The National Wild Turkey Federation has a long and proud history of delivering on its mission: We are dedicated to the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage. We have been able to achieve nearly 50 years of success by growing and evolving how we operate as an organization. 

Today, the majority of our staff spend significantly less time in a formal office setting. Technology provides additional flexibility and has streamlined many of our support functions. Staff members are now deployed throughout the country, creating efficiencies, a better understanding of regional needs and allowing staff and volunteers to communicate and collaborate more effectively. These changes began years ago, but the pandemic accelerated the pace of change. Consequently, the staff and central office functions based at the headquarters require less space.

In addition, the outdoor industry has grown alongside us and now provides many services — including bulk-order merchandise warehousing and shipping — on a contractual basis that’s cost-effective and efficient. This has gradually changed the way we approach fundraising through chapter banquets.

Recognizing that our facility and space needs have changed, the NWTF National Board of Directors and our senior leadership team spent the past spring and summer researching options and considering the best path forward to build on the success of the NWTF. In August, the board voted unanimously to implement a strategic plan for the Wild Turkey Center in Edgefield, South Carolina, that consists of three steps:

Details of the actions being taken by NWTF include

Outdoor Industry Association has announced its Tier One sponsorship of Outdoor Media Summit, where the association will share exclusive insights on outdoor consumer behavior, industry market trends, outdoor participation and more. Key findings to be shared include the state of the outdoor economy, the rate of growth in outdoor recreation, the degree of diversity among outdoor participants, outdoor workforce trends, and the likely effects of inflation on participation in outdoor recreation.

The conference will take place October 30 through November 1, 2022, at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort and Spa in Incline Village, Nevada. OIA will host the Summit’s welcome party at the Thunderbird Lodge on night one, Sunday, October 30. 

“Outdoor Media Summit is our industry’s gathering place for media and marketing professionals. We are excited to participate again this year as an event sponsor and to share data to support the success of our industry and our businesses,” said Kent Ebersole, interim Executive Director of Outdoor Industry Association. “Whether it’s understanding how shifts in the outdoor consumer base will affect buying trends, or what economic and social forces are impacting our industry, OIA is here to support. We look forward to connecting with our members and the broader outdoor community at this year’s event.” 

Attendees will get the first look at results from Outdoor Industry Association’s annual research, as fodder for new projects and collaborations to help the industry meet the needs of its ever-expanding audience.

“Given the disruption of events in the outdoor industry, we are beyond thrilled that OIA has chosen Outdoor Media Summit as its home for media and marketing professionals,” Outdoor Media Summit founder Yoon Kim said. “We’re excited about this partnership as Outdoor Media Summit becomes the new gathering place for outdoor industry professionals.”

Ray Livingston will be using the BHA Model 90 in .460 S&W Magnum and the AR500 in 500 Auto Max in the upcoming season of a popular outdoors-centric television show.

Big Horn Armory (BHA), makers of big-bore firearms, is pleased to welcome Ray Livingston as its newest brand ambassador. Livingston will be utilizing the BHA Model 90 in .460 S&W Magnum and the AR500 in 500 Auto Max as part of the partnership. A lifelong outdoorsman, Livingston is a current hunting guide for Upfront Outfitters, a mentor for the First Hunt Foundation, and the newest cast member of a popular outdoors-centric television show (to be announced) which will begin filming its latest season this October.

“I’m excited to partner with Big Horn Armory and am looking forward to using the Model 90 and AR500 in my upcoming hunts. As both a hunter and survivalist, I look at my firearms like a golfer looks at their golf clubs. While you can get through a golf course with a 5 iron, there’s the best club for each set of conditions the golfer or hunter is faced with. As I consider any new firearms I purchase, I do so intending to have a ‘golf bag’ versatile enough to hunt anything, anywhere,” commented Livingston.

“Our partnership with Ray will help to show a broader audience the power and effectiveness of our big bore lever action rifles and AR firearms. We are looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship with Ray and can’t wait to see him on our TV screen,” remarked Greg Buchel, President and Owner of BHA.

Livingston was born in inner-city Portland, Oregon, and grew up in the city until his family relocated to rural Gresham when he was in middle school. It was here that he developed his deep love for the outdoors by engaging in hunting, fishing, hiking, and other outdoor recreation. A former All-American track and field athlete from the University of Oregon, Livingston often found himself in the woods alone, which led to his desire to learn primitive survival skills so he could go even deeper into the wilderness solo.

One-Of-A-Kind Henry Rifle Sold at Auction for Over $25,000

Following an annual fundraising gala in Miami, Florida, and the conclusion of an online auction for a one-of-one rifle designed, built, and donated by Henry Repeating Arms, the company is pleased to announce a total figure raised in the amount of $52,175 to benefit Shadow Warriors Project. The non-profit organization is the only one of its kind providing post-engagement support for injured private military security contractors returning home from battle in some of the world’s most hostile locations.

Shadow Warriors Project was co-founded by Mark “Oz” Geist, a member of the CIA Annex Security Team that found itself the target of a terrorist attack on September 11, 2012, in Benghazi, Libya, where he is credited with saving the lives of more than 25 Americans. On the tenth anniversary of these attacks, Shadow Warriors Project held its first annual ‘Honor The Brave’ fundraising gala in Miami, Florida, where Henry Repeating Arms CEO and Founder Anthony Imperato presented Geist with a check for $25,000 to enhance their mission. Throughout the evening, three more donated Henry Repeating Arms rifles raised $2,150 from silent auctions.

Recently, an online auction concluded for one of the most exclusive rifles ever built in Henry Repeating Arm’s 25-year history. Based on the 1860 patent for the first successful and practical repeating rifle, Henry Repeating Arms’ one-off rifle featured hand-chased engraving on a hardened brass receiver and a buttstock made from rare exhibition-grade American walnut wood. The engraving work included the Shadow Warriors Project logo on one side and the Seal of the President of the United States on the opposite. The virtual hammer dropped with a winning bid of $25,025, which goes to Shadow Warriors Project. 

“We are thrilled with the auction results, and to anyone that placed a bid or helped to spread the word, I thank you sincerely,” said Imperato. “For sure, it’s a feather in our cap to have a rifle sell for so much, but it’s also a testament to Mark, his organization’s great work, and the unsung, under-the-radar group of men and women that Shadow Warriors Project is so dedicated to supporting. Everyone involved should be proud of what has been accomplished so far.”

WHAT: Fall Big Bass Bash Amateur Fishing Tournament

WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, October 1 & 2

WHERE: Throughout the Lake of the Ozarks area

LAKE OF THE OZARKS, MO – Thousands of amateur anglers from across the country will be casting their lines at the Lake of the Ozarks in search of a largemouth bass that could land them the $100,000 first-place prize during the 2022 Fall Big Bass Bash, October 1-2.

The Big Bass Bash will pay out more than $325,000 in prizes to participating amateur anglers throughout the event, including over $142,000 in bi-hourly payouts. The grand prize of $100,000 goes to the angler that catches the largest bass throughout the tournament weekend with second place winning $20,000, third place taking home $10,000 and fourth place earning $5,000.

(Cocoa, Florida) Florida based company, European American Armory Corporation, the world’s leading importer of European firearms has made it their mission to bring the U.S. consumer firearms that are on the leading edge of technology. To help with their mission they have recruited Dangersoup to handle Public and Media Relations.

Founded in 1990, EAA has a long history of bringing very popular variants and modified versions of successful firearms to market at affordable prices. Their reliability has earned them a large following and their customer service has earned them trust. “When we were looking for an agency to represent us we wanted a company that also has a high level of faith within the industry,” explains Keith Bernkrant, CEO of EAA. “Dangersoup has many long-established relationships and their references were not only glowing but were excited to tell us about working with them. It was an easy choice.”

“The products and service that EAA has been bringing to customers across the country is fantastic. They do a great job of selecting their manufacturers and putting in the time and effort to guarantee that they are offering the highest quality for the best price,” stated Justin Moore, owner of Dangersoup. “It’s a home run for everyone and we can’t wait to tell more people about their commitment to their partners and their end users.”

For more information please contact National Sales & Import Manager, Chase Duffey at  [email protected] for sales information or Justin Moore at [email protected] for media relations.

About EAA Corp.

BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA — BOSS Shotshells announced it will provide a free case of their American-made “Unmuzzled” copper-plated bismuth shotshells to each school participating in the Delta Waterfowl University Hunting Program for a second season. The donation celebrates BOSS’s continuing “Champion of Delta” corporate sponsorship.

“We are excited about the opportunity to help support these new hunters and work with Delta in these efforts,” said Zach Meyer, with BOSS Shotshells. “Getting these future wildlife leaders in the field really helps them better understand the passion and commitment of all hunters – and we hope become hunters themselves.”

The Delta UHP has grown to 72 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada for the 2022-2023 academic year and hunting season. The acclaimed, holistic curriculum includes classroom work, state/provincial hunter safety training, a range day, a day of mentored duck or goose hunting, instruction on preparing the birds for the kitchen, and a meal from the birds taken on the hunt. Delta created UHP to address the lack of hunting familiarity among students pursuing degrees and careers in wildlife management. It’s estimated that as many as 70 percent of them have no experience in or even family connection to hunting.

“The core of the UHP mission is to bring these students aboard as new, frequent waterfowl hunters,” said Delta HunteR3 coordinator Jacob Bushaw, “but at the very least, they’ll have a positive, memorable experience, and we’ll send them on to their future careers with a favorable impression of hunting. Experiencing birds killed cleanly and quickly and retrieved easily is a big part of that. That’s why providing them quality ammunition is so important.”

BOSS Shotshells produces a full range of non-toxic shotshells for waterfowl hunters. The BOSS facility in Bridgman, Michigan manufactures shotgun ammunition for all popular hunting gauges and waterfowling situations.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is better able to monitor the health, movements and distribution of bighorn sheep in the Wildcat Hills thanks to a project completed this month.

With the help of a helicopter capture crew, Game and Parks placed tracking collars on 27 sheep during two mornings, Sept. 20-21.

Similar to past efforts, the helicopter crew used a net gun to ensnare individual sheep, place them in a sling bag and ferry them back to mobile processing sites. At those locations, a crew of Game and Parks employees, partners and volunteers placed collars and numbered identification tags on the animals, collected tissue samples, and returned them to the wild in a matter of minutes.

While the effort may have resembled sheep capture efforts of the past, it had one key difference — the temperature. The weather during this effort was in large contrast to past captures in winter months in Nebraska.

The danger of sheep overheating has traditionally led wildlife researchers to capture when it is cold. Todd Nordeen, big game disease and research program manager, said the decision to try September was influenced by other western states that have had recent success capturing sheep in the summer. A considerable benefit, he said, is that the sheep have not yet grown their heavy winter coats that hinder cooling efforts.

The bill would establish a grant program to fund fishing programs for children

Today, legislation was introduced in Congress to provide opportunities for youth to enjoy the outdoors. The Youth Coastal Fishing Program Act of 2022 was introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Reps. Maria Salazar (R-Fla.) and Donald McEachin (D-Va.), along with 19 bipartisan cosponsors. The Senate version was introduced by Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.).

The bill would create a grant program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for projects that take children fishing with priority given to underserved communities. This legislation falls in line with the American Sportfishing Association’s (ASA’s) goal of introducing new anglers – particularly young people – to recreational fishing.

“Countless studies show that while there are ample health benefits to spending time on the water with family and friends, young people and those in underserved communities face significant barriers in accessing the outdoors,” said ASA’s Vice President of Government Affairs Mike Leonard. “The grants provided through this bill will go a long way to remove those barriers and help children develop a love of fishing. We thank Representatives Salazar and McEachin and Senators Wicker and Cantwell for their work on this issue and look forward to its bipartisan support in Congress.”

“As someone who knows and recognizes the bounties of the marine and aquatic environment, I am pleased to provide younger generations of Americans across the country, especially minority Americans, the opportunity to learn firsthand about our seas, oceans and lakes, as well as provide them with the tools to enjoy them,” said Representative Salazar.  

Rebels to Wear Custom Helmet Against Kentucky Saturday

In one of college football’s marquee games of the week, Ole Miss will host Kentucky on Saturday when the Rebels will sport an exclusive helmet showcasing a custom color scheme from the camo experts at Realtree.

In addition, the Rebels’ gameday wardrobe will include exciting new gear that features the Realtree design. The hoodies and Nike tees are available through Ole Miss Authentics, the official team shop of Ole Miss Athletics operated by Dyehard Fan Supply, and may be purchased now at shop.olemisssports.com, at the Oxford store on Jackson Avenue and on Saturday at stadium and campus locations, including a special Realtree trailer located in the west plaza.

The collaboration between Rebel Athletics and Realtree has been in the works for several months and has deep roots in the Ole Miss family. Realtree founder, CEO and Ole Miss alum Bill Jordan played wide receiver for the Rebels in the early 1970s and has stayed connected to the program. The Jordan family’s name is featured on the Manning Center indoor field.

Jordan surfaced the helmet concept with his team as they were reviewing various programs tied to lifestyle apparel, athleisurewear and sporting goods products with licensees, including Nike. The helmet will feature a custom color adaptation, using Realtree’s pattern WAV3, that will dynamically tie in with the Ole Miss on-field uniforms and school colors.

Primers come in a variety of different sizes, with each primer varying in size slightly between each manufacturer.

9mm rounds are some of the most common rounds used for both target shooting and self-defense. The 9mm pistol has become one of the most popular handguns, thus, 9mm primers are in high demand.

In recent years there has been an extreme shortage of 9mm pistol primers to the point they were basically unavailable. As a result, it forced people to ask the question of whether other primers could be used for 9mm reloads.

What Caused This Shortage Of 9mm Primers?

There are two main factors that have influenced the primer shortage that we have experienced over the last few years. The two factors are an increase in demand for primers and disruption to normal manufacturing.

Because of COVID-19 and other political concerns, more people bought guns than ever before, and those that already had guns then wanted to stockpile ammo in the face of uncertainty. As a result, supplies got bought up very quickly. On top of that, all the health and geopolitical complications made shipping and imports trickier than they have been for a long time, which influenced not only the importing of manufactured ammunition but some of the critical ingredients required to make the ammunition.

Who Makes 9mm Primers?

9mm primers are made by the four main ammunition makers:

Unless you use muscle power, there is no way you will move your boat if you don’t have electric power. And for you to use muscle power, you should be having a small fishing boat, and your paddles should easily reach the water.

The boat’s electrical system serves plenty of roles: it powers the engine, onboard equipment and electronics, gauges, and cabin. It also allows you to plug into shore power when you dock at the marina.

For peace of mind and to ensure that your boat is always in top working condition, you need to keep a close eye on your boat’s electrical system.

How do you do this? Here is how to go about it:

Inspect the boat wiring

Unlike the wiring system in your home, the boat’s wiring system is subjected to all corrosive elements such as dampness, vibrations, changing temperatures, saltwater, and many others.