Whitewater launches the FINESSE Hybrid Jacket, a technical midlayer featuring 120g Sorona Aura insulation, baffled construction, and optimized stretch fabric designed for anglers. The jacket combines thermal regulation with athletic mobility, DWR protection, Polygiene StayFresh odor management, and UPF 50+ sun protection, available in Vintage Camo and Black for $179.99.
Whitewater Fishing launches the Slipstream Bamboo Hoodie, a 70% bamboo viscose and 30% polyester blend engineered for fly fishing. The hoodie features flatlock seams, internal thumbholes, and natural UPF 15 protection, addressing durability issues of earlier bamboo apparel while offering moisture-wicking and antimicrobial properties.
Victory Archery introduces the VLR, a micro-diameter carbon shaft featuring proprietary MaxxKe™ carbon weave technology designed for bowhunters seeking extreme accuracy, minimal wind drift, and superior penetration in the field.
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is accepting nominations for its 2026 Commission Awards, recognizing Arizonans who have significantly contributed to wildlife conservation and outdoor heritage. Thirteen award categories are available, with a nomination deadline of August 12, 2026. Award recipients will be announced in September and honored at the Awards Banquet on January 16, 2027.
The National Bowhunter Education Foundation presented Bob Barnette with its International Instructor of the Year award at the IHEA-USA Conference in Glendale, AZ. Mathews supplied Barnette with a signed 2026 ARC bow. Barnette, a Texas bowhunter and educator, has certified hundreds of students and serves as a field operations coordinator for the Texas Wildlife Association's Youth Hunting Program.
A closure on the Flathead River near Sportsman's Bridge on MT 82 has been lifted after steel girder installation for the Sportsman's Bridge project was completed. The restriction that prohibited boating from 20 feet upstream to 500 feet downstream of the bridge is now in effect.
Four-time Olympic gold medalist Vincent Hancock set a new Men's Skeet world record by shooting a perfect 36 out of 36 targets in the finals at the ISSF World Cup Shotgun in Lonato, Italy, winning gold and defeating American Christian Elliott by one target.
Gunwerks and the Worldwide Trophy Adventures Outdoor Guardian Fund committed $109,000 to fully fund the Wild Sheep Foundation's Coming Home project, which will translocate approximately 100 California bighorn sheep from Oregon to British Columbia over two years, completing a significant North American conservation effort.
A 33-year-old Flint man tubing the Au Sable River through Roscommon was found in good condition after walking over 4.5 miles through the woods. Michigan DNR Conservation Officer Ben McAteer and South Branch Township Fire Chief Mike Umphrey located him at 11:15 p.m. after his family reported him missing. Campbell's Canoe, Kayak & Tubing Livery had rented the tubes for the outing.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is holding virtual workshops on July 14 and 16 to gather public input on proposed saltwater fishing regulations for cownose rays, including recreational and commercial bag limits. FWC staff will recommend final rules to the Commission in August based on feedback received.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks implements hoot-owl restrictions starting July 11 at 2 p.m. on the Sun River, Lower Madison River, Madison River above Hebgen Reservoir, and Lower Beaverhead River. Fishing is prohibited from 2 p.m. to midnight daily to protect fish during warm water temperatures that increase disease susceptibility.
The 2026 recreational bay scallop season in Pasco County opens July 10 through August 18 in state waters south of the Hernando-Pasco County line and north of Anclote Key Lighthouse. Harvesters must follow daily bag limits of two gallons whole scallops or one pint of meat per person, with vessel limits of 10 gallons or four pints per day. A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless exempt or wading from shore.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's School Fishing Program opens registration August 20 for Florida schools. The program provides curriculum on ethical angling, fish habitats, and conservation, with select schools receiving educational materials and equipment from partners including Coastal Conservation Association of Florida, Mud Hole Custom Tackle, Hobie Eyewear, and Flambeau Outdoors.
Magpul collaborated with Ruger, Vortex, Hornady, CCI, and Fix It Sticks for a 250 Years of Freedom Giveaway totaling $4,500 in firearms, optics, ammunition, and gear. The prize package includes two Ruger firearms, Vortex optics, ammunition, and extensive Magpul accessories. The giveaway ends July 31.
Michigan's DNR Hunt Fish app now offers digital kill tags for deer, bear, turkey, and furbearing species as a convenient alternative to traditional paper tags. Digital tags provide immediate access, easy harvest reporting, and work without cellular service, while paper licenses and tags remain available.
Warne, a premium scope mount and shooting accessories manufacturer based in Tualatin, Oregon, has expanded its partnership with Odle Sales to represent the brand across the western United States. Odle Sales will provide dealers with enhanced product expertise, faster communication, and personalized support throughout the region.
MidwayUSA promoted Josh Costello to Director of Merchandising – Shooting, where he will lead merchandising managers overseeing the company's Shooting division. Costello, a University of Missouri-Columbia graduate who joined MidwayUSA in 2002, brings extensive product expertise and passion for the shooting sports industry to the role.
MidwayUSA promoted Joe St. Clair to Director of Merchandising – Hunting & Outdoors. St. Clair joined MidwayUSA in 2011 and has managed multiple categories including Optics, Hunting, Archery, Fishing, and Blackpowder. He will now lead the Hunting & Outdoors division team.
MidwayUSA promoted Nate Hill to Director of Merchandising – Product Information after 16 years with the company. Hill will lead the product information division, supporting customer shopping experience and regulatory compliance. VP Merchandising Adam Augustine praised Hill's extensive background and enthusiasm for the outdoors.
Kinsey Brands is hiring a Director of Brands to oversee its consumer brand portfolio, manage multi-channel sales strategies, guide product development, and lead supply chain operations. The role requires strong analytical skills and experience managing relationships with mass merchants, distributors, and international accounts.
Kinsey's Inc., a leading outdoor sporting goods distributor headquartered in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, is hiring a Distribution Account Manager to manage 100-130 dealer accounts. The role combines sales, account management, and customer service with an emphasis on building dealer relationships and driving profitable growth.
Kinsey Brands is hiring a Procurement & Supply Chain Analyst to support its Consumer Brands Division. The role involves managing manufacturing procurement, supply chain planning, logistics coordination, and inventory management across Kinsey's portfolio of outdoor and hunting brands.
Michigan's DNR provides guidance on safe e-biking across its managed trails. Class 1 e-bikes are allowed on most DNR trails, Class 2 requires a permit for mobility use only, and Class 3 e-bikes are prohibited. Riders should know their e-bike's class, find appropriate trails among Michigan's 2,000 miles of bike-friendly paths, and follow trail etiquette.
Kent Cartridge introduces Southern Reserve™ Dove shotshells featuring proprietary Diamond Shot technology designed for consistent dove hunting performance. Available in 12ga, 20ga, 28ga, and .410 bore with balanced payloads and tuned velocities for dense, uniform patterns.
Evolution Outdoor unveiled new tackle storage solutions at ICAST 2026, including the Ballistix 3.5 Terminal Tackle Tray, Ballistix Jig Lockr 3.6, and Ballistix Jig Lockr 3.7. These rugged storage solutions feature corrosion protection and innovative designs for improved on-the-water organization.
Italian Firearms Group highlights how Italy's Banco Nazionale di Prova ensures quality through rigorous testing and verification. Manufacturers including Tanfoglio, Pedersoli, and F.A.I.R. combine national proofing requirements with extensive internal testing and craftsmanship to deliver firearms meeting the highest standards.
Steelhead Outdoors, founded by Charlie Pehrson and Corey Meyer, launched a stackable Vertical Door Handgun Locker designed for home use with law enforcement-style security. Made in Shakopee, MN, the locker features a high-security key lock and retails for $175 with free shipping to the lower 48 states.
Tac Shield introduced the Operator Sling, a minimalist two-point carry solution developed with input from Special Forces Veterans. The sling features the proprietary Tac Handle for no-look quick adjustments and maintains a low-profile design to reduce snag hazards while ensuring secure weapon retention.
Hoyt launches its exclusive Duck Camo Collection featuring bows with a unique pattern merging Georgia Clay, Wilderness, Tombstone, and Blackout colors over a Sandstorm base. The pattern, created through TWN Industries' water transfer printing technology, expands the popular duck camo trend beyond waterfowl hunting into lifestyle apparel and vehicles.
Charter Arms announced the new Walker Series, an ultra-compact rimfire revolver designed for concealed carry in .22 LR or .22 WMR with eight-round capacity. The lightweight aluminum-frame revolver features a concealed hammer, smooth double-action trigger, and is available in multiple finishes with MSRPs ranging from $461.72 to $486.16.
Bear OPS, the tactical division of Bear & Son Cutlery, unveiled the Nekema™ II everyday carry knife featuring a 3.5-inch Sandvik® 14C28N stainless steel blade and lightweight aluminum handle. Made in Jacksonville, Alabama, the knife is priced at $92.49–$97.49 and available in Black & Copper or Gray & Blue colorways.
SK Guns announces Julius Caesar as the third limited-edition firearm in its Conquerors Series, with only 200 Colt 1911 pistols chambered in .38 Super available. The custom pistol features detailed engravings depicting Caesar crossing the Rubicon and the conquest of Gaul, finished in Colt Royal Blue with 24k gold controls.
Silencer Central is offering triple reward points on BANISH suppressor purchases from July 13-17, 2026. Customers can redeem 1,000 points for $50 discounts, free shipping, or merchandise, with additional earning opportunities available through their rewards program.
The Wildcat Hills Shooting Complex will close July 18 for the Scotts Bluff County Fair Shooting Sports Competition. The facility at Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area south of Gering resumes regular operations July 19, open Thursday through Sunday until mid-November.
Bass Pro Shops will celebrate its new 130,000-square-foot Loveland, Colorado location with an Evening for Conservation on July 22, featuring legendary anglers Roland Martin, Jimmy Houston, Edwin Evers, Kevin VanDam, Jim and Eva Shockey, and Nate Zelinsky. The company will donate 15% of sales to local conservation organizations, with festivities including live entertainment, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and a 12,000-gallon aquarium.
Fish Monkey will exhibit its complete angler protection system at ICAST 2026, Booth #3229, featuring integrated gloves, face protection, headwear, and American-made performance socks designed for year-round fishing conditions and retail cross-selling opportunities.
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners met in Harrisburg to finalize elk management zones, approve land acquisitions across multiple counties, and authorize oil and gas agreements with SR1 Captura Sage Holdco I LLC, Snyder Brothers Inc., Laurel Mountain Energy LLC, and JKLM Energy LLC.
Fort Robinson State Park will host Creatures of the Night: Bats on July 17, a free family-friendly program in partnership with wildlife biologists from the Pine Ridge Ranger District on the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands. Attendees will learn about bat ecology and conservation efforts while observing bats in their natural habitat.
Eastern portions of Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area are closed during a campground improvement project funded by Capital Maintenance Funds and Nebraska Game and Parks fees. The project will add electrical campsites and a shower house to the eastern campground.
The High Road with Keith Warren premieres a new episode featuring exotic hunting at G2 Ranch in Pearsall, Texas. Keith Warren helps young hunter Bryson pursue an Axis buck using Longshot Target Cameras, then hunts a Gemsbok with a 50 BMG rifle equipped with a Vortex Razor Scope from Superior Outfitters.
The Cianciarulo family continues their 26th season of The Choice on Pursuit Channel from Cree River Lodge in Saskatchewan. Aubrey tagged her biggest black bear to date while Vicki pursues a large boar, with the episode airing Monday, July 13th at 11:30 PM EST.
Outdoor Channel welcomes back Sporting Classics with Chris Dorsey for Season 8, a cooperative effort between Sporting Classics magazine and Dorsey Pictures. Host Chris Dorsey travels globally showcasing high-end hunting and fishing experiences while emphasizing conservation's role, premiering Thursdays at 6 & 10 p.m. ET with nine new episodes.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission urges the public to report suspected screwworm or parasite cases in wildlife rather than attempting DIY treatments. State wildlife veterinarian Dr. Catherine Love explains that self-medicating wild animals can lead to ineffective dosing, parasite resistance, and legal violations, especially concerning the New World screwworm detected in south Texas.
Governor Mark Gordon is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to Wyoming's Executive Order 2019-3 Greater Sage Grouse Core Area Protection. Written comments will be accepted through July 30, as Wyoming continues its state-led sage-grouse conservation strategy.
Michigan's approximately 12,400 black bears actively forage during summer months. Campers in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula should store food in bear-resistant containers, maintain clean camps, avoid feeding bears, and use loud vocalizations if encountering wildlife. BearWise and Michigan.gov/Wildlife offer additional coexistence resources.
“A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.” – Gen. George S. Patton
You’ve probably seen videos or read articles on creating the perfect bugout or get-home bag. The idea behind both is to provide you with the basic needs of life until you can reach a safe haven. I have a bugout bag in my home because I live in a region of the country which is often pounded by hurricanes, so every May, I make sure the supplies inside it are ready to go in case my family needs to leave in a hurry.
The problem with most bugout bags and get-home bags, though, is that they assume you’ll have a few moments to collect your gear before you have to leave. While that may be true in the case of some natural disasters like hurricanes, it may not be true when it comes to man-made disasters like civil unrest. In those cases, what you have within arm’s reach will be what you use to deal with the problem and keep you going for the foreseeable future.
As an example, look at the freeway takeovers and other protests from a few years ago. You’re trapped in traffic. You have stopped cars all around you so you can’t move and suddenly, a car in front of you goes up in flames as a molotov cocktail is tossed in a window.
You have to leave your car and get away and you have to do it right now. No popping the trunk to grab your get-home bag. Just like a defensive encounter on the streets. The gear you have near you is the gear you’ll use to maintain your safety for maybe the next 24 hours.
Game on.
That’s why I have a “Forget Everything And Run” or FEAR bag with me in the cabin of my vehicle and not shoved into the trunk somewhere. The bag I’ve chosen (a Sentinel cross-body bag from Elite Survival Systems) looks like every other cross-body bag out there, but it has a large rear compartment that’s perfect for an iPad Mini…or a small raincoat…or a micro-compact pistol.
I take two things into consideration when it comes to what gear I have in a get-home or bugout bag: where I am, and what my priorities are.
This bag in particular will almost certainly be used exclusively in an urban/suburban environment, so my need for a fishing kit and makeshift shelter is pretty low. However, I do need to take the outdoor survival rule of threes into account when choosing my gear.
You can last:
Three minutes without oxygen
Three hours without shelter
Three days without water
Three weeks without food
That “three minutes without oxygen” includes things like being trapped in a car under water or traumatic blood loss, which is why I have a resqme window breaker tool in this bag as well as a tourniquet and other medical gear.
Urban and suburban areas are by definition built-up areas with plenty of buildings, so finding a haven from inclement weather isn’t on the top of my list, although I did add in enough cash for a night in a decent hotel so I can keep the “roughing it” part to a bare minimum.
Three days without water is another worry that’s not on the top of my list, for two reasons. The first is, this kit is designed to last 24 hours, not 72 hours. The second is, I’m in the city so plastic water bottles are everywhere. I’ve added a small water bottle holder that I can attach to my belt in case I need to bring hydration with me, but again, this kit isn’t for extended use in the great outdoors. Rather, it’s to get me to a place of relative safety and keep me there for one day until things settle down.
The other items in the kit reflect that. I have a battery to charge my phone and smartwatch, as well as the cords to connect everything together if there’s power. There’s a folding doorstop to help keep the room I’m in safe from unwanted intruders and a small Swiss Army knife serves as a multi-tool. I have a tactical flashlight and a spare battery for my pistol optic, but I usually don’t carry a firearm or ammunition in this bag. Those sorts of things are on my person instead.
I’ve had to spend a night sleeping in my car because a sudden change in the weather made further travel impossible and this kit is designed to help out in that kind of unfortunate situation…or keep me running if I get bumped from my flight and have to sleep in an airport somewhere (once I pull out all the naughty bits that TSA doesn’t like).
Preparing for a violent defensive encounter is a good thing, and more people really should do it. But we also need to keep in mind that there’s more than one way our normal daily routines can be thrown into chaos. Prepare accordingly.
