Muddy launched DV8 and Timber Recon Xtreme (TRX) women's hunting apparel systems featuring complete layering solutions designed for late-season cold-weather conditions. The waterproof, windproof gear includes base layers, jackets, bibs, and insulation pieces rated for temperatures well below freezing, available online and through retailers nationwide.
Bowtech announces the launch of the Anthem 36 and Anthem 39 competition-driven target bows, featuring innovative Adaptive Riser Arch technology and A.I.M. Mod for personalized shooting control. Available October 30, 2026, starting at $2,099.
Guns.com is auctioning a rare CZ 75 B Silver Anniversary Edition handgun (serial number 291) through its new premium Vault category. Bidding runs through November 15, with Mark Sims, Senior Buyer for Guns.com, highlighting the firearm's historical significance and distinctive craftsmanship as a collectible piece.
Hook & Barrel Magazine announces its third annual Top Shelf Awards, a reader-driven event celebrating top outdoor brands, products, and personalities across 23 categories. Voting runs through November 30, with winners announced in January and select category winners receiving awards at SHOT Show 2027.
The Kinetic Group's sponsored shooters from Federal, Remington, Fiocchi, and B&P dominated the 2026 National Sporting Clay Championship in San Antonio, Texas, with over 2,600 competitors. Todd Hitch won the Overall Main Event, Derrick Mein claimed the All-Around Overall title, and Karen Miles dominated the Lady category with multiple event victories.
Team Krieghoff athletes earned multiple championship titles at the 2026 National Sporting Clays Championship in San Antonio, Texas, with Derrick Mein winning the All-Around Overall title and Mike Wilgus being inducted into the NSCA Hall of Fame. The event featured over 2,600 competitors from 49 states and 17 countries competing across various disciplines.
Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) and the National Rifle Association (NRA) filed a federal lawsuit, Maines v. Bethel, challenging Pennsylvania's ban on carry licenses for adults under 21. The case builds on FPC's previous victory in Lara v. Paris, where the Third Circuit affirmed that 18-to-20-year-olds are protected by the Second Amendment.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks completed a multi-year investigation into illegal hunting in McCone County led by landowner Kelly Nelson, resulting in 13 suspects charged with over 80 violations, $36,785 in fines, seizure of over 100 animal mounts, and 44 combined years of lost hunting privileges.
Michael Jason Letasky and his son Kolton Letasky pleaded guilty to multiple wildlife violations following a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks investigation. Michael faces over $12,000 in fines and a 20-year hunting ban, while Kolton faces over $3,000 in fines and a four-year hunting ban for illegally shooting a trophy bull elk during archery season.
Gun Owners of America (GOA) announced tickets are on sale for GEAR (Gun Owners Empowerment & Adventure Recreation), taking place May 21-23, 2027 at Merus Adventure Park near Amarillo, TX. The event features outdoor exhibitors, hands-on experiences, family activities, and industry connections celebrating adventure and freedom.
The Gulf Council will host its Ecosystem Technical Committee meeting on December 3, 2026, in Tampa, FL. The committee will review contractor-led fishery ecosystem issues, hear presentations on red tide, and receive updates on the Gulf Ecosystem Status Report.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources conducts its 2026 state forest road inventory review, proposing additions, closures, and mapping corrections to reflect current conditions and maintain appropriate recreational access. Public feedback is encouraged through December 1 via Michigan.gov/ForestRoads or email to DNR-RoadInventoryProject@Michigan.gov, with final decisions expected in February 2027.
Montana's Protect the Hunt program invites hunters 18+ to complete a Hunter-Landowner Stewardship Video Guide and Test for a chance to win an exclusive guided hunt with Montana Outfitting Company or other prizes from partners including Weatherby, Maven, onX, and Sitka. Eleven winners will be randomly drawn in Spring 2027.
Southeast Montana check stations at Hysham, Ashland, and Glendive recorded slightly fewer hunters than average during opening weekend, though harvest success rates remained near or above average. Antelope harvest was strong while mule deer numbers declined due to conservative license allocation, though hunters reported seeing more deer overall.
Montana's big game general hunting season opened October 24 with mild weather in south-central Montana. Fish, Wildlife & Parks operated check stations in Big Timber, Columbus, Lavina, and Billings, recording 1,077 hunters over the weekend with above-average success rates ranging from 18 to 35 percent across all stations.
Armanet, a programmatic advertising platform built for the firearms, hunting, shooting sports, and outdoor industries, launches with eight integrated channels including programmatic display, video, Connected TV, and email. Founded by Nick Morissey, the platform uses ArmanetID and multi-touch attribution to help brands measure sales impact across all marketing channels.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte visited PROOF Research's new Columbia Falls headquarters to celebrate the company's expansion and growth as a Montana manufacturer. The visit included a ribbon cutting, facility tour, and demonstration of PROOF Research's carbon fiber barrels, precision rifle systems, and the Elevation MTR FDX rifle.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks detected a nonviable invasive mussel larva in Whitefish Lake on October 21, with follow-up testing showing no evidence of live mussels. FWP will continue monitoring with the City of Whitefish and Whitefish Lake Institute to prevent invasive mussel spread.
Trijicon, Inc. announced a new Coyote Brown anodized finish for its RMR HD reflex sight, designed for law enforcement, military personnel, and serious shooters. The optic features an enlarged viewing window, advanced light sensor, and is built from forged 7075-T6 aluminum with waterproof capabilities.
The Wild Sheep Foundation congratulates Dr. Ryan Brock, its Youth Education Program Coordinator, for being selected as Nevada's Outdoor Teacher of the Year. Brock has dedicated over two decades to outdoor education, inspiring thousands of students through hands-on learning and programs like the Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience and S.H.E.E.P.
EOTECH made a monetary donation to the American Warrior Association, a faith-driven nonprofit dedicated to healing moral injury among service members, veterans, first responders, and their families through programs like R3, Warrior's Refuge, and Virtus Project.
SIG SAUER has renewed its Gold-level corporate partnership with the Second Amendment Foundation. The firearms manufacturer will continue supporting SAF's legal efforts to defend Second Amendment rights, including ongoing cases before the Supreme Court, and will donate products for SAF's monthly sweepstakes program.
ORV Route BN in Ontonagon County will close from November 2-4 for bridge work over the Firesteel River between M-38 and M-26. No reroute options are available during this temporary closure.
Mossy Oak has partnered with STITCH Golf to introduce the SL2 Golf Bag featuring Mossy Oak's iconic Original Bottomland camouflage pattern. The collaboration combines both brands' appreciation for the outdoors and tradition, with the bag retailing for $398 and available online and at select country clubs nationwide.
C&H Precision, headquartered in Richmond Hill, Georgia, offers red dot adapter plates for popular pistols and revolvers including Ruger MK IV, SIG P320, Colt Anaconda, Kimber KDS9c, and GLOCK models. The plates support optic footprints from Aimpoint, Trijicon, Holosun, Leupold, EOTech, Vortex, and Olight.
Federal Ammunition has expanded its Fusion Tipped rifle ammunition line to include the 25 Creedmoor cartridge with a 130-grain load featuring 2,850 fps muzzle velocity. The new offering delivers improved ballistic performance with reduced drift and drop, while 125-grain American Eagle and 135-grain Sierra MatchKing loads are coming soon.
High Speed Gear's GEN 2 TACO lineup has become the company's fastest-selling product line in 10 years. Designed for military operators, law enforcement professionals and shooting enthusiasts, GEN 2 features lightweight construction, uncompromising durability, true versatility and a modern aesthetic while maintaining the adaptive DNA that made the original TACO trusted by users.
UTG PRO, a brand of Leapers Inc., has launched new SD Monolithic Handguards for MP5 and MP5K platforms. The patented design features M-LOK slots and Picatinny tops for accessory versatility, with suppressor integration and improved ergonomics for modern MP5 enthusiasts.
Ol' Man Outdoors has introduced the OST-100 Steady Eddie Tripod Shooting Stick, a field-tested rifle rest designed for deer gun season. Weighing 5 lbs. 10 oz. with an adjustable height range of 8 to 65 inches, the tripod supports multiple shooting positions and is compatible with crossbows and spotting scopes.
FLUX Defense launches the FLUX Redux, a completely reworked platform for Gen 4 and Gen 5 Glock pistols featuring upgraded materials, improved ergonomics, and a new shroud system. Priced at $349.99, the modular design retains the original two-piece architecture while incorporating nearly a decade of design and manufacturing experience.
Watchtower Defense, a Tomball, Texas-based firearms manufacturer, launches the Vantage Series of double-stack 1911 pistols featuring advanced porting technology, premium materials, and two configurations: the full-size Vantage V10 at $3,899 and compact Vantage C V6 at $3,699.
NEXTORCH North America announces the P09 Multi-Function Duty Flashlight featuring white, UV, red, and blue LEDs with up to 2,000 lumens and 240-yard beam distance. Designed for law enforcement and emergency response, it includes tactical strobe, ceramic glass breaker, and IP67 durability at $79.99 MSRP.
Hornady offers reloaders access to over 1,000 pages of verified load data through multiple formats: a hardcover Handbook, eBooks on Apple Books and Kindle, and the Hornady Reloading App for iOS and Android. The app allows users to save favorite loads, add personal notes, and purchase data by cartridge for 99¢ or unlock the full library with a $19.99 annual subscription.
Walther Arms is offering a free Vortex Venom Enclosed Micro Red Dot optic valued at $290 with the purchase of qualifying PDP pistols from November 1 through December 31, 2026. The promotion applies to new Walther PDP and PDP F-Series models in various configurations, with redemptions required by January 31, 2027.
Savage Arms is offering a $200 mail-in rebate on select Model 110 and Impulse rifles equipped with PROOF Research barrels from November 1-30, 2026. The promotion includes six eligible models and is limited to five rebates per household.
Savage Arms is offering a $75 mail-in rebate on Model 110 and Impulse rifle purchases from November 1-22, 2026. The promotion provides hunters and shooting enthusiasts an opportunity to save on select rifles before the holiday shopping season, with a limit of five rebates per household.
African Hunting Gazette, a premier quarterly publication, offers holiday gift subscriptions ranging from one-year to Lifetime Membership packages. Publisher Richard Lendrum highlights how the magazine delivers African hunting adventures, conservation coverage, and safari planning information to readers year-round.
Media members can now register for credentials to attend the 2027 DSC Convention & Sporting Expo, held January 7-10 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. DSC is providing a dedicated pressroom with amenities for the sporting press. Contact Stephanie Mallory at Mallory Communications to pre-register.
Arkansas State Parks announced Lake Dardanelle State Park as the 2026 Park of the Year, with Crater of Diamonds State Park, DeGray Lake Resort State Park, and Pinnacle Mountain State Park recognized as finalists. Lake Dardanelle earned the honor for hosting 15 major fishing tournaments generating $3.7 million in local economic impact and expanding interpretive programming to over 17,000 participants.
Sellmark Corporation is running a $20,000 sweepstakes from November 2-30, 2026, featuring products from Sightmark, Pulsar, KJI, Dark 30, INFORCE, and other brands. The grand prize package includes thermal imaging devices, shooting supports, tactical gear, and a $1,000 Everest Gift Card.
Outdoor Channel dedicates Saturday evenings to the MeatEater franchise with a three-hour "Prime Cuts" block featuring Rinella's Field Notes, MeatEater Season 14 premiere on November 14, and MeatEater's 12 in 26 cinematic presentations showcasing hunting, fishing, and outdoor adventures with Steven Rinella and crew.
Keith Warren returns to archery using Pyramyd Air's innovative online bow setup service for a hunt at Legends Ranch in Michigan. The feature, airing on TV and online, showcases Warren's personal milestone as he pursues trophy whitetails with a fully customized, pre-tuned bow package ordered online.
Pursuit Media showcases its extensive programming across Pursuit Channel and Pursuit UP, featuring shows like Wiebe Trapline Adventures, Higdon Outdoors, Argo's How to Hunt with Ryan Kohler, and The Fish Guyz. The dual-platform approach provides outdoor enthusiasts flexible access to premium content via linear television and free streaming across major platforms.
Ralph, Vicki, RJ, and Aubrey Cianciarulo invite viewers to tune into the 26th season of The Choice on Pursuit Channel, beginning Monday, September 28th at 11:30 PM EST. Ralph returns to J&M Whitetails in Kansas seeking redemption after previous unsuccessful encounters.
Is it too early to start thinking about Christmas shopping?
Absolutely. Leapfrogging Thanksgiving is sacrilege.
But considering that every major retailer seems to have moved on from Halloween by mid-October (at the latest) and filled its stores with Christmas decorations, fake trees, and pre-Black Friday promotions, it just might be time to start planning.
Finding the right gift for the sportsman or woman on your list is not always easy. This is especially true when they don’t tell you exactly what they want.
And if you don’t share their passion for hunting, shooting, camping, or fishing, you may be at a loss as to what to buy for them.
To help you find that perfect gift—hopefully—here’s the first in a series of Christmas shopping suggestions.
Let’s start with something that doesn’t require knowing anything about what caliber they shoot, the species they hunt, or which fishing lure they swear by.
The Opsec Field Fleece from VIKTOS is a practical option for somebody whose idea of a good day involves spending most of it outdoors. Built from midweight fleece, it features reinforced NyCo overlays at the shoulders and elbows, the usual wear points where clothing tends to take a beating. A quarter-zip neck provides ventilation, while the relaxed fit and raglan sleeves allow room to move.
There are also zippered belly and sleeve pockets for keeping small essentials secure. Because having a pocket is useful. Having your stuff still in that pocket when you get home is even more useful.
Available in SAR Orange, Black, and Green, in sizes small through 3XL, the Opsec Field Fleece carries an MSRP of $120. You’ll still need to figure out their size and preferred color, but that’s considerably easier than deciphering their ammunition preferences.
Personally, I’ve always been a fan of throwing knives—thanks to one too many movies, I suppose. For somebody who might appreciate a gift that’s a little less conventional, there’s the BLACKHAWK Direct Hit 3 Piece Throwing Knife Set Wrapped, available through Bear & Son Cutlery.
And yes, the name pretty much covers what’s in the box.
The set includes three throwing knives, each measuring 8 inches overall with a 3½-inch blade. Construction is 7CrMoV steel with a black oxide coating on the blade and a paracord-wrapped handle. MSRP is $56.99, making this the least expensive option on this particular list.
This is a gift for the person who already enjoys throwing knives or has expressed an interest in trying it. It’s a more specialized choice than a fleece, but that may be exactly the appeal.
At the other end of the excitement spectrum is a dehumidifier.
Stay with me, though.
The Remington Mini Dehumidifier is the sort of practical gift that makes sense when the person receiving it has considerably more money invested in the contents of their gun safe than you plan to spend on Christmas.
The compact unit uses moisture-absorbing crystals and requires no cord while working inside a safe or cabinet. Remington rates it for enclosures up to 333 cubic feet and says it can go up to 60 days before recharging. An indicator window tells the owner when it’s time to recharge, a process the company says takes only a few hours. MSRP is $99.99.
Will it be the most talked-about present under the tree? Probably not. But helping protect somebody’s firearms from moisture has value long after the wrapping paper is gone. They might appreciate it more than you think.
The important word here is “Micro.” At 7.7 inches long and 21.6 ounces, this is a spotting scope intended to travel without taking over the pack. It pairs a 56mm objective lens with 9–27x magnification and fully multicoated, extra-low-dispersion glass.
A 45-degree angled eyepiece and twist-up eyecup help make extended viewing comfortable, while a helical focus system adjusts image sharpness. The scope is nitrogen-purged, fogproof, and water-resistant, and comes with a carrying case and an Arca-Swiss adapter plate for tripod mounting.
For somebody interested in photographing what they’re watching, the eyepiece also accommodates compatible phone and DSLR digiscoping adapters. MSRP is $299.97.
Finally, for the rifle owner who has been dropping hints about accessories—and expecting you to understand them—there’s the Viridian 4LUX 2K DUO.
I first saw this back in February 2024, when Viridian hosted a range day product preview after the Sports Inc. Show, and loved its ergonomics. I’ve since gotten one, thanks to Viridian CEO Brian Hedeen.
This unit combines an angled foregrip, an 1,850-lumen light, and a green laser, with direct attachment to an M-LOK handguard. Viridian’s Grip ’N Rip activation uses natural grip pressure to activate the system, with ambidextrous constant-on control also available.
An internal rechargeable battery provides a stated runtime of up to 110 minutes, and the housing carries an IPX6 water-resistance rating. MSRP is $259 in Black or $269 in Flat Dark Earth.
This is one purchase where a little advance intelligence helps. Confirm that their rifle has the appropriate handguard and that this is an accessory they actually want. A screenshot of the right product can save everybody some trouble.
That last bit of advice applies to Christmas shopping in general. There’s nothing wrong with asking for a few specific suggestions. You still get to choose the gift, and they get something they’ll use.
Then again, there was the time I very specifically told my mom I wanted a Leatherman Wave, and she managed to get me some other no-name multi-tool. I may or may not still be scarred from that Christmas gift betrayal, but I’ll never tell.
And one more thing. Getting your list together now doesn’t mean you have to surrender Thanksgiving.
The turkey deserves its day…along with the accompanying football.
– Paul Erhardt, Managing Editor, the Outdoor Wire Digital Network
