Shadow Systems, a Texas-based firearms manufacturer, has been acquired by Roe Strategic Capital LLC, a partnership between CEO Trevor Roe and investor Richard Roe, from Catalyst Holdings. The management-led transaction positions the company for long-term growth and product expansion while maintaining current operations and leadership.

The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) announced its 2026 national tournament series featuring Western, Eastern, and Championship tournaments across Utah, Kentucky, and Florida. NASP is expanding scholarship opportunities for both Bullseye and 3D archers, including 185 random scholarships, competitive shoot-offs, and team scholarships totaling thousands of dollars.

Birchwood Casey won the Readers' Choice 2026 Gold Award in the Shooting Target category from Predator Xtreme magazine for the second consecutive year, recognizing the brand's innovation, reliability, and leadership in shooting industry products.

Paul Drysdale of Drysdale Forestry & Consulting in Cadillac received the 2026 Stewardship Forester award from the Michigan Association of Consulting Foresters for outstanding customer service to family forest landowners. Drysdale has written hundreds of forest management plans over 24 years and collaborated with the Association of Consulting Foresters, Society of American Foresters, and Michigan Forest Products Council on forest policy.

Skeeter Boats launched skeetersaltwater.com, a dedicated website and social media channels for saltwater anglers. The platform features Skeeter's full saltwater model lineup, customization options, and lifestyle content tailored to coastal and offshore fishing communities.

Madi Woodward, E-Commerce and Trade Marketing Manager at Sierra Bullets, placed first in the women's classification and 4th overall in the Open Light Division at the 5th Annual Mason Valley Steel Hunter. Competing with Sierra Bullets 25 Cal 131 GR MatchKing in a 25 Creedmoor, Woodward completed all 17 stages despite challenging 95-degree heat conditions.

Federal Ammunition sponsored shooter Cameron Hicks won the FITASC event and EZGO Shootout Qualifier at the Seminole Cup in Georgia, competing against over 600 shooters. Hicks used Federal's new Master Class sporting clay load to achieve both victories, matching his father's 2003 FITASC win.

The Arkansas Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers hosts the Black Bear Bonanza on March 7 at Benton County Fairgrounds Auditorium, featuring presentations by the American Bear Foundation, AGFC biologist Spencer Daniels, and personalities from the "Bear Grease" podcast including Ryan Callaghan, John Newcomb, and Brent Reaves. The event celebrates Arkansas's black bear conservation success and raises funds for AGFC research.

Rod Martinez caught a 10.22-pound bass at Lake Monticello that qualified as Arkansas Legacy Lunker Number Nine. The fish will be bred at Joe Hogan State Fish Hatchery with eight other donated lunkers through the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's program to increase trophy bass potential in Arkansas waters.

Michigan's 2026 fishing licenses are now available for purchase and valid through March 31, 2027. Anglers ages 17 and older must purchase a license to fish public waters, with options ranging from $2 youth licenses to $76 nonresident annual licenses. Licenses can be purchased through Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses or the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is offering hunter education in-person classes and field days for online students across central and eastern Montana this spring and summer. Students can become certified before big game application deadlines in April, May, and June. Classes are available for ages 10 and older, with volunteer instructors teaching firearm safety, ethics, and outdoor skills.

Armament Systems and Procedures (ASP) hired Eric Alexander as Director of Sales for the Midsouth US region. Alexander will manage law enforcement agency relationships across New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Asia distributor relationships. Vice President Daryell Harmon praised Alexander's customer relationship skills and leadership experience.

Smith & Wesson is hiring a Director of Domestic LE Sales based in Maryville, TN to lead law enforcement sales strategy across the United States. The role requires 5-10 years of firearms industry sales experience, preferably in law enforcement channels, with progressive management responsibilities and a bachelor's degree preferred.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is accepting applications for a full-time split position combining recreation ranger, maintenance worker, and hunting access technician roles at Brush Lake State Park in northeastern Montana. The deadline is March 15, 2026. Contact Regional Recreation Manager Tim Potter at 406-263-5007 for details.

Smith & Wesson is hiring a Law Enforcement District Sales Manager for the western U.S. territory covering WA, OR, ID, UT, WY, MT, ND, SD or Northern NV. The role involves managing law enforcement sales opportunities, demonstrating S&W products, and coordinating training across city, state, and federal agencies with substantial travel required.

Whitetails Unlimited offers complimentary Deer Management signs and booklets to help landowners manage their properties. The PVC signs measure 11.25 inches and are suitable for use throughout the United States. Interested parties can contact Whitetails Unlimited National Headquarters at 920.743.6777 or nh@whitetailsunlimited.com to order.

The latest Hunting Matters podcast episode features Steve Schwartz of Nkwazi Safaris and Houston hunter Larry Hope discussing the realities of African safari hunting. The conversation covers safari costs, international travel with firearms, health concerns, rifle calibers, trophy logistics, and conservation's role in modern South African hunting.

GRITR released a modular holster accessory system including belt clips, retention hardware kits, concealment claws, wedge foam, and OWB attachments. The components allow gun enthusiasts to customize retention, positioning, mounting stability, and comfort. Products are available at GritrGear.com and Amazon.

Walker's has launched the SHOTSYNC wearable shot timer, now available online and through retailers nationwide. The device pairs an integrated microphone with accelerometer sensors to track shot counts and split times, featuring Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity with the Walker's Link app for custom training configurations and performance tracking across all firearm types.

Chattanooga Shooting Supplies (CSSI) unveiled an exclusive dealer package featuring the Sig P365X "Sick Puppy" 9mm with HUSH suppressor, Holosun 407K optic, and threaded match barrel. The premium bundle offers a turnkey solution combining performance and innovation for dealers and consumers seeking an enhanced everyday carry platform.

TrueTimber, the world's best-selling camo brand, launched its new Nevado camo pattern designed for spring turkey season. The pattern debuts on TrueTimber's Tekari apparel line at Walmart and features a limited edition Stoeger P3000 Bone Collector Nevado Edition shotgun.

Samson Manufacturing introduced the Hannibal T1 rail, a direct mount solution for red dot sights using the Aimpoint® T-1 footprint on Mini-14®/Mini-Thirty® rifles. Compatible with optics from Holosun®, Sig Sauer®, Primary Arms®, Bushnell®, Vortex®, and other manufacturers, the rail eliminates adapter plate fail points and simplifies installation.

HEVI announced its Tom Takedown rebate program offering wild turkey hunters up to $100 back on purchases of HEVI-13, HEVI-Metal Turkey, Magnum Blend, HEVI-X Strut, HEVI-Bismuth Turkey, and HEVI-18 turkey loads through May 31, 2026.

Hook & Barrel Magazine announces Cameron Willis's appointment as Head of Digital Strategy. Willis brings a decade of international media and digital expertise across the UK, U.S., and UAE, and will lead the brand's digital initiatives to expand its online presence.

Safari Club International's 2026 Annual Hunters' Convention in Nashville saw a 14.4% increase in registered attendees over 2025, with Wednesday turnout up 17.7%. The event featured over 900 exhibitors, policy briefings, and conservation seminars, with President Jeff Meyerl and CEO W. Laird Hamberlin highlighting strong member engagement amid growing legal and regulatory challenges to hunting.

SLG2, Inc. announced Aimpoint as its newest corporate partner for 2026. The partnership combines SLG2's firearms safety education with Aimpoint's premium red dot sighting solutions, with Aimpoint products featured on SLG2's 2026 Grand Safety Tour across the country.

The Second Amendment Foundation announced that Die Free Co., a Made-in-the-USA rifle parts manufacturer, has joined as a Silver-level corporate partner. CEO Adam Johnson and SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut emphasized their shared commitment to defending Second Amendment freedoms, with DFCO also collaborating on fundraising efforts.

Winchester will sponsor Richard Childress Racing's No. 3 Chevrolet driven by Austin Dillon at the Straight Talk Wireless 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway on March 8. The race airs on Fox Sports 1, HBO Max, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on environmental assessments for the Spotted Eagle Lake Tree Reef Habitat Project and Logan Public Shooting Range acquisition and development. Comment deadlines are March 11 and March 28 respectively.

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet April 16 at 8 a.m. at the Montana Heritage Center in Helena, with live-streaming via Zoom. Public comment on agenda items can be submitted online through March 29, with topics including fish removal projects, wildlife regulations, and habitat improvements.

Alabama State Parks launched the Junior Ranger Program, designed for children ages 5-12 to explore nature and cultivate conservation stewardship. Funded by Ford's Bronco Wild Fund, the program is available at all 21 state parks and includes free activity booklets and guided experiences led by park naturalists.

Dave Caserio, a local writer and educator, is leading a writing workshop at Pictograph Cave State Park on March 21 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Participants will use observations of the natural world and the area's historical, cultural, and geological background to create works in any writing genre.

GunBroker.com partnered with SIG SAUER to launch the March Marksmanship Giveaway, offering a $5,249.95 prize package including a P211-GTO COMBAT Pistol, M400 TREAD V2 Rifle, ROMEO5 Gen II optic, Hexium 556Ti suppressor, and ammunition. Participants can enter daily through March 31, 2026.

This week's Shooting USA episode features CMP Vintage Sniper competition at Talladega Marksmanship Park, junior competitive shooter Austin Hull's rise to elite status, and a Hornady Security firearms safety tip.

World Fishing Network launches "Reeling It In Tuesdays" programming block featuring professional fishing instruction including Legends of Rod & Reel, Bass Pro Shops Fisherman's Handbook, Fishing University, In-Fisherman TV, and other shows hosted by expert anglers like Doug Stange, Wade Middleton, and the Lindner brothers.

One thing you hear more now, especially on public lakes, isn’t about fish at all. It’s about who can see them.

Forward-facing sonar hasn’t just changed how people fish—it’s quietly sorting anglers into two camps: the ones who have it, and the ones who don’t. And those who don’t are increasingly unhappy with those who do.

That divide has always existed to some degree. Anglers with better boats, better motors, and better electronics have long enjoyed an edge over weekend fishermen scraping by with hand-me-down gear and a thin tackle budget. Fishing has never been perfectly equal.

But forward-facing sonar feels different on the water. This isn’t just about efficiency or comfort. It’s about access to real-time information. One angler is watching fish react to his lure 50 or 60 feet out in front of the boat. The other is fishing memory, instinct, and hope—casting over fish that are effectively invisible to traditional sonar.

What’s changed recently is how fast that gap is both closing . . . and widening at the same time.

When forward-facing sonar first appeared a little over a decade ago, it lived almost exclusively on high-end tournament rigs. You needed a serious boat, robust wiring, and serious money. Most weekend anglers shrugged it off as something “the pros” used.

That’s no longer true. Smaller, less expensive units are showing up on used boats, jon boats, kayaks, and console skiffs. You see transducers clamped to poles, bolted to trolling motors, powered by homemade battery boxes. The price is still high, but it’s no longer unreachable, and there’s a steady supply of used units floating around Marketplace and eBay. Every year, more anglers cross the line from curiosity to ownership.

The “have-nots” are still the majority, but their ranks are shrinking fast.

On the water, the difference is obvious. Boats equipped with forward-facing sonar don’t fish the bank when the bite is offshore. They don’t guess which side of a point the fish are on. They idle—sometimes for long stretches—but when they stop, they stop on fish, and they cast with purpose. Boats without it drift, fan-cast, and move on. Sometimes they catch fish anyway. Sometimes they don’t. And when they don’t, it’s harder than ever not to feel like they’re fishing behind the curve.

What really separates forward-facing sonar from past electronics leaps is visibility. With down-looking sonar or side-scan, you could still fish your way—interpret the picture, make decisions, and live with some uncertainty. With live sonar, you watch fish swim, rise, sink, follow, or reject your bait in real time. It feels less like fishing and more like playing a different game entirely.

Fishing has always rewarded knowledge and time on the water, but it also rewarded stubbornness, intuition, and faith in a spot. Forward-facing sonar tilts the balance toward data interpretation. Younger anglers raised on screens and video games tend to adapt quickly. Older anglers often resist it, then resent it, and then quietly start pricing units anyway.

None of this means the “have-nots” are finished. Plenty of skilled anglers still catch fish without watching them on a screen, particularly in spring and early summer when the fish are shallow. But the middle ground is shrinking. As the technology trickles down, it doesn’t level the field—it redraws it. The advantage once limited to elite tournament boats is now portable, modular, and increasingly common. Even ice anglers now use it, finding fish with portable forward-facing units.

On heavily pressured fisheries, the implications are real. Fish are located faster. Pressure concentrates sooner. And those that don’t have it watch those who do have it score at levels they never dreamed possible.

Forward-facing sonar didn’t invent inequality in fishing. But it may be the first technology that makes it impossible to ignore.

It’s also likely to ripple into management and regulations. Species such as walleye and crappie—fish that are often harvested when caught—could face increased pressure. The same is true in saltwater for species like snapper and sheepshead, which are primarily targeted for food. As more anglers adopt and master forward-facing sonar, tighter limits and shorter seasons are almost certain.

Bass tournaments have already begun responding, with some organizations banning forward-facing sonar outright or limiting when it can be used. But for weekend anglers fishing for fun, the frustration remains: watching nearby boats quietly load up on quality fish you didn’t even know were there.

Eventually, as more units cycle through the used market, most serious anglers will probably go with the flow, just as they have with every major leap in fish-finding technology before.

Of course, by then, the next big thing will have arrived—and we of the Luddite clan will be annoyed that we can’t afford that, either.

– Frank Sargeant
Frankmako1@gmail.com