an “unpermitted disturbance to a 100-foot tidewater buffer.” These complaints were ultimately withdrawn, resulting in a consent order regarding the alleged condition of Willey’s yard.

Earlier this year, one of Webb’s inspectors entered Willey’s property to conduct a compliance inspection, culminating with Webb issuing new notices for Willey to make other improvements. Several days later, Webb and one of her inspectors visited Willey’s property without advance notice, as required by the consent order. At that time, Webb allegedly berated Willey before “violently” affixing Notices of Violation to a fiberglass cover on his boat, damaging the boat cover.

Hunters can now supercharge their feeding sites by pouring it on with the liquid form of the popular BB2 attractant. Whether it’s used during the initial hunt to lure deer within shooting range or added to feeders for increased attraction, hunters can’t go wrong with Big & J’s BB2 Liquid. 

The BB2 Liquid is perfect for adding to feeds such as corn, apples, or even original BB2 that deer already love. Pouring liquid BB2 with other feeds, on the ground or over a small stump will amplify the aroma. When used while hunting, the area is filled with the attractive aroma and taste that Big & J are known for, drawing deer from long-range and keeping them craving BB2 for extended periods.

BB2 is not your everyday deer attractant in a bottle. In contrast to other liquid attractants available from competitors, which consist of flavored sugar water, BB2 Liquid stands out by providing exceptional nutritional benefits, boasting a protein content of 8% and a fat content of 2%. In addition, BB2 Liquid includes the beloved salt that deer are known to enjoy, as well as essential calcium and phosphorus that bucks require for enhancing and fostering antler growth.

BB2 Liquid

Available in 1-gallon bottles

Meopta’s MeoStar S2 82mm HD Spotting Scope with removable 20-70x eyepiece has been named “Best Overall Spotting Scope” and winner of Outdoor Life’s 2023 Editor’s Choice Award in the full-size spotting scopes category.

The MeoStar S2 82 features premium, extra-low dispersion, fluoride-treated HD glass that eliminates chromatic aberration to give the sharpest resolution, contrast, and color fidelity possible. The Outdoor Life test team noticed the outstanding performance citing the MeoStar’s best-in-class optical resolution and image quality, extremely tactile focus and power changing controls, sharp edge-to-edge clarity, excellent internal coatings, and outstanding price among other factors that made this premium spotting scope stand out in the test.

“The price—the real-world street price is around $3,000 for both the body and the 20-70-power eyepiece—is about $1,000 lower than its European peers, but you get the same vivid image, the stunning edge-to-edge clarity, and the velvety controls. In short, the MeoStar is an investment-grade spotting scope that is a relative bargain when considered against its competitors.”

“The Meopta easily won our low-light test, and topped the field in optical resolution. The test team especially liked the long-range detail it produced, even at higher magnifications.”

The S2 82 HD spotting scope’s optical system, with MeoBright lens coating, is optimized for twilight, giving hunters and nature observers the advantage of seeing fine details more clearly at extended ranges in low light. External lenses are also protected by Meopta’s proprietary MeoDrop  hydrophobic coating which repels water, dust, and grease from lens surfaces while the MeoShield anti-abrasion lens coating offers added protection in rough terrain. The scope also has a retractable sunshade.

There is no better time to take a mature buck than a first sit at a fresh stand location. Deer quickly avoid areas regularly contaminated with human scent. A dream deer may have been spotted from another stand location or patterned with trail cameras and other tools. Now, the conditions are right, and it’s time to move in to set up the ambush. 

Lightweight, compact and durable, the Ol’ Man® Assassin Hang On Treestand is the ideal platform to get this job done and secure the advantage when the hunting is up close. Bowhunters will love the Millennium-style ComfortMax seat, designed with a footrest for prolonged sitting while patiently waiting for an opportunity. The seat is easily and quietly folded up to allow extra room on the platform for standing or tricky angle shots.

The stand is designed for easy packing; it folds flat and sports integrated, adjustable backpack straps with a chain and footrest. With powder-coated, rugged steel construction, the Ol’ Man Assassin Hang-On is built to last through welded steel construction but still weighs in at a manageable 19 pounds.  

The Assassin Speed Rail Ladder is hard to beat when paired with any stand. Designed to work on the most difficult-shaped trees, the Speed Rail consists of three independent sections of the ladder, each of which can be strapped to a tree. There’s no metal-to-metal contact, so hunters can quietly move into their hunting spot without alerting game. Each ladder section has four horizontal rungs between two vertical ladder rails, making it easy to set up, and it is made of tough powder-coated steel for long-lasting durability.

As with every Ol’ Man stand, the Assassin Hang On includes a 5-point full-body safety harness and instructional DVD. Hunt hard, hunt smart. Gain the advantage with the Ol’ Man Assassin Hang On Treestand, and make it even more dangerous by including the Assassin Speed Rail Ladder.

Jacksonville, Florida – Safariland®, a brand of The Safariland Group®, a leading global provider of safety products designed for the public safety, military, professional and outdoor markets and one of Cadre Holdings, Inc.’s (NYSE: CDRE) (“Cadre”) key brands is proud to announce the Liberator® IV Advanced Single Comm Headset is now Member Tested and Recommended by the National Tactical Officers Association. 

“The Liberator IV, the first multi-mode, dual fuel single communications headset to hit the market, is designed to meet the rigorous demands of military and law enforcement users in any tactical situation,” said James Imhoff, GM of Communications for Safariland. “We’re proud to be recognized by the NTOA, further showcasing the peak performance of this product.”

Safariland sets standards with the Liberator IV in tactical advancements, boasting revolutionary technologies like Active Noise Reduction (ANR), Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Dual Mode with ANR/ANC simultaneously. With industry-leading sound localization and advanced protection technology, this headset promotes maximum situational awareness and threat detection, facilitating rapid decision-making during critical operations. These American-made systems enhance operational efficiency and personnel safety on the front lines, where every second counts.

Since 2003, the NTOA Member Tested and Recommended Program has rigorously tested over 3,000 products in real-world situations, holding significant importance for numerous law enforcement agencies when making product purchasing choices. The results of these tests are disseminated to the law enforcement community.

To learn more about Safariland’s communications systems and how Safariland is committed to building lifesaving equipment, visit Safariland.com.

Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Slee, 59, of Dimondale, Mich., has found a way to keep competitive in a sport he has loved his entire life, despite the challenges that come with the passing years.

Triple-Distinguished in Service Rifle, Service Pistol and .22 Rimfire Pistol, Slee began competitive smallbore .22 caliber rifle shooting at 14 years old with a local sportsman’s club. Now, over four decades later, he’s coming back to his roots after a career that has brought him many profound experiences and lifelong memories.

“When I was young, I had a fascination with all things Army, including firearms,” he explained. “I guess I wanted to march in formation, wear a uniform and shoot guns.”

He had his chance when he enlisted in the Army Reserve in 1982. A few years later, in 1984, he learned of the Army’s shooting program. He tried out and made the 5th Army Rifle Team, going on to join the Army Reserves Rifle Team the following spring. Later, he became the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the Army Reserve Service Pistol Team. 

“I am still trying to earn credibility with a pistol,” he said. “I do find pistol a little more convenient in that I don’t have to go through the physical strain caused by the firing positions in rifle.”