Yamaha's U.S. Marine Business Unit received multiple prestigious awards at the 2026 Miami International Boat Show, including Boating Magazine's Boat of the Year for the CrossWave WaveRunner, NMMA Innovation Award, and Neptune Awards from Marine Marketers of America for marketing excellence. Yamaha also earned NMMA CSI Awards for customer satisfaction across multiple categories including Outboard Engine, Sport Boats, Personal Watercraft, and its boat companies Skeeter and G3 Boats.

GunsAmerica announced its 2026 Best of SHOT Show Industry Impact Awards, recognizing products positioned to influence dealer orders and consumer demand. Winners include the Henry SPD Predator Lever Action for Best Rifle, Mossberg 990 SPX for Best Shotgun, and Seekins Precision SIC for Best Firearm Overall, among other categories.

Muddy Outdoors received a 2026 Gold Award in the Climbing Stick category from Bowhunting World magazine readers. The award recognizes Muddy's innovative climbing sticks and systems, including the Pro Sticks, for their design, durability, and ease of use trusted by hunters.

Spartan Precision Equipment's Springbok Tripod has received the NRA Golden Bullseye Award for Gear of the Year. The tripod features innovative silicone technology enabling rapid deployment from prone to standing positions and includes a MagnaSwitch quick-detach system for hunters in demanding environments.

Springfield Armory's Kuna 9mm pistol has earned an Editors' Choice Award from On Target magazine for being selected as a best new product for 2025. The PDW-style pistol features a roller-delayed operating system, ambidextrous controls, and is priced at $1,179 to $1,330 depending on configuration.

Team Remington achieved strong results at Jack Link's Cup in Okeechobee, Florida, with Todd Hitch finishing second in the Main Event Over All. Michael Luongo won the High Over All in the 12 Gauge event, while Brandon Powell claimed multiple podium finishes including a win in the Make-A-Break event sponsored by Remington Ammunition.

NSSF celebrates the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's announcement that nearly $1.3 billion is being delivered to state conservation and wildlife programs, with $804.8 million sourced from firearm and ammunition excise taxes paid by manufacturers under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act.

The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and the National Rifle Association filed an amicus brief with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania supporting SIG SAUER's motion to protect gun owners' privacy in Hall v. Sig Sauer, Inc., opposing forced disclosure of customer identities in civil litigation discovery.

Gun Owners of America (GOA) announces GEAR, a two-day outdoor summit combining firearms training and overlanding experiences at Merus Adventure Park in Texas on April 25–26, 2026. The event features live-fire training, guided trail runs, and family activities across 5,500 acres, designed for freedom-minded Americans seeking hands-on skill-building and community connection.

The Dallas Safari Club's 2026 Convention & Sporting Expo in Atlanta drew attendees from 43 countries and all 50 U.S. states, featuring nearly 700 exhibitors and keynote speaker Shane Mahoney. Georgia Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Walter Rabon received the DSC Conservation Trailblazer Award, while newly installed CEO Russell Stacy highlighted the event's success and announced future conventions in Atlanta and Texas.

Whitetails Unlimited granted $184,916 to mission-related projects in Mississippi through 19 state chapters, supporting outdoor education, habitat enhancement, and hunting and shooting sports preservation. The organization's Preserving the Hunting Tradition Program provides grants to increase access and opportunity for veterans and youth hunters.

The 2026 spring wild turkey lottery has been held with more than 1,600 licenses remaining across 12 units in North Dakota. Remaining licenses will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis beginning February 25 at 8 a.m. Central time through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) and North American Lead Free Partnership (NALP) are hosting three free lead-free ammunition demonstrations on February 22, April 11, and April 25 at Ben Avery Shooting Facility. Expert presentations will cover biological impacts of lead ammunition and ballistics performance, followed by demonstrations comparing copper and lead-based ammunition.

North Dakota's spring light goose conservation order runs February 21 through May 10. Residents and nonresidents need appropriate licenses and electronic waterfowl restoration stamps. The order applies only to light geese—snows, blues, and Ross's—with species identification important to avoid protected geese.

C&H Precision released new Gen 6 MIL/LEO Optic Adapter Plates for Glock Gen 6 MOS platforms, precision machined from 6061 aluminum with MIL-SPEC Type III hard anodizing. The adapter plates support multiple optics footprints including C&H EDC, Holosun 407K/507K, SIG Romeo 0, and Vortex Defender-CCW, with pricing starting at $69.99.

Colorado fishing guide Landon Mayer is featured in episode 23 of the Fly Fisherman Loop to Loop podcast, discussing sight-fishing techniques, river etiquette, and his Clean the Dream project. The podcast, in partnership with Patagonia, G. Loomis, Mayfly Outdoors, and Cigars International, is available on Apple Podcast, YouTube, Spotify, and FlyFisherman.com.

Range USA President Tom Willingham appeared on The Connecting with Conservation Podcast hosted by Jon Gassett of Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation to discuss recreational target shooting growth. Range USA operates 50 indoor shooting range locations across 14 states, welcoming over three million customers annually.

The Houston Safari Club Foundation announces Tanner Tripp, founder of Wild Giants Conservation Fund and Wild Giants Caucasus, as the featured guest on its Hunting Matters podcast. Tripp discusses integrating keystone species restoration, breeding programs, eco-tourism, and regulated hunting to create sustainable conservation systems in the United States and Caucasus region.

Chiappa USA highlights the Honcho Pump Series, American-made 12-gauge and 20-gauge pump-action shotguns manufactured in Dayton, Ohio for home defense and tactical applications. The lineup includes three models: Honcho Tactical Pump Synthetic, Honcho Tactical Pump Walnut, and Honcho Tactical Pump California Model, all featuring aluminum receivers, steel barrels, and bird's head grips.

Patriot Ordnance Factory Inc. (POF-USA), in partnership with Patriot Tactical LLC and Goldberg's Garage, released the Goldberg Blade, a limited-edition folding knife featuring custom CGC Cerakote artwork and designed as a companion to POF-USA's Rogue Jackhammer Signature Series rifle. Limited to 300 units with an MSRP of $300.

BANISH Suppressors announced the release of the BANISH 20 and BANISH 410 shotgun suppressors, expanding their hearing-safe firearm suppressor line. Both models feature interchangeable chokes, adaptive mounts, and are made from titanium using additive manufacturing, with the BANISH 20 weighing 14.7 ounces and the BANISH 410 weighing 7.2 ounces.

Hook & Barrel Magazine announces its March/April 2026 issue featuring Emmy Award-winning host Steve Harvey on the cover, where he reflects on his journey and passion for fishing. The issue includes content on 49 Winchester, fly-fishing in the Amazon, professional lumberjacking, and outdoor adventurer Kristy Titus.

European American Armory Corporation will showcase its 2026 handgun and long-gun lineup at the Sports Inc Outdoor Show in Phoenix, AZ, February 18-20. EAA will feature new 1911 double stack models, CMX 9mm, CMXX 10mm, and Balikli firearms shotguns and rifles at Booth 205, with Sales Director Chase Duffey available to discuss show incentives.

KI Crossbows will exhibit at the 2026 Sports, Inc. February Outdoor Show in Phoenix, Arizona, February 18th-20th, showcasing its new lineup of fully decockable Killer Instinct™ crossbows and cutting-edge technology for hunters and independent retailers.

Outdoor Cap will showcase exclusive specials and a Patch Experience for Sports, Inc. members at the 2026 Sports Inc. Show in Phoenix at Booths #1733/#1735. National Sales Manager Joseph Smith highlighted the partnership and new seasonal headwear designs for outdoor and lifestyle retailers.

MaxCam, owned by MaxView Optics, will exhibit at the 2026 Sports, Inc. February Outdoor Show in Phoenix, Arizona, February 18-20. The company will showcase the MaxCam7 rugged point-of-view camera and accessories, marking the first Sports, Inc. show under new ownership and branding, formerly known as Tactacam.

Kinetic Development Group will participate in the Sports, Inc. Vendor Consideration Event in Phoenix, Arizona, February 18–20, with a booth visit on Thursday, February 12, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The event provides manufacturers and retailers an opportunity to connect and explore partnership opportunities for innovative, American-made firearm accessories.

D&M Holding Company will showcase its ammunition, primer, and propellant manufacturing solutions at IWA Outdoor Classics 2026 in Nuremberg, Germany. The company recently announced partnerships with Ukrainian Defense Industry and DEMCO Holding Company for propellant and primer facility projects supporting defense industrialization efforts.

Fort Kearny State Recreation Area's south bridge on the hike-bike trail has reopened following improvements including new decking, railings, and eight viewing platforms. The project, funded by a $250,000 federal Recreational Trails Program grant and Nebraska Game and Parks' Capital Maintenance Funds, enhances safety and viewing opportunities for sandhill crane migration observers.

Shooting USA covers SHOT Show 2026 at the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas, featuring new products across all categories from manufacturers. The episode airs Wednesday at 9:00 PM ET/PT on Outdoor Channel and The Sportsman Canada Channel.

MyOutdoorTV announces its first streaming Live Hunt event on February 18 at 3:30p ET, featuring Michael Waddell and friends competing in a squirrel-hunting tournament. The event marks a new content category for the platform, offering viewers immediate outdoor experiences and learning opportunities.

Fox Hollow Outdoors, a new outdoor adventure series created by Michael Letchworth, debuts on Waypoint TV every Tuesday at 9:30 PM ET. The show celebrates outdoor heritage and family lifestyle through fishing and adventure content, featuring expert tips and conservation values from the Eastern North Carolina-based lifestyle brand.

A new episode of Deer & Wildlife Stories with Keith Warren examines CWD management in Pennsylvania, featuring exclusive interviews with deer farmer Stacey Fry at Book Whitetails and exploring the Pennsylvania CWD Interagency Task Force's controversial regulations affecting the state's deer farming and hunting industries.

It won’t surprise most U.S. coastal anglers that the number of shark bites went up again in 2025, after an unusually quiet 2024, according to data from the International Shark Attack File, maintained by the Florida Museum of Natural History. Researchers documented 65 unprovoked bites worldwide last year, slightly below the 10-year average of 72. Nine of those incidents were fatal, compared with a long-term annual average of six.

The United States again recorded more shark bites than any other nation, but its share of global incidents surprisingly declined. U.S. waters accounted for 38 percent of all unprovoked bites in 2025, down from more than 50 percent annually since 2019.

Twenty-five unprovoked shark bites were reported in U.S. waters in 2025, with one fatality. Florida again led the nation with 11 bites, well below its recent five-year average of 18. Volusia County recorded six incidents, down from a 10-year average of nine and far below the 17 bites reported there in 2021. The area is a favorite spot for surfers—and also a favorite spot for young sharks to feed on mullet and other baitfish.

Several highly publicized incidents along the U.S. East Coast in June drew national attention, including serious injuries to juveniles in Florida and South Carolina and a minor bite in New York. The lone U.S. fatality occurred in central California, where a 55-year-old triathlete was killed by a white shark while swimming in Monterey Bay.

Australia followed the United States with 21 unprovoked bites in 2025, well above its recent five-year average of 13. Australia also accounted for five of the world’s nine fatalities. Researchers note that Australia’s extensive overlap with white, tiger, and bull sharks increases the likelihood of severe injuries, though rapid emergency response is credited with limiting fatalities.

Additional incidents were recorded in the Bahamas, New Zealand, Mozambique, Samoa, the Canary Islands, Canada, and Puerto Rico. One fatal attack in South Africa marked the first confirmed case involving a dusky shark during the annual sardine run, when predators and prey concentrate in shallow coastal waters.

Despite year-to-year variability, long-term trends remain stable. Ten-, 20-, and 30-year averages for unprovoked bites differ by only four incidents, and fatalities have averaged six per year across all three periods. At the same time, many shark populations remain well below historical levels due to overfishing, with roughly 30 percent of species considered endangered.

In U.S. waters, though, virtually all offshore anglers report shark numbers have dramatically increased after decades of protection from commercial harvest—most shark harvest ended here in 2000. Even though most shark species are slow at reproduction, total protection has brought them back strongly, and now in many areas reef fishermen complain they can’t get a grouper or a snapper in the boat without a shark taking a chunk out of it. Tarpon anglers at the major west coast passes deal with the same malady.

The apparent contradiction—recovering shark populations alongside fewer reported human bites in U.S. waters—likely reflects ecological and behavioral factors rather than changes in shark temperament. Many of the species showing recovery are increasing first at juvenile stages. Juvenile sharks feed on smaller prey, occupy more restricted habitats, and are less likely to inflict serious injuries that result in formal reports.

Our behavior has also changed. After several high-profile bite years earlier in the decade, many coastal communities expanded drone surveillance, improved real-time alert systems, and closed beaches more quickly when sharks were spotted. Swimmers and surfers appear more responsive to warnings, shortening exposure time during periods of elevated risk.

And now, everybody is connected—news of a shark bite travels very rapidly, and most swimmers stay clear of areas that are at risk, often during times of seasonal migrations or baitfish swarming.

Participation in higher-risk activities may also fluctuate. Surfers, spear fishers, and offshore swimmers account for a disproportionate share of reported bites—but word of that risk is now widely known: more people avoid risky behavior, even though there are more of us visiting the coasts. (On the other hand, some tropic islands offer shark dives that, surprisingly, only rarely have divers coming up with fewer hands and feet than they went down with.)

Researchers continue to emphasize that the risk of a shark bite remains extremely low compared with other coastal hazards. You’re a lot more likely to step on a sting ray than get bitten by a shark.

Standard safety guidance remains unchanged: avoid swimming at dawn and dusk, avoid swimming outside the bar, avoid swimming around the passes, and if you see sharks, stay out of the water. Swimming anywhere fish are cleaned and the carcasses thrown in the water—common at many coastal marinas—is another obvious no-no. And the idea that sharks just want to be our friends and are happy to have us swim and dive in close contact with them—that’s not going to make your insurance company happy.

Follow basic precautions and no matter if you’re the saltiest dog on the beach, your odds of ever becoming a shark bite statistic are way lower than getting hit by lightening.

– Frank Sargeant
Frankmako1@gmail.com