ScentLok introduces its deepest camouflage lineup featuring Realtree XT-3, Realtree APX, Mossy Oak Terra Gila, Terra Outland, Original Treestand, Bottomland, and Country Roots patterns, designed by terrain and season rather than trend. Marketing Director Steve Allie emphasizes hunters no longer need to compromise on camo across different hunting environments.

Guns.com announced an exclusive auction for a rare Colt Custom Shop 250th Anniversary Python, Serial No. 2, running through September 27. The commemorative revolver features bright stainless steel, walnut grips with eagle medallion, and patriotic engraving, offered through The Vault premium category alongside a special presentation package.

Beretta USA will sponsor a stage at the 2026 USPSA Factory Nationals in Hurricane, Utah, showcasing an unreleased competition pistol to competitors and spectators. Team Beretta athletes JJ Racaza, Sal Luna, Cameron Templin, and Ben Hardt will compete at the event, underscoring the company's commitment to the competitive shooting community.

Winchester announced a contribution of over $500,000 to Ducks Unlimited's Conservation for a Continent Campaign over the past seven years. The campaign generated $4.06 billion for continental conservation, helping DU conserve over 20 million acres of wetlands and habitat since 1937.

Firearms Policy Coalition filed a reply brief with the Fifth Circuit in Ziegenfuss v. Martin challenging three Texas laws that criminalize firearm carry at racetracks, alcohol-revenue businesses, and sporting events. Everytown for Gun Safety, the Houston Astros, and other organizations defended the bans, while Texas DPS Director Freeman Martin agreed they are unconstitutional but argued for dismissal on jurisdictional grounds.

Thunder Ridge Nature Arena will host an exclusive premiere of Brad Pitt's adventure thriller "Heart of the Beast" on September 18, with all proceeds benefiting conservation. Service members, Bass Pro Shops Outfitters, and CLUB Members receive free admission, while public tickets are available for $10 at thunderridgenaturearena.com.

Clam Outdoors announces the ClamAYR™ Boondocker Ice Fishing Model, featuring fully insulated thermal wall panels and proprietary AYRTruss Design™ technology. The shelter weighs under 100 lbs, sets up in minutes, and is priced at $2,499.99.

Guns.com announced 'The Hunt Begins,' a fall hunting campaign presented by Christensen Arms and Walker's, featuring a $5,600 giveaway package including a Christensen Arms Ridgeline Scout rifle, Burris Optics Eliminator 6 scope, Walker's Disrupter Ear Buds, Montana Knife Company Field Boning Knife, and $100 Guns.com Gift Card. The campaign includes exclusive promotions and social media content featuring Pat and Nicole Reeves of Driven Hunter.

The Wild Sheep Foundation announced a $150,000 grant from the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's Outdoor Fund for its Grant-In-Aid Program. Over eight years, the fund has contributed $926,000 to support wild sheep conservation initiatives across North America, including habitat restoration and disease surveillance projects.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is accepting applications for 2026 Land and Water Conservation Fund grants from cities, villages, and natural resources districts through October 30. The program offers up to $600,000 in reimbursable grants with a 50% match for outdoor recreation projects.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department provides preparation tips for the 2027 Spring Draw for turkey, javelina, bison, bear, and raptor capture. Applicants must have valid hunting licenses, know their Customer ID, download Arizona E-Tag, and open AZGFD portal accounts to access draw results by the October 6, 2026 deadline.

Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation (OSCF) will attend the 116th Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Annual Meeting in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, September 14-18, 2026. Executive Director Jim Curcuruto will participate in multiple working groups and present research on increasing participation in hunting, fishing, trapping, and target shooting.

Walk the Talk America leaders Mike Sodini and Kevin Berry participated in a webinar hosted by the Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative discussing firearm suicide prevention, stigma reduction, and community engagement. The panel also featured Emmy Betz, MD, MPH, and Chris Knoepke, PhD, exploring collaboration and prevention strategies within firearm-owning communities.

Terry and Patty Ehrhardt of Great Falls Chapter SCI traveled to Namibia with the Steinburg family to hunt with Jan Oelefse Safaris. Through the SCI Foundation's Bell Family Blue Bag Program, the group donated school supplies and gifts to the safari company's private school serving 45 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Victory Archery, The Carbon Arrow Experts, announces a partnership with Bow Disciples, a bowhunting community focused on ethical hunting and real-world archery education. The collaboration combines Bow Disciples' community engagement and education with Victory's precision carbon arrow technology and engineering expertise.

ALPS OutdoorZ introduces the DU Heritage 20, a carry-on compliant daypack designed for hunters and travelers. The pack features a padded laptop sleeve, U-shaped zipper main compartment, and fleece-lined pockets, available in Olive Green for $99.99.

WOOX, an Italian-American maker of premium outdoor gear, announces the WOOX Bolt-Action Leather Cartridge Quiver, handcrafted in Naples from Tuscan leather. The quiver holds five cartridges and fits most rifle stocks, featuring suede lining and an adjustable leather lace system, priced at $149.

ALPS OutdoorZ expands its award-winning DeadQuiet Series with three new hunting packs: the Apex Sling Pack, Cruzer, and Proximity daypack. Each features proprietary DEADQUIET® layered fabric offering silent external surfaces, waterproof membranes, and suede inner backing for serious hunters.

KRISS USA announced the release of the Ironwood Delta, a new CERAKOTE® camo finish for the Vector Gen 3 platform, available exclusively through RSR Group. The finish features black lines cutting through rust-brown, forest green, and sage tones, extending across the Carbine, Pistol, and Short-Barreled Rifle models.

Land and Wildlife Legacy Properties announces the offering of Hunters Point, a 755-deeded-acre hunting and ranch property in Oregon's Summer Lake country featuring trophy mule deer, Landowner Preference tags, direct access to Winema National Forest, and diverse wildlife including elk, pronghorn, and waterfowl.

GRITR Outdoors, a Texas firearms retailer, has expanded its hunting lineup with the Beretta Daybreak Upland Collection. The Italian-designed apparel features technical fabrics for breathable protection and durability in upland hunting conditions, available in softshell jackets and vests.

SIGHTRON announced Michelle Carpentier as the newest member of their shooting team. The 20-year-old competitive shooter has won the 2025 Hunter State Championship and placed in the Top 10 at the 2026 Nationals. Carpentier will compete using SIGHTRON's SII Big Sky 6.5–20×50 Riflescope.

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will hold a special meeting Thursday, Sept. 24, via Zoom to discuss administrative rulemaking petitions on 24-hour trap checks and bear spray requirements, plus predator management policy. Public comment is accepted through Sept. 18 via online survey or mail.

Montana's State Shooting Facilities and Improvements Development and Oversight Task Force will meet September 14 at FWP headquarters in Helena and via Zoom. The task force will hear subcommittee reports and begin drafting recommendations for shooting facilities, with co-chair Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crowe emphasizing the importance of addressing facility needs across Montana.

The Indiana Natural Resources Commission will hold its bimonthly meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at Fort Harrison State Park's Garrison Ballroom in Indianapolis, beginning at 10 a.m. ET. The meeting agenda and related materials are available at nrc.IN.gov/meetings-and-minutes/current-meeting-agenda.

The High Road with Keith Warren releases a combo special featuring hunts in North Texas for whitetail deer with Tank Blinds owner Aaron Gilbreath, and in South Texas for a feral hog using HM Defense's 50 Max rifle with Shaw Barrels and Bering Optics' MVPO thermal scope.

King Pedford, a retired heavyweight boxer turned hunter, has launched eight new episodes of "Haymaker Hunting" on MyOutdoorTV, bringing his library to 23 total episodes. The series showcases hunting adventures across the country while inspiring the next generation and empowering underrepresented communities to connect with the outdoors.

The ongoing heatwave might keep most hunters out of the woods right now, but skipping your pre-season stand safety check is a recipe for disaster. A quick trip to inspect your stand and hunting location is well worth the effort if it means coming home safely at the end of each hunt later this year.  

According to Matt Gideon, Hunter Education and Boater Education Coordinator for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, treestand falls account for 75 to 80 percent of hunting accidents each year, and many result in major injuries and even death.

“Right now, you want to go out and inspect all of the welds, straps and cables carefully on your stands,” Gideon said. “And if it’s been out all year, it’s almost a sure thing that you need to replace those straps holding it to the tree. Ideally, you should take the stand down at the end of every season, and I probably wouldn’t trust one that’s been up all year without going ahead and taking it down to give it a thorough inspection and replacing any worn parts. Squirrels and rats can chew up the straps, and just sitting in the elements all year can weaken the materials.” 

Gideon, an avid hunter who started at the AGFC’s Charlie Craig Fish Hatchery in Centerton before transitioning to the agency’s Education Division, coordinates with the AGFC’s Enforcement and Education divisions to compile the agency’s annual Hunter Incident Report as part of his duties. 

“We produce the report each year so Hunter Education instructors can relay valuable lessons learned from previous years’ accidents,” Gideon said. “It also lets us take a look at trends in lapses of judgment or safety that we can address in our classes and offer advice about possible regulations changes that are needed to keep up with changes in hunting styles and technology.”

Gideon says misuse of safety harnesses is a leading cause of treestand falls. Just about every treestand made comes with a complimentary safety harness, and many aftermarket harnesses are not only comfortable, but have accessory pockets to hold hunting gear. Still, lack of a safety harness remains the number one cause of most treestand fall injuries.

“A lot of people either aren’t wearing their harnesses or not wearing them properly,” Gideon said. “They may have them on, but they are unattached during the climb up or down, and that’s when a lot of our treestand falls happen.”

Gideon says that negotiating that transition safely requires the use of a special rope called a lifeline that is tied to the tree throughout the season.

“You attach your harness to it, and it uses a special knot called a Prusik knot that slides up and down, but locks down tight when it is yanked hard and keeps you safe,” Gideon said. “You install the lifeline above the stand when you’re setting it up, and that way you always have that extra point of contact with the tree from the time you leave the ground until you return at the end of your hunt.”

The Mayo Clinic estimates that one in three hunters who use tree stands will experience a fall sometime in their hunting career. The use of a safety harness when that occurs can be the difference between a moment of fright and a lifetime of injury, even death. 

Gideon says that fatalities have occurred from as little as 8 feet high, and most hunters go much higher than that.

“Jumping down from 10 feet is one thing, but falling unexpectedly is a different story,” Gideon said. “Plus, you often have a loaded firearm or bow with you that adds more danger to the situation. There’s really no excuse not to wear one, and when worn properly, you really forget that it’s there.” 

Gideon says most hunters probably overestimate the height they set their stands, with the majority of deer stands being set at roughly 12 to 15 feet off the ground, but he’s seen some that were extremely high. 

“You know, a lot of deer get killed by people in ground blinds, leaned up against the base of a tree or maybe brushed in a little on the ground — you don’t have to climb that high,” Gideon said. “Be still and monitor your scent; a lot of deer are taken that way.”

Gideon says it’s also important to remember that only 16 hunting incidents were reported last year, and only two of those were fatal. 

“We don’t take any injury or fatality lightly, but Arkansas had nearly 300,000 hunters in the woods last year, so the injury rate reported comes out to be eight one-thousandths of a percent,” Gideon said. “Golf, on the other hand, has nearly twice the injury rate, at 0.016 percent.”

Visit www.agfc.com/huntered for more information on hunting safety and a copy of the Fiscal Year 2026 Hunter Incident Report. 

– Arkansas Game and Fish Commission