Beretta Holding, the largest shareholder of Sturm, Ruger & Company with 9.95% ownership, sent a letter to shareholders detailing the need for board change due to sustained share price underperformance, operational deterioration including 23% gross margin compression, and board members' minimal ownership stakes despite decades-long tenures.
Bleecker Street Publications announced the acquisition of Gun University, a leading online firearms education platform founded by Ryan Cleckner and Dave Chesson. The acquisition expands Bleecker Street Publications' portfolio while maintaining Gun University's mission of delivering responsible firearms education and equipment reviews.
GreeneCo, an Alabama-based outdoor lifestyle brand founded by Lori Dorman and Mary Caitlyn Montgomery, unveiled its collaboration with Mossy Oak at the NWTF Convention, featuring the iconic Original Bottomland® and Greenleaf® camouflage patterns. The collection merges modern design with heritage camouflage patterns for both hunting and everyday wear.
ScentLok introduces the BE:1 Silentude Jacket, Bib, and Pant, featuring the quietest fabric the company has ever developed. The midseason gear combines noise-dampening technology with ScentLok's Carbon Alloy® scent control and Precip-X™ water resistance for enhanced hunting performance.
Grey Bear Fishing Access Site on the Yellowstone River will have restricted boat ramp and parking access starting March 30 for construction including a secondary overflow parking area, walking trail, and facility improvements. Work is anticipated to be completed by April 30, with the campground remaining open during construction.
Remington Ammunition celebrated strong performances by its sponsored trap shooters at the 46th Annual Southern Grand in Odessa, Florida, with Ian Lawrence winning High All Around and Zach Nannini claiming the Handicap Championship. Team Remington captured two of five event championships among 507 competitors at the ATA major circuit stop.
Federal Ammunition's sponsored shooters achieved strong performances at the 46th Annual Southern Grand in Odessa, Florida. Weston Anderson earned Singles Co-Champion honors, while Hall of Famer Deborah Ohye Neilson won High All Around and High Over All Championships in the Lady II Division. Anderson credited Federal's new All-American shells for his success.
Knife Rights and fellow appellants filed a petition for rehearing En Banc challenging the Ninth Circuit Panel's decision on California's switchblade ban. The petition argues the panel disregarded Supreme Court precedent and failed to properly apply Heller and Bruen in its Second Amendment analysis.
After four years of litigation, California conceded its youth firearms marketing law is unconstitutional and agreed to pay $481,792 in attorney's fees. The Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation, Safari Club International, Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, and So Cal Top Guns challenged Assembly Bill 2571, which banned firearm marketing attractive to minors, arguing it violated First and Second Amendment rights.
The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission approved nearly $440,000 in funding through the Future Fisheries Improvement Program (FFIP) for eight habitat restoration projects across the state. Projects include reconnecting Big Hole River tributaries, restoring Hyde Creek spawning habitat, and improving riparian areas to benefit native and non-native fish species.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Andrew H. Hulsey State Fish Hatchery, managed by Jeff Newman, spawned 360,000 walleye fry in early March through electrofishing operations at Carpenter Dam tailwater. The fry will be stocked in Lake Catherine, the Ouachita River, and the Saline River to support southern Arkansas angling opportunities.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission approved funding for the Dan Speas Warm and Cool Water Facility expansion in Casper. The project will reduce reliance on out-of-state fish sources and mitigate aquatic invasive species risks. Sletten Construction of Wyoming won the $20.9 million bid, with construction beginning September 2026.
Simms Fishing Products congratulates Dylan Nutt, 23, who won the 2026 Bassmaster Classic on the Tennessee River, becoming only the second angler to qualify through Bass Nation and win the championship. Nutt's historic victory came in his first Classic appearance with a three-day total of 66.13 lbs, the largest ever recorded on this fishery.
USA Shooting received a cash grant from MidwayUSA Foundation's Lones Wigger Endowment to support youth programs, including ammunition, targets, competition fees, and travel to the Junior World Championships in Suhl, Germany. CEO Kelly Reisdorf and Lones' daughter Deena McDorman praised the foundation's commitment to developing future Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
FWP approved nearly $60,000 in funding for four pond enhancement projects across Montana through its Community Pond Program, matched with $35,000 from outside sources. Projects include aeration systems, accessible fishing piers, and platforms at Deep Mill Pond, Medicine Stab Lake, Carter Ponds, and Hieronymus Ponds.
The Light Goose Conservation Order offers unique spring waterfowl hunting opportunities with relaxed regulations. Guide JR Borchelt of Waterfowl Assassins shares tactics for hunting snow geese in the Dakotas using Hardcore full body decoys and electronic callers during peak migration periods from March through May.
NSSF praised the U.S. House's bipartisan approval of H.R. 556, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act, introduced by Rep. Rob Wittman. The legislation protects wildlife conservation funding by requiring scientific evidence before prohibiting traditional lead ammunition and fishing tackle use on public lands.
The United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) and Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA) have become official partners of NSSF's First Shots program, an introductory target-shooting initiative. The partnership will offer First Shots Intro to Steel Challenge experiences at participating clubs, providing safe entry into competition shooting for new participants.
Sarsilmaz, a leading firearms manufacturer, has partnered with Proactive Sales to strengthen market outreach and customer engagement. The collaboration will promote Sarsilmaz's product lines, including the SAR9 and 7/24 series, beginning in Q1.
Anti-hunting activist groups inserted House Resolution 5017, the Greyhound Protection Act of 2025, into the Farm Bill, which would ban sight hounds, scent hounds, and bird dog training nationwide. The Sportsmen's Alliance urges hunters to contact their representatives and senators to remove the hunting ban language before final passage.
Women for Gun Rights announced its first formal paid membership program after ten years of volunteer-led operations. Founded by Dianna Muller, the initiative enables supporters to engage in education, advocacy, and safety programs while receiving exclusive benefits from sponsors including CZ, Federal Ammunition, Hornady, Ruger, Smith & Wesson, and others.
Federal Ammunition and the Mule Deer Foundation announced the continuation of their conservation partnership supporting mule deer, black-tailed deer, and western habitats. Federal, headquartered in Anoka, Minnesota, has supported conservation initiatives for over 80 years and continues developing innovative hunting ammunition products.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed four legislative priorities backed by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation: the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act, the Mitigation Action and Watermen Support Act of 2026, the Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act of 2025, and the Save Our Sequoias Act. These bipartisan bills address lead ammunition regulations, invasive species control in the Chesapeake Bay, forest restoration after disasters, and giant sequoia resilience.
The South Carolina Waterfowl Association is participating in a mallard research project at its Pinewood Wildlife Education Center, studying how game farm mallards and hybridization impact wild populations in the Atlantic Flyway. The collaborative effort with Clemson Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation Center and University of Texas at El Paso uses advanced tracking technology to monitor nearly 100 radio-tagged and GPS-tagged mallards.
The Airgun Sporting Association announced a fundraising initiative with Pyramyd Air and Airgun Depot to raise $10,000 for the Student Air Rifle Program's tenth anniversary. The ASA will match customer contributions dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000, with support from industry partners including Umarex, Crosman, Daisy, and HatsonUSA.
Michigan DNR conservation officers Cpl. Cole VanOosten, Justin Vinson, Alex French, and Sgt. Calvin Smith assisted Luce County Sheriff's deputies Tim Maskus and Mike Peters in rescuing a 55-year-old Rexton man stranded near Snowmobile Trail No. 8UP during a severe blizzard with 70-mph wind gusts on March 16.
Hornady Manufacturing Company announced the availability of Dangerous Game Handgun (DGH) bullets for reloaders in six calibers, engineered for deep penetration and maximum weight retention for handgun hunters pursuing large and dangerous game.
Bear Creek Arsenal announces the upcoming release of the BCA AK-47 rifle, featuring a 16-inch 4150 Chrome Moly Vanadium barrel, black nitride receiver with integrated rail mounts, and three color options. The official launch is scheduled for March 31.
Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's offer free Easter Bunny photos and 4x6 studio-quality prints at all North American retail locations from March 21-22 and March 28-April 5, 2026. Families can make free online reservations and receive complimentary Easter eggs with prizes while supplies last.
Berger, a leading bullet manufacturer, will exhibit at the 2026 Cinegética Hunting Expo in Madrid, Spain, March 19–22. Visitors can explore Berger's product lineup including VLD Hunting, Elite Hunter, and Classic Hunter bullets at official distributor booths Ardesa and Bori Sport.
SK Guns has announced its involvement in Bradford County's 11th annual "Shoot with the Sheriff" event scheduled for April 10, 2026, at Bradford Sportsman Farm. The company donated a limited-edition Andrea del Sarto Springfield 1911 to support the Bradford Sheriff Charitable Foundation, with raffle tickets available for $20.
TrueTimber has partnered with professional turkey caller Phillip Culpepper and his Hunt Club. Culpepper will create digital content and showcase TrueTimber's performance camo and gear through his series "Hunt Club with Phillip Culpepper," highlighting authentic hunting experiences and traditions.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has closed Open Fields and Waters public walk-in access properties and wildlife management areas affected by recent wildfires in Lincoln, Dawson, Keith, Arthur, Morrill, Garden, and Cherry counties. Hunters are urged to stay away for public safety and to allow recovery efforts to proceed.
MyOutdoorTV announces "Turkey Season Full Strut" presented by TriStar, featuring comprehensive turkey hunting content from March through May. The platform offers popular segments including "Can't Stop the Flop," "BuckVentures Turkey," and "Drury's Turkey Season," plus live programming and replays of "Turkey Takedown with Michael Waddell."
The Arizona Game and Fish Department uses science-based research, including collaring and tracking 30+ mountain lions, to inform management decisions about the state's mountain lion population. Dr. Brian Jansen and April Howard lead efforts to understand mountain lion ecology, survival rates, and human-wildlife conflicts, with data showing Arizona's mountain lion population is robust and stable.
Students follow along with a Michigan Department of Natural Resources educator during a sensory warm-up.
“When I looked outside my window before, it just looked lame,” said Leo, a fourth grader from Lake Orion. “I look closer now after this field trip. It was the coolest thing I have ever experienced in my nine years I’ve been alive.”
Sometimes, as Leo found on his field trip to Bald Mountain Recreation Area, some of the best classrooms aren’t bound by four walls.
Through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Nature Awaits program, fourth grade students are connecting their classroom learning to the natural world through a 90-minute guided field trip to one of more than two dozen Michigan state parks.
Two students proudly displaying the frogs they found during their exploration time.
For many students, especially those from urban and low-income communities, the trip is also their first visit to public lands or one of the Great Lakes — places central to Michigan’s outdoor heritage.
Since the program’s start two years ago, Nature Awaits has helped over 60,000 students get more comfortable outdoors, supported their academic engagement and, hopefully, sparked the start of a long-term love for our lands, waters, fish and wildlife.
Moving the classroom outside
Spending time in nature isn't just for fun — it improves students’ learning and helps them thrive. Research has shown outdoor experiences can improve their focus, behavior and academic performance.
“When students learn outdoors, they aren’t just hearing about science — they are actively doing the work of scientists,” said Leanne Weber, science education consultant for the Michigan Department of Education. “Hands-on exploration gives them the opportunity to investigate real phenomena, make sense of what they observe and build authentic scientific understanding that is aligned with Michigan's three-dimensional science standards.”
One way to create these experiences is through nature-based education, which has been practiced around the world for more than a century. Studies show nature-based education helps children strengthen their observation skills, investigate their surroundings by using their senses and develop confidence while they build stronger relationships with their peers.
Teachers participating in Nature Awaits have noticed this firsthand.
A Michigan Department of Natural Resources educator assists a student in a wheelchair during a hands-on activity involving leaf observations.
“The best part of the field trip was having the students interact with nature and learn about the outside world around them,” said Erin Hardy from Tekonsha Elementary School in Calhoun County. “Some of my students struggle in the classroom, but they have extensive knowledge about nature, so this field trip gave them the opportunity to shine.”
Outdoor learning is especially valuable because many students spend large amounts of time indoors or on digital devices. Time in nature gives them an opportunity to safely balance this lifestyle.
“I loved seeing the curiosity and joy from my students during the field trip, especially those who have not spent much time outside,” said Barbara Hutchinson from Bean Elementary in Jackson County. “One of my students, who spends most days inside and on a gaming system, had the biggest smile during our nature walk. After the trip, he said to me that he really likes nature now.
“When I asked him what made him enjoy it so much, he said that being outside made him feel calm. He said he couldn’t wait to spend more time outside. That right there made me believe in the power of this program.”
Supporting learning goals
Despite the proven benefits of outdoor learning, barriers often stop it from happening in many schools. Funding is one of the biggest challenges that schools face, with outdoor learning requiring additional resources, lesson plans and transportation. Nature Awaits eliminates these barriers by providing classroom resources and transportation reimbursement for public schools.
A student looks at his activity booklet while on a Nature Awaits outing.
Another challenge that exists is the amount of curriculum content that teachers must cover throughout the school year. Fourth-grade teachers are expected to address well over 100 academic standards across multiple subject areas each year. With a typical 180-day school year, that would average roughly one new standard every one to two days.
Nature Awaits is infused with more than a dozen academic standards throughout its curriculum, supporting teachers’ guidelines and offering students new, creative ways to access and reinforce information.
For example, program activities help students:
Discover how human choices shape the natural landscape around us.
Investigate Michigan’s native species and the invasive plants and animals that threaten local ecosystems and economies.
Explore civic responsibility and recognize that our state parks belong to everyone in Michigan.
Strengthen observation, literacy and discussion skills through inquiry-based learning.
“The best part is that Nature Awaits aligns to fourth grade standards,” said Paula Holland, a teacher from Unionville Sebewaing Elementary School in Huron County. “Students start learning in class about what they saw on the trip and can connect their in-class learning to the hands-on approach at the field trip.”
Nature Awaits also helps students learn more about their local communities. Many of the kids wouldn’t otherwise be able to experience nature in this immersive way.
“It was great to see our students out in nature, talking about nature,” said Maren Holcomb, a teacher from Sycamore Elementary School in Ingham County. “Our students spend so much time indoors and are unaware of the beautiful parks that are so close to where they live. We would not have been able to visit the park without this program.”
A group of students is shown completing a language-arts-aligned activity about using their senses to observe nature.
The program’s transportation grant plays an essential role for many public-school teachers. A post-field trip survey of 372 schools showed how limited field trip opportunities are for many students. Ten percent of the schools reported that Nature Awaits would be their students’ only field trip that year, and 36% said they could afford to attend only one additional field trip beyond Nature Awaits.
Helping teachers, students and families
Nature Awaits aims to support learning beyond the 90 minutes students spend at a state park during their field trip. The program also includes materials and activities for teachers to use before and after the outing, ensuring the field trip is part of a larger learning cycle instead of a stand-alone event.
The field trip itself is also grounded in strong educational expertise. Programs are led by DNR staff who are well versed in both formal and informal education and are skilled at creating meaningful, hands-on learning experiences for students.
To further support this, participating students also receive free vouchers to return to a state park of their choice, the Michigan History Center in Lansing or the Outdoor Adventure Center in downtown Detroit – all of which help to ensure that the students, regardless of their background, have access to resources that support their learning and well-being without causing additional financial strain on families.
Part of the Nature Awaits field trips includes students sitting silently to observe nature with their senses to focus on the calming impact of being outdoors.
“So many of my students have never seen a Great Lake before, and the Nature Awaits program made that possible for them. Some of our students are experiencing homelessness and many more of them are living in extreme poverty, so a trip like this would be impossible if it were not for the assistance from the DNR,” said Lora Wallwich from Michener Elementary School in Lenawee County. “Experiences like this are beyond the reach of children who live in poverty. Programs like this help to give every child in our state the ability to learn important life lessons regardless of their family’s ability to travel.”
Only a handful of states in the nation offer initiatives like Nature Awaits that provide field trips for fourth grade students. Michigan’s program is one of the most academically comprehensive and successful, with Nature Awaits enrollment comparable to a similar program in California – despite California having a population four times Michigan’s.
Program funding during the first two years was allocated in Michigan’s state budget – dollars that were instrumental in laying the foundation to get Nature Awaits off the ground. Uncertainty in future budget cycles makes it hard to look too far ahead for the program.
"This program is really finding its stride: As it grows, and more schools in communities around the state take part, we see kids making connections, getting excited about learning and teachers thrilled to expand their classrooms in such an impactful way,” said Katie McGlashen, Nature Awaits coordinator. “We see the return on investment in this program, and the opportunities to influence long-term learning and greater awareness and love for Michigan’s natural resources, but it’s hard to keep that momentum when we don’t know if we’ll be able to purchase supplies, schedule educators or create the critical materials kids and teachers use.”
A group of students is shown completing an interactive water sampling activity that supports science standards.
Delivering real results, long-term impact
Since launching in 2024, the Nature Awaits program has received strong support from participating educators, with 98.5% reporting that they would recommend the program. More than 500 schools have already attended programs at one of the 30 host state parks located in communities throughout both Michigan peninsulas.
The program also has implications for communities beyond classroom learning.
Michigan’s outdoor recreation industry contributes $15.1 billion annually to the state’s economy and supports thousands of jobs. In 2025 alone, Nature Awaits has helped over 29,000 students, teachers and chaperones better understand and appreciate the lakes, rivers, forests, trails and many other natural places that are the backdrop for these outdoor experiences.
“Before we know it, these fourth graders are going to be deciding where they see their future, either here in Michigan or not,” McGlashen said. “Having a connection to our parks, beginning to understand their value and how public lands enhance the lives of Michiganders, that’s how we can help.
“Nature Awaits helps open the door to Michigan’s great outdoors. As more children get the chance to see, use and love our state parks, we believe they’ll start to realize that anyone, at any age, is welcome to experience, enjoy and protect all of Michigan's special outdoor places.”
Students also are inspired to ask for more time in nature after their state park visit.
“This trip taught me to use my senses and to relax. I never knew nature could calm you like this,” said Cora, a fourth grader from Lake Orion. “This trip changed my opinion about nature and is something I will never forget. I loved it.”
