Hunting and Fishing News & Blog Articles

Irving, TX – Yamamoto Baits is excited to announce the release of the all-new Sensei Worm. Designed to be a finesse killer, the 6.5’’ Sensei features a custom-tailored soft plastic formula that leaves the worm neutrally buoyant in the water. This results in a bait that even the most finnicky bass are going to have a hard time turning down.

“The Sensei Worm has quickly become my go-to plastic for Neko rig and shaky head applications,” says Yamamoto pro Cody Meyer. “Yamamoto is known for putting out baits with phenomenal action, and the Sensei Worm just seems to continue that tradition.”

The balanced design of the Sensei Worm allows for a wide, slow shimmy when rigged weightless. Its versatility is also evident when targeting deeper fish, especially with finesse presentations.

“This worm can shine all over the lake,” says Meyer. “I’ve also caught fish on it dropshotting and with a traditional Texas Rig. I can confidently say that the new Sensei Worm will help you catch more fish in even the toughest conditions.”

For more information on Yamamoto Baits, please visit their website HERE, or find them on Facebook and other social media avenues. 

The collaborative effort between Taurus Armas S.A., a leading Brazilian multinational, and Jindal Defense Systems Pvt Limited, a prominent Indian group, has reached a significant milestone with the initiation of pilot batch production at the new manufacturing unit in India. This joint venture, known as JD Taurus, marks a pivotal moment in the global firearms industry.

Under the guidance of Taurus’ expert team from Brazil, the Indian facility has commenced the production of pilot batches of firearms in March 2024. This strategic move aligns with the transfer of technology (ToT) and knowledge, ensuring seamless integration and adherence to stringent quality standards.

The primary objective of these pilot batches is to establish technical, operational, and manufacturing processes to guarantee the replication of high safety and quality standards on an industrial scale. The manufacturing unit is poised to cater to both military and civilian markets, with an initial annual production capacity of up to 250,000 weapons, subject to scaling based on demand.

JD Taurus is actively participating in major tenders, including the ongoing procurement process by the Ministry of Defense, India, for 425,000 Carbines. This endeavor underscores the company’s commitment to supplying cutting-edge firearms to bolster national security.

Taurus’ renowned reputation for competitive pricing, advanced technology, superior quality, and high production volume positions JD Taurus as a formidable contender in the global market. Notably, Taurus secured a significant tender to supply T4 carbines to the Philippines Army in 2022, further solidifying its global footprint.

SK Guns®, the Nation’s only series-driven, limited edition manufacturer of custom firearms, is proud to announce the release of the third edition of the Untamed Series of the world’s deadliest predators: “Luchando Tigre.” This latest production in the series combines a native ritual and a deadly predator into one remarkable installment.

“Luchando Tigre” comes from the native Atsatsilisti ritual in the Mexican state of Guerrero to offer blood to the god Tláloc and the earth in exchange for the rain necessary for a good harvest. Dressed in a tiger personification and equipped with a rope bathed in mezcal, the tribute’s shed blood is the offering required by Tláloc to send the rain. A deadly tiger is depicted wrapping around the slide leaping toward its prey with teeth and claws bared, locked on tearing apart its prey.

“This year’s edition of the Untamed Series truly embodies the idea behind this line of custom guns,” said Simon Khiabani, owner and founder of SK Guns. “The tiger symbolism used in the Arsatslisti ritual for rain combined with the danger synonymous with the Bengal tiger that is depicted along the slide showcases the “tigris” subspecies century-old status as one of the most feared predators in the world.”

The tiger is covered in 24K gold and black-filled stripes with selective silver-plated eyes, teeth and claws. The Colt® logo decorates the rear left panel and the right is engraved with each gun’s unique issued series number.

The production comes complete with a set of rare specimen genuine tiger maple wood grips showing off stripes going across the grain resembling a tiger’s coat with 24K gold Colt® Rampart inserts.

Yamaha Continues Empowering Communities and Enriching Outdoor Recreation

Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, is proud to announce the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative (OAI) contributed over $1 million in grant awards in 2023, marking the largest annual funding total since the program’s inception in 2008. This significant increase, nearly double from the previous year, reaffirms Yamaha’s position as a leader in the powersports industry, advocating for access to public lands for motorcycle, ATV, Side-by-Side, and e-bike owners, and enriching the greater outdoor recreation community.

Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s motorsports marketing manager, stated, “Yamaha’s goal for the Outdoor Access Initiative is to serve as a meaningful resource to those supporting access to public land for all types of recreation. Investing $1 million in one year is a significant achievement. We remain committed to supporting those who work tirelessly to ensure riders and outdoor enthusiasts can continue to enjoy our nation’s outdoor spaces.”

In the fourth quarter of 2023, the funding cycle focused on projects aimed at educating and inspiring the next generation of motorized and outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Two notable recipients were Cycle Kids, Inc. and the Strider Education Foundation, which engage elementary school-aged children in bike riding fundamentals as part of physical education curriculum. Additionally, the Sierra Foundation will provide local 5th and 6th grade students the opportunity to attend the Rich Oliver Mystery School 4-week Ride & Wrench camp to learn motorcycle riding and maintenance skills.

“Riding a bike often marks one’s first taste of adventure and independence in an outdoor setting, and Yamaha is thrilled to provide kids with the chance to learn in a safe, structured environment,” Nessl added. “Fostering a love of outdoor recreation is central to our mission, and these grants to school-based programs mark the beginning of many students’ journeys.”

Remington Ammunition has released the official rosters for its 2024 shooting teams, which encompass a championship-caliber group of the nation’s top clay shooters across all disciplines.

“Team Remington has returned in 2024 locked and loaded to be better than ever,” said Team Remington Manager Mike Hampton Sr. “Big Green has assembled an impressive roster of the best skeet, trap and sporting clays shooters in the country. It will be a very exciting year to follow along with Team Remington as we continue to bring home big wins and exhibit excellence in the field.”

Team Remington has already notched exciting victories in 2024. The trap team’s newest member Peter Walker won nine awards in Tucson’s Spring Satellite Grand American, along with junior shooter Wyatt DeBrie winning both HOA and HAA at that event. Madison Sharpe of the sporting clays team secured the Main Event Lady Title at the 2024 Jack Link’s Cup in Okeechobee, Fla. Fellow sporting clays shooter and 2023 National Champion, Brandon Powell, claimed the Seminole Cup Main Event title in Woodbine, Ga., shooting an astounding perfect score on 200 straight targets.

All Remington team members use Remington’s Premier STS and Premier Nitro shotshells in competition. The Premier line of shotshell ammunition provides Team Remington with the confidence they need on the range competing with top-quality, performing shotshells that offer consistency and accuracy.

Remington Skeet Team

Follow Along with the Drury Outdoors Family for an In-Your-Face POV on the 2024 Turkey Season

DENVER (March 18, 2024) – It was so good last year, the Drury clan have put together a second season of JUST SHOT: Drury’s Turkey Season available now in the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) library for streaming on virtually any device. Join Mark Drury and the DOD team as they trek across the Midwest for a beak bustin’, in your face, non-stop, action-packed good time. With calling so sweet and decoys so deceptive, the longbeards don’t stand a chance. Just like any JUST SHOT season available on MOTV, this turkey series will give viewers a near real time look at the strategies and tactics the Drury’s implement week in and week out.  Watch it all unfold on MyOutdoorTV, Outdoor Sportsman Group’s No. 1 global subscription streaming platform.

MyOutdoorTV’s JUST SHOT content delivers filmed hunts from some of the most recognizable names in the outdoor industry almost immediately following the hunt. Other JUST SHOT content currently available on MyOutdoorTV includes JUST SHOT: Petersen’s HUNTING Adventures, JUST SHOT: Can’t Stop the Flop, JUST SHOT: Buck Commander and much more.

“MyOutdoorTV’s JUST SHOT continues to redefine the way our audience consumes hunting content and gives them another reason to make MOTV their go-to streaming resource,” shared Sr. Vice President and MOTV General Manager Sean Luxton. “JUST SHOT: Drury’s Turkey Season promises to deliver an insider-view into the heart and soul of turkey hunting, brought to life through the lens of the seasoned Drury team. It’s where passion meets tradition, and it’s all happening this season on MyOutdoorTV.”

JUST SHOT content is a great complement to MyOutdoorTV’s massive on-demand library and its growing list of of 24/7, ad-free, Live TV Channels. Watch HuntStream, WhitetailStream, AnglerStream and TurkeyStream, all featuring the world’s best hunting and fishing shows whenever and wherever you choose to watch – available to subscribers on ALL DEVICES from a big screen TV at home to a phone in a bass boat or a tree-stand in the woods. For more information about MyOutdoorTV, visit http://motv.com #MYOUTDOORTV. 

About MyOutdoorTV (MOTV): MyOutdoorTV is the No. 1 global subscription streaming platform from Outdoor Sportsman Group created just for outdoor lifestyle enthusiasts. MOTV features favorite Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network, Sportsman Channel Canada television shows, exclusive Major League Fishing content, acquired content from around the world, as well as exclusive MOTV Originals. MOTV is the pre-eminent voice for all outdoor enthusiasts and super serves the outdoor enthusiasts with an expansive acquired library of the best hunting, fishing and shooting programming in long and short form, recipes, tips and tricks, how-to instructional videos, as well as educational and exclusive content focusing on improving success in the field and on the waterways. MOTV is powered by the four networks, along with additional exclusive content available from Outdoor Sportsman Group’s established integrated media arm that includes 15 category-leading outdoor magazines, such as: Guns & Ammo, Game & Fish, Petersen’s HUNTING, In-Fisherman and 20 top websites. Subscribe to MOTV at www.MyOutdoorTV.com and watch on the following platforms: Apple IOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Xbox, Amazon Channels, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung SmartTV, LG SmartTV, Vizio SmartTV, YouTube TV, Xumo, YouTube Primetime Channels, Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex, Comcast, Cox and Vizio SmartTV. MOTV is available in 162 markets worldwide. #MYOUTDOORTV. 

Moorpark, Calif- Dickinson Arms, a distinguished leader in high-quality firearms, proudly announces its strategic partnership with Full-Throttle Communications, a leading name in marketing, advertising, and PR for the hunting, outdoor and shooting sports industry. Effective immediately, the seasoned agency will spearhead all media relations, marketing, and advertising efforts for the growing firearms brand.

“At Dickinson Arms, we are excited to embark on this journey with Full-Throttle Communications. Their industry experience and innovative approach will undoubtedly help us take our marketing efforts to the next level,” said Aykut Bekmez, Business Development Manager at Dickinson Arms. “This partnership aligns seamlessly with our commitment to excellence to delivering exceptional products and customer support.”

Renowned for its commitment to craftsmanship, Dickinson Arms offers a wide range of firearms, including basic pump shotguns, inertia or gas-operated semi-automatics, supremely balanced over & unders, and stunning side-by-sides. Each firearm is a testament to the company’s dedication, with wood and metal parts meticulously shaped and hand-fitted together, and premium quality components ensuring reliable performance even in the toughest conditions.

The partnership coincides with the unveiling of several new Dickinson introductions for 2024 including the company’s new ADAM Series of 1911 pistols, the brand’s official launch into the ammunition market with their new 9mm loads, and much more. Visit their website to view all new products.

“Dickinson Arms is synonymous with excellence in the firearms industry, and we are excited to collaborate with them to help amplify their brand presence,” said Jason Bear, President/CEO of Full-Throttle Communications. “We’re honored and excited to work alongside the company and look forward to implementing some effective and powerful marketing and PR solutions for the brand.”

Blackhawk®, a leader in law enforcement and military equipment for over 20 years, has updated its popular Stache IWB line of holsters with a new Mag Adapter Wing to let the operator customize the ride angle for the spare magazine carrier.

Made of durable polymer, the Mag Adapter Wing kit comes with two different wings, one 25º and one 15º, to give the operator choices to best fit personal carry style. Both Mag Adapter Wings are drop-in and require no special tools for installation.

“The Stache IWB has been an incredibly popular holster amongst serious concealed carriers. The value that it brings to the table distilled into such a simple, comfortable, and practical way makes it a no-brainer for serious concealed carriers,” said Liam Yarbrough, Senior Product Manager at Blackhawk. “We noticed customer feedback that the old-design Mag Adapter Wing didn’t feel very strong, so we beefed it up a little more and went with fixed angles to ensure stability.”

The new Mag Adapter Wing Kit is included with all Stache IWB Premium holsters. To see the full line of Stache IWB holsters with Mag Adapter Wings, including new models to fit the Glock 26, Springfield Hellcat Pro and Sig P365X-Macro, visit www.Blackahwk.com.

About Blackhawk

Swink, CO—Jace Bauserman, an award-winning outdoor writer and renowned big-game hunter, adds a top-tier how-to guide for whitetail fanatics to his growing collection of how-to style hunting books. This guide, crafted by a seasoned professional, equips both bow and rifle hunters with the knowledge to consistently punch tags, no matter where they chase their whitetail dreams.

Winning Ways For Whitetails is a 130-page treasure trove of practical, tried-and-true tactics that will significantly increase your odds of success. Bauserman, a true whitetail enthusiast, has pursued his whitetail dreams across the country. Whether you’re a public land DIY goer, a private landowner, or someone who leases or has private land permission, this book will empower you with new strategies for your hunting arsenal. 

Chock-full of outside-the-norm tactics, Winning Ways For Whitetails covers everything from choosing the right public land property to land management tips, shooting advice, and more. Bauseman’s new book is a winner! The book also dedicates an entire chapter to how-to-hunt the various phases of the whitetail rut. 

Winning Ways For Whitetails is Bauserman’s third hunting book. If you’re a turkey goer or love to head West to chase pronghorn, Bauserman’s books Bowhunting The Prince Of The Plains & Turkey Hunting Tales, Tips & Tactics are also excellent educational guides.

All three books are available for purchase on Bauserman’s website, www.jacebauserman.com. They are also available on Amazon at the links below:

The Great American Outdoor Store’s newest Pennsylvania location in South Fayette Township will showcase vast assortment of quality gear at great prices

Bass Pro Shops announced plans today for a new destination retail super store location in South Fayette Township, Pa., in the southwest suburbs of Pittsburgh.

Bass Pro Shops’ newest store will be the company’s third in the great state of Pennsylvania, and the first in western Pennsylvania. The 100,000 square-foot two-level Outdoor World retail destination will expand its presence and build on its reputation of serving the passionate sportsmen and women of the region with the widest selection of quality products at the best prices around, while providing genuine, friendly expert service.

“It’s an honor to serve the sportsmen and women in the Pittsburgh area, with genuine friendly, expert service and to help outfit them for adventures as they enjoy Pennsylvania’s great outdoors,” said legendary angler, noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris.

This new retail destination location will be part of Newbury Market, conveniently located to serve western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, offering the widest selection of hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation gear in the industry, with an inventory specifically tailored to the region. This retail attraction is expected to open early 2026.

The Professional Outdoor Media Association is pleased to announce the sponsors of POMA’s 2024 Annual Meeting, to be held May 6-8 in Pinewood, South Carolina.

POMA’s Annual Meeting is the ultimate outdoor media extravaganza. It’s a must-attend event for top outdoor media, content creators, photographers and corporate wizards alike.

The Headlining Sponsor and Host of the event is the South Carolina Waterfowl Association (SCWA). SCWA has gone above and beyond with their support of the 2024 Annual Meeting, providing the location, on-site accommodations, a wild-game chef and a separate location for the welcome dinner, as well as assistance securing financial sponsorships.

“The South Carolina Waterfowl Association is proud to host the POMA conference at the SCWA Wildlife Education Center, the nation’s largest wildlife education center. The future of fish and wildlife conservation depends on recruiting the next generation of hunters, anglers, trappers and shooters, while also maintaining a strong outdoor media to help educate the general public and recruit future conservationists,” said SCWA Chief Executive Officer, David Wielicki.

The event’s Premier Sponsor is Palmetto State Armory (PSA). PSA has been an influential Corporate Partner and sponsor of the event, and will be bringing five of their brands for range day – PSA, DPMS Panther Arms, AAC Ammunition, Sabre and H&R Arms.

Columbia, MO – MidwayUSA Foundation is proud to announce cash grants have been paid to nearly 1,000 youth shooting sports programs.  Combined, the latest grants are paying over $5.4 million to assist with expenses youth shooting teams and organizations incur regularly.  Doug Lindner, Warroad Warriors Trap Club Board President in Warroad, Minnesota, spoke about the importance of their annual MidwayUSA Foundation grant. “This grant opportunity has helped us lower fees for our shooters, add summer camps, purchase shooting vests, as well as safety and training equipment.  We also hold an annual pheasant hunt for our athletes.” Warroad Warriors is a MidwayUSA Foundation rockstar team that added $56,107 to its team endowment in 2023 through fundraising and continued community support.    

As a program’s endowment grows, the annual cash grant grows.  Each shooting program’s grant is 5% of their MidwayUSA Foundation endowment balance and thanks to the endowment model this is funding that is available in perpetuity.  The Foundation offers various resources to help shooting teams increase their endowment. Every youth shooting program can receive donations directly to their endowment through the MidwayUSA Foundation website. Those tax-deductible donations are also matched, thanks to Larry and Brenda Potterfield, owners of MidwayUSA, who fund the Foundation’s Matching Program.  To date, MidwayUSA Foundation’s has paid over $54.5 million in cash grants to support youth shooting sports.   

“Our fees are approximately half of what they were when we started. With the added costs of shooting sports, I can only imagine what fees would be today without the Foundation,” added Warroad’s Doug Lindner.  The Warroad, Minnesota Trap Club is a grant recipient in the most recent grant cycle. A full list of youth shooting teams receiving a cash grant in March 2024 can be found here:  https://www.midwayusafoundation.org/teamgrants/ Cash grants are paid twice per year.  The next grant cycle does open April 15.  

The MidwayUSA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity working to sustain and grow youth shooting sports by providing long-term funding to youth shooting teams. Every donation made is tax-deductible and allows the Foundation to assist in expanding and enhancing the leadership skills, confidence, and discipline of today’s youth through shooting sports activities. The Foundation supports all shooting disciplines. MidwayUSA Foundation Auctions and some incentives are void in California. For more information about how the MidwayUSA Foundation is changing the future of youth shooting sports, please visit MidwayUSAFoundation.org or call 1-877-375-4570.

This week “Hunting Matters” welcomes Jon LaCorte, Co-Founder of TRACT Optics. 

Jon LaCorte grew up in Queens, New York, an area not known for having large numbers of hunters. So you might say it takes some folks by surprise when they find out Jon’s been doing it his entire life. Luckily, taking to the outdoors in pursuit of wild game is a long-standing tradition in the LaCorte family and it’s no surprise that after spending a few years following his father, grandfather and uncle through the woods as a boy, Jon found one of his true loves and never looked back. 

Now, many hunts and many miles traveled, Jon has never forgotten his roots or what guides his life – the love and support of his wife and children, an unwavering faith in God and a passion for the outdoors – all of which have served to make TRACT Optics a reality. Having spent more than 15 years working in product development and marketing for the hunting optics division of Nikon, he learned a great deal about every aspect of the outdoor industry, from sales and logistics to press relations and customer service. Jon worked to develop patented reticle systems as well as expand the product offerings from just a few SKU’s to a plethora of options in riflescopes, binoculars, rangefinders and spotting scopes.

While it was a great experience helping build Nikon into a major player in the optics category, Jon had the opportunity to go to work for Flint Holdings, a family-owned group that controls Montana Decoy and WASP Archery Products. Being a die-hard bowhunter, he jumped at the chance to work more closely within the archery product category and take on the challenge of helping grow these companies from a product and marketing standpoint.

It became apparent to Jon that the consumer market has evolved in a new way. Instant gratification, meaning people with less time are looking for easier methods of purchasing products. As many large corporations are more concerned with satisfying investors and increasing their top and bottom lines, the focus on what is really important, the customer, has diminished. This spurred the idea to start an optics company with a vision of providing you, the customer, not only a great product and a great value, but a truly awesome experience.

HeyDude shoes was founded way back in 2008 by Alessandro Rosano have been making a tremendous stir online, specifically on TikTok these days. The shoe company has been bought recently by Crocs for two billion dollars which is a tremendous sum for a shoe company. The HeyDude shoes are known for the comfort-focused design and the ‘open’ lace design unique to the brand. These shoes are easy slip-on and slip-off and the brand while focused on comfort-first isn’t afraid of stylish aesthetics and unique colorways. We liked many of the cool models focused on American stars-and-stripes to fish, denim but overall our favorite is the Mossy Oak Elements HeyDude.

The mainstay of HeyDude is without question the Wally. It features a fabric upper, foam insert and a flexible sole on the bottom of the shoe. These can be folded in half in your luggage and they will always spring back. You can machine-wash these shoes and they are super easy to take care of. Of course, with any shoe that has gone viral like the HeyDude’s, you are going to have folks divided on the internet. There are plenty of folks who praise the shoes for their comfort and showing off the collections they have built online. These folks are absolute raving fans. On the other side, critics question their appeal comparing them to Kleenex boxes because of the oversized look.

The brand seems to have found the right fan base among the country community seeing folks wearing these instead of cowboy boots at summer venues. HeyDude’s focus on affordability and comfort seem to appeal to those looking for practical footwear. Whether you like them or not, you cannot deny that these shoes are growing in popularity and they make a pretty great house shoe or camp shoe. With a 300% increase on TikTok over the last six months these shoes are going to continue to grow in popularity. After wearing them for the past 2 months around the house they are comfortable and easy to get on and off. They are not shoes that I personally will be wearing out on the town, I just need a little more ankle support when I step outside. Around the house though, they are super comfortable and at the price point, I can see why people are gravitating to the brand.

The HeyDude shoes may not be to everyone’s taste but they are affordable, comfortable and they are resonating with a growing number of folks old and young. If you are in the market for a comfortable, easy-to-wear shoe and don’t mind making a bit of a statement, the Mossy Oak Elements HeyDude might be worth a look.

The Affordable and Adaptable RA-9 9mm Handgun Packs Serious Value with an Accurate Punch

Dickinson Arms, a world-renowned leader in high-quality firearms, enters the polymer pistol market with the adaptable and affordable RA-9. This 9mm striker-fired handgun brings accuracy, attention to detail, and a comfortable feel, with a price tag that is on target to lead the category.

Every company has a striker-fired, polymer-framed pistol these days. What sets the Dickinson Arms RA-9 apart from the pack is a high level of attention to detail and a seriously low price point. These imported handguns will impress you with accuracy and quality – two things Dickinson Arms is known for.

The RA-9 is a striker-fired, single-action, semi-auto pistol chambered in 9×19 parabellum. It has a 4.15-inch steel barrel and a trigger-actuated safety. The overall length is 7.57 inches. The RA9 has a 17+1 capacity with a polymer frame with two interchangeable backstraps to help give you the perfect fit and finger groves molded into the grip for an added feel. This is a comfortable pistol that you’ll enjoy shooting.

The RA9 slide has a QPQ non-glare finish and comes in matte black, OD Green, FDE, and camo. There is also an aluminum-framed competition version coming that has a longer 7.92-inch threaded barrel, optic-ready slide, and an aluminum competition magwell for faster reloads. The RA-9 series from Dickinson Arms is on target to be the handgun you need. Learn more at the Dickinson Arm’s website.

The USA Shooting trap team earned four medals at the 2024 Shotgun Championship of the Americas (CAT) Games, medaling in four out of the five events they participated in.

Derrick Mein, 2022 World Champion, earned gold in Men’s Trap after besting Eduardo Lorenzo of the Dominican Republic. Mein earned himself a spot in the finals by shooting a qualification score of 120 out of 125.

Mein, a Tokyo Olympian, also saw international success in 2023. He earned a total of four medals at International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) competitions to include gold in Men’s Trap Team alongside Will Hinton, and Derek Haldeman at the 2023 World Championships.

Mein added a second medal to his 2024 CAT Games count when he helped the Men’s Trap Team take home a bronze medal. Mein, Ramsey Bodeen, and Matthew Killeen shot a combined score of 206 out of 225 to land them in the bronze medal match. The trio earned their medal by defeating the Peruvian team.

Killeen made his international competition debut while both he and Bodeen earned their first international medals.

Having the right Every Day Carry (EDC) is an important topic to focus on in your life. Choosing the right products that fit in to your every day life, style and needs allows you to have the right tools in your pocket and kit when you need it. The things that are currently in my every day kit include a knife, multitool, keys, phone, headphones and a flashlight. A good number of folks I know skip both the multitool and flashlight and while I sometimes skip a multitool, I never skip the flashlight. I am currently bouncing back and forth between two – three different flashlights depending on where I am and where I might be going on any given day.

Half of Every Day is Dark or You are in a Dark Location

Just in the last week, I have had 3-4 opportunities to pull out my flashlight. Working in my garage in a dark corner looking for pots to get our garden started, I was able to pull out a flashlight and see exactly what I needed to grab to get started. Working in the car to check wiring in broad daylight, I could get down on the floorboard and pull out a light and see what I needed. Light is incredibly important and while hunting I always have a flashlight with me as well as a headlight. A headlight is great but it doesn’t always light up what I need. Having an actual flashlight that can help me find gear, find trails, light up something specific and actually utilize the flashlight for blood tracking. My current favorite flashlight for hunting is the Olight Arkfield Pro. It is flat and comes with a UV setting allowing you to track blood quickly and easily.

Flashlights Allow You to Get Away From Danger

High quality flashlights keep you away from danger and allow you to get farther away from danger quickly. Tactical flashlights today are getting better and better and whether that flashlight is in your pocket or attached to your daily carry weapon. Having a quality flashlight can allow you see danger, blind the eyes of dangerous people and allow you to make the moves to either get away or neutralize the situation.

Flashlights Keep you Safe

Having a quality flashlight with you allows you to stay safer in dangerous situations like being on the side of the road working on your car, being in the mountains and/or being lost. Lighting up your body, lighting up the trail and turning on the light can let others know you are there and aware of them. I had one night coming off the mountain in a wildlife management area alongside the Shenandoah. We got followed off the mountain by a black bear. It was past hunting light and we were coming off the mountain with an old weak headlamp and it was just not enough. Having a flashlight in our pack that we could quickly pull out and flash at the eyes of the young curious bear kept us out of harms way.

Choosing the Best Flashlight for your needs.

How do you choose what is best for you. In some circumstances having a small compact flashlight is all you need. I am currently carrying the KL20R from Coast. This flashlight can be charged by USB-C and it has a mode that hits 380 lumens. It is small enough on my key ring that I don’t have to worry about it being with me because it always there. I am currently carrying the Olight Arkfield Pro with UV on a daily basis as well as the Coast as a secondary backup to a more powerful light. I chose the Arkfield Pro because it is flat and fits well within my pocket and does not roll around. It also has the UV functionality that can truly make a difference while tracking wounded game in the field.

The annual JROTC Three-Position Service Championship sporter and precision air rifle competition, facilitated by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP), stands as one of the most celebrated youth competitions of the air rifle season. Through the weekends of Feb. 8-10 and Feb. 15-17 at three separate locations (Utah, Alabama and Ohio), leading scorers emerged from the field of over 860 cadets who participated in the 2024 event.

The JROTC Air Rifle Service Championship is a 3×20 air rifle competition, where competitors fire 20 record shots from three positions: prone, standing and kneeling. Both individual and team awards were presented.

Finding the top spot in the Navy precision competition for the second consecutive year was Danjela “Jordan” DeJesus, 18, of Camden County High School in Georgia with a score of 1285-94X. She was also the second highest scoring competitor overall in the precision class, bested only by Army athlete Piper Wentland, 18, of Concordia Lutheran High School in Indiana, who reached a score of 1287-86X.

Leading the Navy sporter match was Raymond Tevlin, 18, of Cienega High School in Arizona, with a score of 1188-37X, while Nathan Krokstrom, 18, of Mariner High School in Florida, reached a score of 1213-42X to lead the Army sporter event (and the sporter competition overall).

In the Marine Corps match, Kameron Wells, 18, of Granbury High School in Texas found the top spot in the precision category with a score of 1278-87X. Nanchaya Bailey, 17, of Daniel Boone High School in Tennessee, claimed the overall place in the Marine Corps sporter results, with a score of 1198-45X.

The funding Congress is expected to approve this week for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grant program — at a moment when America’s wildlife crisis is accelerating — underscores exactly why Congress needs to pass mandatory funding for state, territorial, and Tribal wildlife conservation. The legislation reduces the funding available in FY24 for essential state and Tribal wildlife conservation funding by more than $1.4 million below what Congress approved for the current fiscal year.

“America’s wildlife are in the crisis, with more than one-third of species in the United States at heightened risk of extinction. The appropriations process affirms what states, Tribes, and territories have been saying for years: They need dedicated, consistent federal funding to ensure the fish, wildlife, and plants that support local jobs, hunting and angling, and our outdoor heritage thrive for future generations,” said Mike Leahy, senior director of wildlife, hunting and fishing policy at the National Wildlife Federation. “Congress should heed the calls of states, Tribes, and territorial leaders and pass the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act.”

The consolidated appropriations bill that Congress is expected to approve this week will provide only $66.2 million for state and territorial wildlife conservation grants and only $6.1 million for Tribal wildlife conservation grants. Congress approved $67.6 million for state and territorial wildlife grants and $6.2 million for Tribes in its FY23 appropriations bill

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would give the states and territories up to $1.3 billion a year to implement their Wildlife Action Plans — their science-based blueprints for protecting at-risk wildlife and plants. Collectively these plans identify more than 12,000 species of plants and animals in need of assistance.

The State Wildlife Grants Program is the current federal funding for implementing these plans. The proposed level of funding is just 5 percent of what would be needed to implement these federally-mandated plans in a meaningful way.

Sheridan, WY – March, 5th. Weatherby, a leading name in firearms innovation, proudly introduces the SORIX Semi-Auto Shotgun, a groundbreaking addition to its esteemed lineup. Weatherby has been offering quality shotguns for over 50 years and the SORIX promises to elevate the shooting experience with a host of features designed for reliability, performance, and adaptability.

Key Features of the SORIX Shotgun:

MSRP: $1499

Inertia Reloading System: The SORIX is built on Weatherby’s field-proven inertia recoil system. This simple and robust system makes it extremely easy to maintain and running at the highest level. After years of testing and tuning spring rates, this system can efficiently run a wide range of lighter small game loads or heavy magnum loads. Available in 12 ga 3” or 3.5” chambers and 20 ga in a 3” chamber there is a SORIX option that is right for your hunting style.

Shift System for Left-Handed Shooters: The SORIX uniquely accommodates left-handed hunters with Weatherby’s Shift System. A cut on the left side of the receiver allows lefties to easily swap the charging handle and the safety can be reversed. The Shift System ensures a tailored left-handed shotgun experience without compromising performance.