As whitetail season kicks into gear across the country, hunters are looking for every possible edge against one of the most wary game animals in North America. With the Barnett Hyper Raptor T-Rex™ crossbow, they now have a powerful, ready-in-an-instant option built to perform.
Easton Archery announces the new 4MM X4, a premium Acu-Carbon target arrow for competitive archers. Available in Standard Grade and Match Grade options, the X4 features advanced carbon construction and dimensional consistency for high-level target competition across multiple disciplines.
Leupold & Stevens, Inc.'s BX-6 Range HD rangefinding binocular earned Editor's Choice for Best Rangefinding Binocular from Outdoor Life. The award-winning optic features Hornady 4DOF and Precision Cut Archery ballistic software, delivering accurate aiming solutions with exceptional ranging performance up to 5,120 yards on reflective targets.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will continue its hunter-harvested surveillance program during the 2026 hunting season by sampling deer for chronic wasting disease from select southwestern units. Hunters can drop off deer heads at collection sites, visit district offices, or use self-sampling kits to test for CWD, a slow-moving brain disease affecting deer, moose, and elk.
Burris Optics sponsored shooter Camdyn Powers won the 2026 PRS Rimfire Ladies National Championship at the Precision Rifle Series Rimfire National Finale in Tennessee, finishing 14th overall among 1,147 competitors. This marks Powers' seventh national title and reflects her continued excellence in competitive shooting.
The USA College Clay Target League National Championship will be held October 30–November 1 at Brittany Shooting Park in Bunker Hill, Illinois, featuring 189 athletes from 25 colleges across 10 states. Sponsored by The 1791 Foundation, Winchester, Ducks Unlimited, and others, the event determines top college clay target shooting athletes and teams nationally.
Indiana Conservation Officer Alex Neel responded to a medical emergency at a Cedar Lake restaurant and administered CPR and AED shocks to an unresponsive woman. Working with the Cedar Lake Fire Department, Officer Neel's quick actions helped save the woman's life.
Hunters who harvest a deer during Vermont’s November 7 and 8 youth and novice deer hunting weekend are encouraged to bring their deer to one of 18 biological reporting stations to help state wildlife biologists gather data on the health of Vermont’s deer population.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is requesting deer hunters to submit lower jaws from harvested deer to help biologists determine age structure of deer populations in each hunting unit and guide future management decisions.
Primary Arms Optics announced the promotion of Carson Heck to Director of Manufacturing and Quality. Since joining as a Product Engineer in 2020, Heck has led design and development of optics and mounts, including the PLx® HTX-1 enclosed pistol red dot sight, the company's first U.S.-made optic.
NSSF® announced that the Firearm Handler Check (FHC) Final Rule will be published today in the Federal Register. The FHC Final Rule will allow all federal firearms licensees (FFLs) to run background check verifications on current and prospective employees through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
Federal Ammunition has expanded its American Eagle rifle line with a new 22 ARC, 75-grain Total Metal Jacket load designed for AR-15 platforms. The ammunition delivers high-velocity, flat-trajectory performance with minimal recoil and is now shipping to dealers nationwide.
Safari Club International and its chapters have contributed $365,000 to support Colorado's Amendment 83, which would establish constitutional protections for hunting and fishing. The funding supports organizations including Colorado Wildlife Deserves Better, Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management, and Yes on 83, with SCI chapters mobilizing grassroots efforts across communities.
Volquartsen Firearms has renewed its corporate partnership with the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and upgraded to Gold level status. The Carroll, Iowa-based rimfire manufacturer, led by President Scott Volquartsen, is also sponsoring SAF's monthly sweepstakes and the annual Gun Rights Policy Conference.
Tink's Nose Candy introduces three olfactory blocker options—Sweet Apple, Anise, and Vanillin—designed to mask human odor while stimulating deer curiosity. Matt Kinamore, Senior Director of Product Development at Tink's, explains how these scent products complement comprehensive hunting strategies including scent elimination and wind awareness.
Galco introduces the Optic Solution shoulder rig, compatible with full-frame Glock 9mm/.40 pistols with or without carry-style red dot optics. The modernized design features adjustable positioning, dual magazine carriers, and an ergonomic thumb break retention strap for comfortable all-day carry.
Whitetail Institute announces the Obsession Block, a nutritional supplement featuring 17% protein and essential minerals designed to support whitetail deer year-round while providing strong attraction to encourage consistent deer activity on hunting properties.
ZEV Technologies and WRMFZY announce the OZ DOOM XL, a long-slide OZ9 pistol featuring tungsten weights, DLC coating, and a co-branded FDE aluminum grip. Pre-orders open October 31 for two weeks at zevtechnologies.com, with an MSRP of $2,900 and expected delivery March 1, 2027.
Millennium Treestands announces its complete Antler Shak Series of ground blinds, including the Antler Shak 7 Mag, Antler Shak 30/30, and Antler Shak 30-06. Built with 600D brushed shell in Mossy Oak Country Roots, these blinds offer concealment, visibility, and durability for various ground hunting styles.
The National Field Archery Association will host its inaugural 3D Challenge during ATA Show Week, January 7-10, 2027, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. The event runs January 8-10 alongside the NFAA Rushmore Rumble and welcomes archers of all ages and experience levels to compete for fun, awards, or cash prizes.
WTU President Jeff Schinkten announces that Memory Mount, connecting the trophy to the memories, has joined as a Whitetails Unlimited national sponsor.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will close all offices on Veterans Day, November 11, including headquarters in Lincoln and district offices in Norfolk, North Platte, Kearney, and Alliance. Offices reopen November 12, and deer permits for the November firearm season can be purchased online at OutdoorNebraska.gov.
Travelers' Rest State Park near Lolo will host its annual "Corpse of Discovery" event on October 31 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., celebrating the Lewis & Clark Expedition's 1805-06 camp with family-friendly activities including pumpkin bowling, crafts, and candy. Entry is $5 per family or by food bank donation.
Field & Stream TV announced a content partnership with RedVane Outdoors, bringing the digital hunting brand's authentic storytelling to Field & Stream TV's FAST channels. RedVane Outdoors, founded by Robert Taylor and Daniel McVay, has grown to over 6 million combined views since launching in January 2026.
Florida's 13 native bat species are ecologically and economically beneficial, consuming thousands of insects nightly. Bat Week highlights safe exclusion methods to remove bats from structures, which is the only legal removal option in Florida where killing bats is prohibited. MyFWC.com provides resources on proper exclusion techniques and bat conservation.
As the calendar continues its advance to the opening day of the 2027 SHOT Show® — now less than 100 days away — it’s an ideal time to firm up your team’s travel plans to Las Vegas.
During SHOT Week®, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with more than 2,700 exhibitors across The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum exhibit halls. Every opportunity to maximize the value of your stay at SHOT Week is worth a consideration. And it starts with getting to Las Vegas.
Getting to Las Vegas
When it comes to airfare, there are a lot of so-called ways to save while traveling, such as booking flights on Tuesdays, flying in on a Sunday, price-checking one-way and round-trip airfare, etc.
Some of these approaches work. One that saves you time and heightens the possibility of securing lower prices is using price tracking tools (such as those available from Google Flights, Skyscanner, Expedia and Kayak), which monitor airfare changes and send notifications when prices change. These tools allow you to track prices for exact travel days. If timing is flexible, the “any dates” option is available. A drawback, of course, is this approach delays your ability to secure lodging while in Las Vegas.
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), about a 15–20-minute drive from The Strip, handles around 500 flights daily from 30 carriers. Several budget carriers, such as Allegiant, Frontier, Southwest and Sun Country, have extensive networks throughout the U.S. and have a major presence at LAS with multiple flights a day. These carriers offer significant cost-saving potential for business travelers.
For international travelers, there are select nonstop access from major destinations that include Paris (Air France), London (British Airways), Sydney (Qantas) and Seoul, South Korea (Korean Air). Announced in February, the first-ever Sydney-to-Las Vegas connection will begin as a seasonal service in December with three weekly flights lasting through March 2027.
SHOT Show attendees located within driving distance of Las Vegas have a ready-made opportunity to save. Flexibility with this mode of transportation gives drivers the opportunity to stock up on the week’s essentials outside of The Strip, bringing significant savings. Map out your trip to Las Vegas ahead of time and plan where to get gas in advance, look out for inflated prices at isolated stops and at the state line.
Upon Arrival: Taxis, Rideshare Apps — and Robotaxis?
As previously noted, the airport is nestled just minutes from The Strip, along with The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum.
Taxis are conveniently available at the airport and throughout Las Vegas, but often have higher fares compared to rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft. However, unlike rideshare apps, taxi service operates with flat-rate zone pricing on rides from the airport to The Strip — so you’ll know what to expect ahead of time.
For taxi rides originating at LAS, all SHOT Show official hotels (other than Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas) are in Zone 3. This zone is the most expensive, with a flat rate of $30.25. A savings tip: if you pay your fare with cash, you’ll avoid a $3.00 credit card processing fee. Factoring in gratuity between 15–20 percent, you can expect a taxi ride to The Venetian Expo will be about $35 for cash payments.
For those arriving during off-peak hours (late at night or very early in the morning), ridesharing apps represent a cost-effective option. One drawback of these services is they tend to result in longer wait times, are not as conveniently located at LAS (taxis are located directly outside the baggage claim area) and have surge pricing during high-demand periods. It would be to your benefit to have both the Uber and Lyft apps installed on your smartphone ahead of time, so you can look at live prices from each source before choosing the more economical alternative.
To recap: Upon your arrival in Las Vegas, pull out your phone, check wait times and pricing on rideshare apps and compare them to what you already know about the flat-rate taxi fare. For those not in a hurry and the price is comparable, go with your personal preference.
While not a cost-savings measure — yet — autonomous robotaxis have a growing presence in Las Vegas. After debuting in Las Vegas with free public rides in Sept. 2025, Amazon’s Zoox self-driving taxi launched a paid service Aug. 10. It is the first robotaxi operator with official authorization to pick up and drop off passengers at LAS. Waymo is the only other autonomous operator currently active in Las Vegas, restricted to destinations on The Strip. While there is no need to tip driverless taxis, prices range above the other services examined here.
Competition for this market is quickly heating up: Waymo, Tesla Robotaxi and Aviari were recently approved to operate a combined 7,000 autonomous vehicles by the Nevada Transportation Authority. In time, as supply rises, perhaps prices will fall into more budget-friendly confines.
A Word on Rental Cars
For those lodging in short-term rental properties outside of The Strip and needing to transport gear/team members to and from the show, a rental car could prove useful during SHOT Week.
If convenience is preferred, the LAS Rent-A-Car Center is located three miles from the airport. Getting there requires a shuttle bus from the main terminals. Something to keep in mind: Prices at the airport are elevated compared to off-airport locations. Choosing your preferred rental car company in advance has the potential for cost savings by taking a taxi or using a ridesharing service from the airport to an offsite rental location.
January is a busy month for trade shows in Las Vegas (the World of Concrete Expo takes place at the Las Vegas Convention Center Jan. 19–21), so it behooves you to book car rentals early for wider availability and to lock in pricing.
Another consideration: Free parking in or near The Venetian Expo is becoming harder to find, so be prepared as you budget.
Getting to the Show During SHOT Week
For those attendees not staying at The Venetian/Palazzo or nearby hotels like Treasure Island, Harrah’s and the LINQ Hotel, there are both discounted and free options for getting to The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum each morning before the SHOT Show.
One is the Las Vegas Monorail for SHOT Show attendees staying along The Strip. During SHOT Show registration, take advantage of an exclusive discount and add an unlimited Monorail ticket to your registration. Your SHOT Show badge doubles as your ticket to ride; a Monorail pass is embedded in your badge’s QR code, so there’s no separate ticket to keep track of while in Las Vegas. Simply scan your badge at the faregate to activate the pass. Your unlimited-ride period begins with your first scan and continues for the length of the pass you purchased.
The Monorail has seven stops, with stations located at the Sahara, Westgate Resort (near Fontainebleau, Circus Circus and Resorts World), Las Vegas Convention Center, Harrah’s/Linq (this stop serves the SHOT Show, which connects directly to Caesars Forum), Flamingo/Caesars Palace and Horseshoe/Paris. The Monorail runs from 7:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Monday, 7:00 a.m.–2:00 a.m. Tuesday–Thursday and 7:00 a.m.–3:00 a.m. Friday–Sunday. Trains run every 4–8 minutes (sometimes as frequent as 5–6 minutes), depending on the time of day and day of the week.
Another resource is a free shuttle bus service. Routes serve 11 official SHOT Show hotels, bringing guests to to and from the SHOT Show during morning and afternoon service. Shuttle bus schedules will be posted online, as well as in the SHOT Show Mobile App prior to the show.
Everyone. Everything. All Together.
For four days in Las Vegas, the people, products and possibilities across our industry come together at the 2027 SHOT Show. With more than 2,700 exhibitors, thousands of new products on display and key decision makers all in one place, the opportunities available at the SHOT Show are unmatched.
Attending the show for multiple days represents a substantial investment, but there are plenty of other ways to stretch your budget throughout the week. To help you further experience SHOT Show on a budget, look out for additional articles covering lodging, entertainment, dining and more coming soon.
