Easton's Match Grade Pro Shop Series arrows offer bowhunters precision-engineered hunting arrows crafted in the USA with exclusive Acu-Carbon process technology. Featuring industry-leading straightness tolerances and premium helical fletching, these arrows are available in multiple models including FMJ, AXIS, and SONIC.
Empowered 2A announced that the Derya DY9Z, manufactured by Derya Arms, has been named the 2026 Empowered 2A Gun of the Year. The striker-fired 9mm pistol features a compact profile, 15+1 capacity, optics-ready slide, and vibrant color options designed to appeal to diverse firearm owners, particularly women seeking performance and style.
An Indiana Conservation Officer arrested Naithan Murphy, 30, of St. Louis, after a traffic stop near U.S. 41 and Interstate 64 revealed over 300 methamphetamine pills, marijuana, digital scales, and a loaded handgun. Murphy was charged with felony dealing of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and reckless driving.
North Dakota's 2026-28 fishing regulations are effective April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2028, with new licenses required. Notable changes include allowing white sucker as live bait on specific waters, reinitiation of chinook salmon snagging season, elimination of darkhouse spearfishing registration requirements, and increased white bass limits to 30 daily and 60 possession.
Dylan Nutt won the 2026 Bassmaster Classic on the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tennessee, becoming the second B.A.S.S. Nation qualifier to win the prestigious title. Running a Yamaha V MAX SHO outboard, the 22-year-old from Nashville earned $300,000 for his three-day total of 66 pounds, 13 ounces, with Yamaha anglers claiming seven of the top ten positions.
NSSF, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, has opened applications for 2026 Hunting Heritage Trust Grants offering $100,000 to support recruitment, retention, and reactivation programs in hunting and shooting sports. Applications from qualified non-governmental organizations are due by April 17, 2026.
Governor Mike Braun and the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation (INRF) are accepting applications for the Discover the Outdoors field trip grant program for K-12 educators planning visits to Indiana State Parks in 2026-2027. Grants up to $500 per application cover transportation, program fees, and materials. Since 2013, the program has awarded 355 grants, enabling over 30,800 students to visit state parks.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology is accepting fiscal year 2026 Historic Preservation Fund grant applications through June 5. Eligible applicants include non-profits, educational institutions, and local government units for architectural, archaeological, and acquisition projects involving National Register-listed properties.
Michigan DNR announces spring turkey hunting licenses are now available for Hunt 0234 (May 2-31, statewide) and Hunt 0301 (April 18-May 31, private lands in southern Michigan). Both seasons have unlimited quotas and do not require drawing applications. Hunters must report harvests within 72 hours using eHarvest or physical kill tags.
North Dakota anglers, hunters, and trappers must obtain new licenses beginning April 1, 2026. Licenses can be purchased online through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website at gf.nd.gov or at more than 80 vendor locations throughout the state.
Benelli USA pledged a $30,000 contribution to NSSF's Protect Liberty PAC to support candidates dedicated to protecting Second Amendment rights ahead of the November 2026 election. CEO Tom DeBolt encouraged other industry members and gun owners to support the super PAC's mission to elect pro-freedom candidates.
Henry Repeating Arms is donating 50 limited-edition "Joel's Wildfire" Golden Boy Silver rifles through its Guns For Great Causes program to support wildland firefighter Joel Eisiminger's battle against acute myeloid leukemia. The rifle series is expected to raise over $40,000, with all proceeds going directly to Eisiminger's medical expenses and ongoing care.
C&H Precision announced the hiring of Bryce Laemmlen as director of business development. Laemmlen brings over a decade of tactical and optics industry experience, including his previous role as Military and Law Enforcement Account Manager for Vortex Optics, and will lead strategic growth initiatives across military, law enforcement, and commercial markets.
NSSF emphasizes that while gun owners can customize firearms with legal accessories, certain modifications are dangerous and illegal. Converting semiautomatic firearms to automatic using machinegun conversion devices violates the National Firearms Act and carries up to 10 years imprisonment and $250,000 in fines.
Briley Manufacturing, a leading shotgun choke tube and firearm accessories manufacturer in Houston, Texas, is hiring a Gunsmithing/Service Manager to oversee seven gunsmiths and manage repair, refinishing, and modification services at their Houston, Texas headquarters. The role requires firearm repair experience, customer service skills, and management expertise.
ZeroTech Optics has launched the Vengeance 1-4x24 SFP LPVO RAR Illuminated FDE and Vengeance 1-4x24 SFP LPVO RAR MOA, low power variable optics featuring true 1x magnification for close-range engagement and 4x magnification for extended distances. Built from 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum with a 30mm tube, these scopes offer durability and practical performance for defensive carbines, competition rifles, and range use.
Turkeys for Tomorrow CEO Jason Lupardus announced that all TFT flocks will now retain 20% of funds generated from conservation dinners for local or regional projects, a significant increase compared to the 1-5% typical in other conservation organizations. The TFT Fly Down Committee, comprised of local flock members, made this decision to empower grassroots conservation efforts and support habitat projects, youth programs, and predator-prey research at the local level.
Delta Waterfowl's First Hunt program has introduced over 100,000 people to waterfowl hunting across North America. The milestone was reached at an Arkansas event in February, with participants including Jessica Painter, Tyrone Davis and his sons, and Dylan Michael. The chapter-driven program aims to reverse declining waterfowl hunter numbers and sustain hunting traditions.
Hook & Barrel Magazine has partnered with Ducks Unlimited to provide exclusive firearm prize packages to 10 collegiate banquets nationwide. Twenty attendees will win custom-engraved Marlin Dark Series Model 1894 rifles paired with EOTECH HWS 512 optics from ReedsGunsandAmmo.com, supporting conservation fundraising efforts.
Kids & Clays Foundation Executive Director Zac Lemmon appeared on the Connecting with Conservation Podcast hosted by Jon Gassett of Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation. The discussion highlighted how the shooting sports community supports Ronald McDonald Houses, with Kids & Clays having raised over $50 million since 1999.
Italian Firearms Group, the exclusive U.S. importer of Tanfoglio, highlights its lineup including the Stock Optic-Ready for ISPA SSP competition, Stock III Special for USPSA Production Division, Tanfoglio Force Compact 10mm for backcountry use, and Defiant Tactical Pro with threaded barrel and optic-ready design.
ALPS Mountaineering introduces the Aleutian 3-Person Outfitter, a category-leading 4-season tent weighing under 10 pounds. Featuring a robust polyester Oxford floor, #10 zippers, and rapid hook and ring fly attachment, the tent offers 48 sq. ft. of interior space and is available at authorized dealers and www.alpsmountaineering.com.
Millennium Outdoors releases the Q400 Guard House Buck Hut, a 15-foot, 8-inch elevated hunting blind featuring heavy-duty steel construction, seven shooting windows, and a 500-pound weight capacity designed for comfort and all-weather durability.
RCBS is expanding its MatchMaster Precision Case Trimmer lineup with a new .338 caliber pilot and a pilot-free 3-Way Cutter Head. Co-developed with Henderson Precision, the MatchMaster trimmer is now shipping and available at retailers carrying RCBS reloading equipment.
WOOX, an Italian-American gunstock manufacturer, announced the new Superleggera "High Grade" line of lightweight hunting stocks for bolt-action rifles. Each hand-selected walnut stock weighs 33-35 ounces and achieved .278 MOA accuracy in testing, featuring adjustable cheek risers and recoil pads with drop-in installation.
Galco's Summer Comfort IWB holster is now available in tan for select fits. The snap-on design features reinforced premium steerhide construction, smooth leather for comfort, and full firing grip clearance, with removable belt loops and optional Appendix IWB Belt Loop compatibility.
Thompson/Center Arms launched the ENCORE ProHunter Turkey Shotgun, a compact single-shot platform weighing 6.25 pounds with Mossy Oak Original Bottomland finish. Available in .410, 20, and 12 gauges at $1,000 MSRP, it features an interchangeable system compatible with rifle and muzzleloader configurations.
Insight Media Stream launched an enhanced advanced marketing insights suite that combines web analytics and ad platform data to measure campaign effectiveness beyond clicks. The new methodology, led by Director of Client Strategy Marc Morris, helps brands understand consumer journeys from brand lift to sales lift through incremental testing and engagement metrics.
ALPS Mountaineering has launched the Quantum Insulated Air Pad, featuring a 7.3 R-value insulation bed made from 100% recycled material. The lightweight pad weighs just over 2.5 pounds and includes an innovative pump sack conversion and repair kit for outdoor adventurers.
Springfield Armory launched a new line of Aimpoint COA-equipped pistols featuring the Aimpoint A-CUT interface and closed-emitter red dot sight. The initial Echelon 9mm variants (4.5F, 4.0FC, and 4.0C models) are priced at $1,119 MSRP, representing over $200 in savings compared to purchasing components separately.
Zanders, a national distributor based in Sparta, Illinois, has added the iconic Zippo product line to its portfolio. The partnership brings Zippo's windproof lighters, utility lighters, and outdoor fire-starting accessories to dealers, with commentary from Dan Sielger, President and COO at Zanders, and Garrett Newhouse, Channel Business Manager – Outdoor at Zippo.
Millennium Treestands introduces the L325 Wide Load Ladder Stand, an 18-foot heavy-duty ladder stand featuring a 24-inch-wide platform, ComfortMax seat, and Secure Tree Brace System. Weighing 78 pounds with a 300-pound capacity, it includes a full-body harness and SafeLink Lifeline for enhanced safety and comfort during hunting.
Winchester Ammunition's Spring Turkey rebate is now active through May 31, 2026, offering $5 per box savings up to $100 per household. The promotion includes all Winchester turkey loads, with new Long Beard® Tungsten shotshells available in multiple gauges for enhanced range and pattern performance.
Browning's Spring Turkey rebate is now active through May 31, 2026, offering $5 per box savings up to $100 on Browning TSS Tungsten Turkey loads. The promotion requires a minimum two-box purchase and is valid for purchases made March 6 through May 31, 2026.
GRITR Outdoors announces an exclusive winter sports sale running through March 31, featuring deals on top brands including LINE, Fieldsheer, Nordica, Fischer, Head, Blizzard, Kombi, DC, Tecnica, Swix, and TOKO. The sale includes winter apparel, ski and snowboard equipment, and accessories.
Sarge Knives, a family-owned business from Greer, South Carolina, has renewed its sponsorship with Whitetails Unlimited. WTU President Jeff Schinkten praised Sarge Knives' product line and lifetime warranty, highlighting the company's commitment to providing quality hunting knives at value prices.
Meprolight announced its sponsorship of Precision Rifle Series competitor Garrett Tyler for the 2026 season. Tyler will represent Meprolight optics while competing in PRS events throughout the Atlantic Coast Region, using the MVO 6-36X56 scope in matches.
Hawke Optics announced a strategic partnership beginning in 2026 with the Chasing Giants Podcast, a premiere whitetail deer hunting show hosted by Don Higgins and Terry Peer. The partnership aligns the precision optics leader with a podcast that shares expert hunting advice and listener-driven content based on 40 years of trophy whitetail hunting experience.
Field Ethos has renewed its Platinum-level corporate partnership with the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF). CEO Jason Vincent praised SAF's focused mission, while SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut highlighted Field Ethos's commitment to supporting the organization's legal and educational initiatives.
The Michigan DNR's Western Upper Peninsula Citizens' Advisory Council will meet March 25 in Baraga to discuss oak wilt management, the new eHarvest digital tagging option for hunters, and wildlife committee recommendations. The meeting runs 6-8:30 p.m. EDT at Baraga Lakeside Inn.
The Wildcat Hills Nature Center offers free April programming including a preschool program on April 14 and homeschool program on April 16, both featuring themes about pollinators, flowers, and Earth Day for children ages 2 and up.
The Schramm Education Center in Gretna offers April programming including Little Saplings nature discovery for young children, Earth Day and Arbor Day celebrations, a Spring Beginner Birding Hike, and Homeschool Hikes featuring Mushroom Madness. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and ages 4-12.
Pursuit Channel highlights the Texas Team Trail, a competitive team bass tournament series airing weekly. The show features live tournament action, tactical insights, and interviews with top teams across Texas's legendary fisheries, available on Pursuit Channel and Pursuit UP's free streaming platform.
A new episode of Deer & Wildlife Stories with Keith Warren features MVP Whitetails in Kaufman, Texas, showcasing their elite whitetail breeding operation and newly opened private hunting estate. The episode highlights MVP Whitetails' genetically superior deer and world-class management practices that set the standard for excellence in the whitetail industry.
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department urges residents to remove birdfeeders and secure food sources as black bears emerge from winter dens earlier due to shorter winters and a growing population. Bear biologist Jaclyn Comeau emphasizes that preventive measures like bear-resistant containers and electric fences are essential for coexistence, as bears now associate human food with sustenance across multiple generations.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — For the first time in 32 years and only the second time ever, a B.A.S.S. Nation qualifier wears the crown of the biggest title in bass fishing. Dylan Nutt, the 22-year-old phenom from Nashville, Tenn., won the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour in front of a giant home-state crowd at Food City Arena in Knoxville.
Nashville, Tenn., Nation angler Dylan Nutt has won the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour with a three-day total of 66 pounds, 13 ounces. Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
After the crowning moment, Nutt was still processing what it means to follow in Kerchal’s footsteps.
“I haven’t had the chance to think about it. I’ve got so many things in my head right now. I don’t know what I’m thinking,” he said.
“It [the Classic] has always been the pinnacle of bass fishing to us, and I mean, heck, the last Classic that I went to was the one here, back in 2023, and I never would’ve thought next time I went to a Classic I’d be in it and holding the trophy at the end of it.”
After catching 19-5 on Day 1 and a tournament-best 26-11 on Day 2, Nutt led the Top 25 anglers out onto the Tennessee River from Volunteer Landing this morning firmly ahead of second-place pro Drew Cook by nearly 4 pounds. The University of North Alabama (UNA) senior wasted little time extending his margin. Fishing in Fort Loudoun Reservoir, he caught a keeper on his second cast, boxed up a limit by about 9 a.m. and had culled to roughly 19 pounds by a few minutes after 10.
When B.A.S.S. froze the BassTrakk unofficial leaderboard at 1 p.m., Nutt was up by an estimated 10 pounds over fellow twenty-something wunderkind Trey McKinney. Still, nothing was guaranteed at that point. All week, the afternoon hours have been key. On Day 2, several 5-plus-pound bass were caught in the afternoon. And as we saw on Saturday, the Loudoun-Tellico system has some giants, including a pair of 6-pounders Nutt landed to get into the lead and a 7-5 giant caught by Cook that was the biggest bass of the tournament. With Cook, reigning Classic champ Easton Fothergill and a slew of other hammers still within reach, there was enough drama to attract a packed house to the final Bassmaster Classic weigh-in driven by Yokohama.
But in the end, no one could keep up with Nutt’s pace. He caught a Day 3 limit of 20 pounds, 13 ounces for a three-day total of 66-13 and a winning margin over runner-up McKinney of 9 pounds, 5 ounces. For his win, Nutt earned the $300,000 top prize.
Time on the water made the difference for Nutt. His pre-tournament preparation began as soon as he qualified last fall, but he ramped things up dramatically during the pre-practice period before Loudoun-Tellico went off limits.
“I spent a month up here fishing every day just trying to get as much of an advantage as I could,” he said. “And it paid off.
“I feel like I know this place better than my home lake, and it showed this week. I put my time in out here, and I worked really hard at it and was able to pull it off.”
Some of the areas he found in Fort Loudoun during pre-practice still held fish during the official practice earlier this week, and he was able to pick up where he left off once the tournament began. He said he chose to focus on Loudoun because it fishes more like a river, with current positioning his fish on key spots.
“I’m very confident in my ability to catch them on the rivers like this, and the way they were setting up, it was in my wheelhouse,” he said.
“I was fishing a lot of prespawn staging areas. It was largemouth and smallmouth just kind of moving in and out. And I was catching them on a minnow using forward-facing sonar.”
His go-to soft-plastic minnow was a Berkley prototype bait. He fished it using a 6-10 medium-light Abu Garcia Fantasista X rod, an Abu Garcia Zenon X spinning reel, 8-pound-test Berkley X5 braided line and a 15-pound-test Berkley GinClear leader. Nutt rigged the minnow on a 3/16-ounce jighead.
“I was fishing anywhere from about a foot and a half [deep] to about 8 feet. I did figure out a pattern this week,” Nutt added. “It kind of progressed throughout the tournament, catching smallmouth on pea gravel banks and stuff like that.”
The one exception was on Day 2, when he caught his biggest bag in the back of a creek. That limit included four largemouth — the most of any of his three daily limits — that were set up essentially where they’ll soon spawn.
“It was just an area that had a lot of big ones,” he said. “There were a lot of areas like it out there, but not many of them have fish. It was a lot flatter than some of the other creeks. There were a lot of shoals in there. It just seemed like it was almost like a little lake in there.”
After his initial flurry during Sunday’s final round, Nutt experienced a lull that lasted a couple of hours. But he kept his head down and kept grinding, knowing he’d eventually run across them.
At around 1:30, it happened. With about 10 of his closest friends from the UNA bass club plus other spectators watching on, Nutt made a couple of final culls that were met with whoops and hollers. It was the final push; the last bit he needed to feel confident going to weigh-in that he’d done everything he needed to do to be a Bassmaster Classic champion.
In the process, he reminded the world just how good his generation of anglers is. He’s the ninth angler to win the Classic in their first appearance and third-youngest Classic champ ever. And though he’s young, Nutt showed exactly what he and his twin brother, Carter, have been preparing for their entire lives — the very thing they’ve been talking about and dreaming about since they were old enough to hold a rod.
After Dylan was handed the Ray Scott Bassmaster Classic Trophy, an emotional Carter was the first to embrace him on stage, followed by their entire family, including their parents, Michael and Emily, younger brother, Garrett, and Dylan’s girlfriend, Braleigh Jackson.
“Me and him have spent so much time together learning, and it all prepared us for moments like this,” Dylan said about Carter.
“Fishing’s been the only thing I’ve thought about for as long as I can remember. It wasn’t until I got to college that I started thinking about girls or anything like that. It was just fishing.”
Just fishing and whole lot of talent — the potent combination that produced the new Classic champion.
Once again, McKinney found himself in contention for a major title, but once again, he came up short. The Illinois pro finished runner-up for the second consecutive year. That’s in addition to his back-to-back second-place finishes in Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year standings.
Despite coming up short, McKinney is pleased with his performance. He improved each day of the tournament, weighing in limits of 16-10, 18-13 and 22-1. His Day 3 limit was Sunday’s heaviest weight.
“I felt lost at the beginning, and we just kept finding our way, and at the end of the tournament we ended up with a big bag,” he said. “So it was definitely a good feeling to kind of get stronger throughout the week.
“Today was unbelievable. It was one of those days you just wait for.”
McKinney said he caught fish from the time he put his trolling motor down until he got ready to head back to Volunteer Landing for check-in. He was culling fish for ounces at a time most of the morning, but a 5 1/2-pounder shortly before noon vaulted him up the standings and into second.
“I flipped up there, and she hit it going away from me, and as soon as she hit it she started stripping drag. I literally just held it and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh. This is her.’ And she came up and jumped, and I was like … good night. So it was a blessing for sure.”
All throughout the tournament, McKinney targeted fish in groups and clusters on hard clay or sand breaks along main-lake banks swept with current where he found schools of bait.
“The deepest I caught one today was probably 8 or 9 feet, but they could be over 20. They could be over 30.”
The only thing that might’ve held McKinney back from challenging Nutt was his decision to fish Tellico on Day 1. He thought he was on at least 20 pounds, but it didn’t happen.
“The fish are so smart, they got wise to all the boat pressure, all the spectator boats,” he added. “They just got really smart. And then the second day I ran up there, I was like, I’m gonna give it a fair shot and see if they’ll bite. They didn’t.”
He spent the rest of his tournament trying to climb back into contention on Loudoun. Different baits did the bulk of the damage each day, including a 2.7-inch 6th Sense Divine swimbait, a prototype 6th Sense jig and a minnow-style bait.
Japan’s Yui Aoki finished the tournament in third place with a three-day total of 57 pounds, 3 ounces. Aoki, who qualified for the Classic by winning a Turtlebox Bassmaster Open presented by Battery Tender on Kentucky Lake, is well known as a forward-facing sonar expert, and he put his knowledge to work this week, improving his weight each day of the tournament, culminating in a 19-3 limit today.
Aoki spent the entire tournament on Loudoun and caught his fish on a Dstyle 4-inch minnow and Dstyle 4-inch Geelacanth soft-plastic lure.
“Day one and day two, smallmouth was better, but today largemouth was good,” said Aoki. “[I caught] four largemouth and one smallmouth today.”
Current was the key for Aoki. He targeted areas where the current swept the bank, where fish were set up on any kind of structure or cover that deflected the flow. His key depth range was 5 to 10 feet.
Stealth was vital, said Aoki. He had to approach “very, very slowly” to avoid spooking the fish.
“I’m so happy,” he added. “I want to come back here. I want to win here.”
Rounding out the Top 10 are Easton Fothergill, of Grand Rapids, Minn., in fourth with 56-2; JT Thompkins, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., in fifth with 55-5; Justin Atkins, of Florence, Ala., in sixth with 55-0; Drew Cook, of Cairo, Ga., in seventh with 54-4; Jordan Lee, of Cullman, Ala., in eighth with 52-12; Dakota Ebare, of Brookeland, Texas, in ninth with 50-0; and Wesley Gore, of Clanton, Ala., in 10th with 48-11.
The $2,500 Mercury Big Bass Award for the biggest fish of the tournament went to Drew Cook for his 7-pound, 5-ounce bass on Day 2. JT Thompkins won the Day 3 Big Bass award of $1,000 for a bass that weighed 5-11.
For weighing in a limit worth 26-11 on Day 2 — the heaviest limit of the tournament — Dylan Nutt earned the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag and its $7,000 prize.
As the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program and the Classic winner, Nutt also took home an additional $10,000, while Easton Fothergill received $5,00 for being the second-highest-finishing entrant.
Nutt also won the $20,000 Yamaha Power Pay award for being the highest-finishing eligible angler.
Bassmaster paid a $1,000 BassTrakk Contingency Prize to Thompkins for providing a BassTrakk weight estimate closest to his official weight.
