In observance of the federal holiday, the Outdoor Wire Digital Network will not be distributing any of our services on Monday, February 16. We'll be back in your email on Tuesday, February 17.
GunBroker received the 2026 Conservation Partner of the Year award from Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation for supporting nonprofits including Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, Kids & Clays Foundation, National Deer Association, and Whitetails Unlimited, generating nearly $5 million in conservation revenue.
Traditions® Performance Firearms honored The WL Carter Company as its 2025 Rep Group of the Year during pre-SHOT Show activities in Las Vegas. The award recognizes the manufacturer's representative group's exceptional performance and 28-year partnership with Traditions Firearms since 1998.
Registration is now open for the third annual Winchester Top Shot Youth Championship, powered by White Flyer, scheduled for April 18, 2026, at NILO in Brighton, IL. The event welcomes sport shooters aged 12 to 21, with over $15,000 in prizes and includes 100 sporting clays targets and Winchester Super-Target shotgun shells.
The NRA Competitive Shooting Division announces the 2026 NRA America's Rifle Challenge Match Director Summit, a three-day training program held May 6-10, 2026, at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. The summit provides comprehensive instruction for current and aspiring Match Directors and Range Officers, with lodging and meals provided for 36 selected participants at a $50 registration fee.
Agricultural producers and private landowners can sign up for the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program from February 12-March 20, 2026, or General CRP from March 9-April 17, 2026, administered by the USDA Farm Service Agency. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission highlights CRP's importance for wildlife habitat and hunting opportunities, with additional incentives available through the Berggren Pheasant Plan and Open Fields and Waters Program.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and Army Corps of Engineers completed a joint project deploying 77 fish attractor sites at Lake Ouachita. The operation involved 35 personnel removing invasive cedars to create habitats for walleye, bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish, and stripers.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources will temporarily close the recreational Bluefish fishery in state waters for March and April 2026 to ensure long-term sustainability. This closure aligns with Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission management measures and allows Georgia to maintain its 15-fish bag limit year-round.
The Michigan DNR reminds anglers that lake sturgeon caught while ice fishing must be released immediately to ensure survival and comply with regulations. The DNR partners with state, federal, and tribal agencies to rehabilitate lake sturgeon populations listed as threatened since 1994.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will accept archery paddlefish permit applications from March 1-14, with a nonrefundable $7 application fee. Permits will be awarded through random drawing based on preference points, with results available by March 20 and payment due by April 5.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department opened public comment on February 6 for 2026 hunting season-setting regulations, proposing changes to chapters covering antelope, deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, upland game birds, migratory game birds, bison, and turkey hunting seasons. Public meetings are scheduled throughout Wyoming, with revised draft regulations available by March 18 and online comments accepted through April 1.
The Gulf Council is accepting applications for a full-time Administrative Assistant position with a deadline of February 24, 2026. Candidates should have five years of administrative support experience, proficiency in Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat, and preferably website content management skills. Interested applicants should contact Dr. Carrie Simmons at applicant@gulfcouncil.org.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) is hiring a Regional Director for Ohio and Indiana to manage volunteer chapters, organize fundraising events, and oversee the granting program. The remote position requires a bachelor's degree, five years of professional experience, and frequent travel throughout the region.
South Dakota Governor Rhoden signed SD 2 into law at Silencer Central's headquarters, removing suppressors from the state's controlled weapons definition. The legislation, sponsored by Senator Casey Crabtree and Representative Drew Peterson, was supported by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and provides a template for other states seeking suppressor deregulation.
Vortex Optics introduces the Viper Shotgun Enclosed Micro Green Dot, a purpose-built optic for turkey hunting and wingshooting. The green reticle option complements the existing red dot line with seven multi-reticle choices, enclosed aluminum housing, and compatibility with 46+ shotgun platforms.
Leupold & Stevens, Inc. announced the BX-6 Range HD rangefinding binocular featuring Hornady 4DOF® ballistic calculator, precision GPS pinning, and advanced optical clarity. The device ranges up to 6,000 yards and includes Precision Cut Archery Software for archers, managed via the Leupold Control App.
Kinetic Development Group's Optics Hub is a modular spotting scope accessory platform machined from aircraft-grade aluminum with Cerakote coating. The platform features M-LOK slots and ¼-20 mounting points for accessories like laser rangefinders and cameras, designed for precision shooters, hunters, and professionals demanding adaptable equipment.
The Wild Sheep Foundation supports a $10 million federal funding boost for big game migration habitat announced by the Make America Beautiful Commission. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will award funds through its Western Big Game Seasonal Habitat and Migration Corridors Fund to improve habitat and highway crossing projects across western states.
The Boone and Crockett Club announced nearly $10 million in new funding for big game migration habitat conservation through the Make America Beautiful Again Commission and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, supporting elk, mule deer, and pronghorn conservation across western seasonal habitats and migration corridors.
CCW Safe and Gun Talk Media launched a new video series featuring eight media professionals in real-life self-defense scenarios at Gun Talk's Range Ready training facility. The series, with the third episode debuting February 17, highlights the importance of legal protection for concealed carriers and is available on CCW Safe's YouTube channel.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Parks and Recreation Division is warning snowmobilers about a water hazard on Trail No. UP8 in Baraga County, where a stream overflowed overnight near Michigamme. Hazard cones mark the affected area, and officials advise proceeding with caution and staying to the high side of the trail.
Michigan's Department of Natural Resources urges riders to prioritize safety during the Presidents Day weekend, promoting its Ride Right campaign. With nine snowmobile fatalities reported as of February 9, the DNR emphasizes operating at safe speeds, wearing helmets, and checking ice conditions before riding.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officers patrolled over 425 miles of snowmobile trails during the 57th annual International-500 snowmobile race on February 7 in Sault Ste. Marie. Officers contacted over 750 snowmobilers, issuing 44 citations and 97 verbal warnings while promoting the DNR's Ride Right safety campaign. No major incidents were reported during the enhanced patrols.
Beretta introduces the Sako 90 Grizzly rifle, featuring high-grade walnut stock, fluted stainless-steel barrel with Cerakote finish, and integral Picatinny rail. Available in four calibers with an MSRP of $2,999, the rifle debuts at the Western Hunt Expo in Salt Lake City, February 12-15.
RETAY, based in Easton, Maryland, announces the debut of the Gordion Gamekeeper shotgun at the 2026 National Wild Turkey Federation Convention in Nashville. The specialized turkey hunting shotgun features Mossy Oak Original Bottomlands camo, RETAY's Inertia Plus™ bolt system, and Deep Bore Barrel™ technology for reliable performance.
Mauser, through the Blaser Group, unveiled the M98 Das Original bolt-action rifle featuring Diamond Like Carbon coating, gold-colored trigger, and Grade 5 wood. Available for the first time in .300 Win Mag, the rifle combines advanced technology with traditional craftsmanship, priced from $12,000 to $14,500.
Bass Pro Shops announced plans for a new 70,000-square-foot destination retail location in Paducah, Kentucky, adjacent to Kentucky Oaks Mall, expected to open late 2026 or early 2027. Founded by Johnny Morris, the store will feature localized design celebrating Kentucky's sporting heritage and is expected to employ over 115 Outfitters.
GRITR Sports announces the arrival of Winchester rifles and shotguns, including XPR bolt-action rifles with Vortex Crossfire II scope combos and an extensive selection of SXP pump-action shotguns at its DFW, Texas location and online store.
Primos Hunting, a Revelyst Inc. brand, celebrates its 50th anniversary at the National Wild Turkey Federation Convention and Sport Show in Nashville, Feb. 12-14. Founder Will Primos will sign autographs, and the brand will debut new ICON and 1976 call collections alongside limited-edition numbered calls.
Dead Air Silencers will exhibit at the 2026 Western Hunting Expo in Salt Lake City, February 12–15, showcasing their premium hunting suppressor lineup including the new Nomad Ti OTB, designed for precision rifle hunters pursuing western big game.
Patriot Ordnance Factory Inc. (POF-USA) will exhibit at the Sports Inc. 2026 February Outdoor Show, February 18-20 at the Phoenix Convention Center. The company will showcase its full firearms lineup and accessories, including the newly launched PST-7 suppressor, at booth No. 1242.
Gun Owners of America (GOA) announced registration is open for the 2026 Gun Owners Advocacy and Leadership Summit (GOALS) on August 1–2 in Des Moines, Iowa. The event will feature 150,000 square feet of exhibits, training sessions, and speakers celebrating GOA's 50th anniversary of Second Amendment advocacy.
Dead Air Silencers will exhibit at the 2026 National Wild Turkey Federation Convention in Nashville, February 12–14, showcasing the RXD910Ti and Nomad Ti OTB suppressors at Booth #1861 in the Ryman Exhibit Hall.
Safari Club International will hold its 2026 Annual Hunters' Convention February 18-21 in Nashville, Tennessee, featuring exhibitors, expert seminars on conservation and hunting techniques, and an expansive expo floor showcasing hunting equipment, optics, firearms, and apparel. Funds raised support SCI's litigation, legislative engagement, education, and international advocacy efforts.
SK Guns, the nation's only series-driven, limited-edition custom firearms manufacturer, announced its role as title sponsor for the 2026 Law Enforcement Torch Run supporting Special Olympics Florida. SK Guns will design a custom firearm to be raffled, with all proceeds benefiting the organization's programs for over 75,000 athletes statewide.
Skull Hooker has renewed its sponsorship with Whitetails Unlimited, continuing to provide innovative display brackets and stands for shoulder mounts, European mounts, and skull caps. WTU President Jeff Schinkten praised the high-quality products that are popular with members at WTU events.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources launched IHEA PathPerks, a first-of-its-kind program co-developed by the International Hunter Education Association and Guidefitter that rewards newly certified hunters with pro-level gear pricing from over 200 brands including Swarovski Optik, Hornady, Weatherby, and Vortex Optics during their critical first year at no cost to the state.
The Montana State Shooting Facilities and Improvements Development and Oversight Task Force communications subcommittee will meet Thursday, Feb. 12, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. via Zoom to discuss methods for sharing task force information with the public.
Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks announces new caching restrictions at Beartooth Wildlife Management Area near Wolf Creek, effective May 15. Campers must now pack in all materials and pack out everything, eliminating previous allowances for firewood and livestock feed caching due to non-compliance issues.
Outdoor Channel launches Premiere Week on February 16, featuring 16 all-new episodes and 10 brand new series including Our Way of Life, Part 2 showcasing Alaska's Tlingit Nation, Dropped: Arctic Drift with the Keefer Brothers, and Wardens following Michigan DNR conservation officers.
Pursuit Channel highlights Waterfowl Obsession TV presented by SX Decoys, a premier waterfowl hunting series featuring hardcore hunters pursuing duck and goose hunts across North America. Hosted by passionate waterfowlers and showcasing SX Decoys' realistic motion decoys, the show airs Fridays at 6pm, Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 11pm ET.
A Texas entrepreneur is putting his own money on the line to answer one of professional bass fishing’s longest-running arguments: which league really has the best anglers?
Brian Bird, a 51-year-old from Eastland, Texas, plans to stage The Champions tournament Oct. 28–Nov. 1 on Old Hickory Lake near Nashville, Tennessee, offering the richest single payout the sport has ever seen—$1.25 million to the winner as part of a purse topping $3 million. But the money, eye-catching as it is, isn’t the real point. By bringing the top performers from both the Bassmaster Elite Series and Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour onto the same water, under the same rules, Bird is aiming squarely at a debate bass anglers have been having since the sport split in 2018.
When MLF launched the Bass Pro Tour and drew many of the sport’s biggest names away from B.A.S.S., professional bass fishing fractured into two elite camps. Since then, comparisons have been constant and mostly inconclusive. The anglers don’t fish the same formats. They aren’t judged by the same metrics. Even “winning” means different things. The Champions may not settle the argument forever, but it will put it to a real test.
The field will be drawn from the top 25 anglers in Angler of the Year points from both tours, along with automatic berths for individual tournament winners. Competition will use a traditional five-fish weigh-in format, with live sonar allowed only in limited windows. After two days, the field will be cut to 15 anglers for the final round. It’s a hybrid setup—neither pure B.A.S.S. nor pure MLF—which is exactly what makes it interesting.
The problem, of course, is defining what “better” actually means.
The Bassmaster Elite Series still rewards a traditional tournament skill set. Five-fish limits. Multi-day weight management. Fishing under crowd pressure. Knowing when to lean on a school and when to leave it alone. One bad day can erase months of consistency; one giant fish can rescue a season. Elite anglers tend to think in terms of survival as much as domination.
MLF’s Bass Pro Tour emphasizes something else entirely. Every legal fish counts. Decisions come fast. Dead water gets abandoned quickly. The best anglers on that tour excel at rapid pattern recognition and constant adjustment, often guided by immediate feedback from electronics and scoring updates. Hesitation is usually punished.
The Champions sits squarely between those worlds.
If Old Hickory turns into a grind—tight schools, limited bites, heavy pressure—Elite Series anglers may have the advantage. They’re accustomed to stretching marginal patterns and protecting key areas over several days. Anglers like Seth Feider, Brandon Palaniuk, and John Cox represent different expressions of that discipline. Feider has made a career out of grinding on pressured fisheries. Palaniuk blends seasonal instincts with modern electronics as well as anyone in the sport. Cox, often fishing against the prevailing trend, thrives when others overthink conditions.
Elite anglers also tend to err on the side of caution when the stakes rise. In a tournament where first place pays more than many pros will earn in a lifetime, that restraint could matter.
On the other hand, if Old Hickory sets up with scattered fish and short feeding windows, the edge may tilt toward MLF. Bass Pro Tour anglers are comfortable fishing fast, resetting often, and trusting what they’re seeing—or not seeing—in real time.
It’s hard to imagine a serious discussion without Jacob Wheeler, whose success across formats has already blurred the league lines. Dustin Connell’s mix of intensity and versatility makes him dangerous when patterns change daily. Ott DeFoe brings a rare perspective, having won at the highest levels in both B.A.S.S. and MLF environments. And Drew Gill, one of the hottest anglers in the sport right now, has shown an uncanny ability to dissect unfamiliar water quickly and capitalize before patterns fade.
MLF anglers are generally less inclined to sit and wait. In a condensed event with a shrinking field and restricted sonar use, that decisiveness could separate contenders early.
The biggest unknown, though, is pressure.
Neither league regularly fishes for this kind of money. A $1.25 million first prize alters behavior. Conservative anglers may gamble. Aggressive anglers may suddenly protect water. Mistakes that usually cost a few places could cost a career-defining win. More than anything else, The Champions will test nerve.
Anglers who have already won Classics, Cups, or Angler of the Year titles will have an advantage, regardless of league affiliation. They’ve carried that weight before.
So which league is better?
The honest answer may be neither—at least not in the way fans usually argue it. The Champions is likely to show that the very best anglers are the ones who have already moved beyond format loyalty. The winner may wear a B.A.S.S. or MLF patch, but the result will belong to someone adaptable enough to fish outside his home system.
If the event succeeds, it won’t prove that one league is superior. It will show that greatness in bass fishing still comes down to judgment, restraint, and timing—qualities that matter more than logos when the pressure is real.
