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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2020

- TOP STORY -
On Friday NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi issued this statement: “Due to the recent rise in COVID-19 cases throughout the world, NSSF, the firearm industry trade association, today makes the difficult announcement that the 2021 SHOT Show has been cancelled."
- BOATING -
From November 1 through April 30, boaters are required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket at all times while underway or at anchor on boats less than 16 feet in length or on any kayak, canoe, or paddleboard.
- COMPETITION -
Zeke Gossett and Lucas Smith, of Alabama's Jacksonville State University, were honored as the 2020 Bassmaster College Series Team of the Year before the Carhartt Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.
Cole Sands and Conner Dimauro, from Tennessee's Bryan College, won the 2020 Carhartt Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops with a three-day total of 84 pounds, 12 ounces.
Matthew Robertson, of Kuttawa, Ky., has won the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open at Cherokee Lake with a three-day total of 40 pounds, 12 ounces.

- CONSERVATION -
Conservationists say moving water south from Lake Okeechobee to the Everglades in the early dry season (December through February) allows more capacity in the lake for rainfall in the wet season (June through November), eliminating the need for harmful discharges to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie watersheds.
- EVENTS -
For the past 41 years, nothing stopped the largest, longest-running annual gathering of deer researchers in the nation, the Southeast Deer Study Group (SEDSG) meeting, until COVID-19. But QDMA and NDA are stepping up to ensure this important event stays alive in 2021 by hosting it as a virtual conference, February 23-24, 2021.
- INDUSTRY -
RSR Group, Inc. announced the addition of Christensen Arms to its product assortment. Christensen Arms manufactures lightweight, precise, and accurate firearms including bolt action rifles, modern sporting rifles and modern sporting pistols.
Sellmark Corporation supported a charity auction that netted $9,025.00 that will directly benefit the Texas Game Warden Association.

SIG SAUER, Inc. announces the donation of $500,000 to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) to support the important work the NSSF is doing on behalf of the entire shooting, hunting, and outdoor industry.
- JOBS -
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Managing Director of Marketing.
- LEGISLATION -
The America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (ACE Act) reauthorizes the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) and codifies the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP), two of the most successful voluntary conservation efforts in the nation. The law also reauthorizes the Chesapeake Bay Program and creates funding authorizations for other crucial conservation programs.
- NEW PRODUCTS -
Rival Arms expands offerings to the precision long-range shooter with its introduction of the new adjustable ST-3X Precision Rifle Stock.

- NOW STREAMING -
This week on LUND Ultimate Fishing Experience we join pro staffer Troy Peterson along with his friend Dan Swatek in central Wisconsin as they seek out mid-summer bluegill.
- ONLINE -
FN America, LLC announced its Forged from Freedom campaign honoring veterans of the U.S. military. The campaign, ending on November 11, Veteran’s Day, features a six-part video series that explores FN’s deeply rooted connection to the U.S. military and its veterans through the voices of its veteran employees and customers.
Davidson’s, a firearms wholesaler, is announcing a series of live broadcast events airing January 4 through January 8, 2021.It will be an ongoing effort to bring the latest news, promotions, and industry knowledge to both their dealer network as well as the vast Gallery of Guns’ consumer base.
- ORGANIZATIONS -
Saying they ordinarily focus on Ohio races, the Buckeye Firearms Association PAC has endorsed Donald Trump for president based on the Democratic Party’s platform on guns.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation this week announced the promotion of two employees as well as the opening of a key staff position. Shane Cronk, vice president of finance and accounting, accepted a promotion to chief financial officer (CFO). Steve Decker, vice president of marketing, accepted a promotion to the newly established position of chief revenue officer (CRO). As a result of Decker’s promotion, the RMEF is actively seeking to fill the managing director of marketing position.
- PUBLISHING -
In the November issue of Shooting Industry, an industry insider shares how a “light-bulb” moment can convert first-time gun owners into educated gun owners; a top priority for the industry at large.
- RADIO -
Northwestern Outdoors Radio will profile the Warriors and Quiet Waters Foundation in this week’s edition. The Bozeman, Montana, based non-profit brings post 9/11 veterans to their ranch to learn all about fly fishing.
- RETAIL -
The patent pending TrueTimber AirPack™ inflatable ground blind is now available for purchase in two size configurations at TrueTimber.com. The air beam construction gives hunters a smarter, faster and wildly more efficient option compared to traditional ground blind technology.

- STATE PARKS -
A prescribed burn is planned at Gulf State Park as part of a forest management plan associated with longleaf pine restoration, fuel reduction and invasive species control. The planned burn will take place in the Eagle Loop section of the park near Lake Shelby during November 2020, weather permitting.
- STATES -
The Vernon Parish Game and Fish Commission and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries have scheduled a public meeting to discuss future drawdowns of Anacoco Lake and fisheries management of both Anacoco and Vernon Lake.
Calling eelgrass “critical for ocean and human health,” California Secretary of Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot said state officials will continue to do all they can to restore and enhance this vital marine plant throughout the state.
Fishing in the tidal channels downstream of the mouths of Gorst and Chico creeks can lead to disorderly fishery activity such as illegal snagging, particularly during times of adult salmon returns to the streams, says Washington's DFW.

With deer becoming increasingly active, and daylight-saving time soon putting more vehicles on the road during the hours when deer move most, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is advising motorists to slow down and stay alert.
Despite an increased effort to mitigate the impact of feral hogs in Alabama, the hog population shows no indication of decline.
United States congressmen French Hill and Bruce Westerman met with representatives from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and Ducks Unlimited under an overcast sky at Henry Gray Hurricane Lake Wildlife Management Area on Tuesday to talk about the future of green timber duck hunting in The Natural State.
The fall migration is on, and drivers, particularly those out at dawn and dusk, would be wise to exercise these cautions.

Hunters and anglers who are looking for a place to hunt or fish on wildlife management areas and other public lands in the Mountain State are encouraged to use an interactive map provided by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.
Volunteers will help collect traps in the field, unload traps at the dock, and count traps as they are unloaded.
- TELEVISION -
This week on "The High Road with Keith Warren”, Keith is heading back to Legends Ranch with two very special things in his life: his son, Kolton, who is a Captain in the Air Force, and his .50 BMG.
The competition is hot on Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour on World Fishing Network, Mondays at 8 p.m. ET. Ten anglers are competing for $100,000 on Lake Chickamagua in Dayton Tennessee.
MeatEater with Steven Rinella has been a perennial favorite with Outdoor Sportsman Group viewers since its debut nine years ago.  MeatEater Season 8 premieres tonight on Outdoor Channel at 8 p.m. ET and on November 8 on Sportsman Channel at 9 p.m. ET.
- TRAINING -
The Oak Ridge Sportsmen’s Association High Power community in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, hosted a CMP Rifle Clinic this past September, with a near record of 27 participants. The coaches were excited to see such a large percentage of first-time attendees, young and old, electing to shoot the M1/M1A Series rifle.
- WASHINGTON -
With Friday’s enactment of the America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act, the 116th Congress was solidified as one of the most productive for conservation and sportsmen and women in a lifetime.
The Association, along with the nation’s hunters, anglers, conservationists, and outdoor enthusiasts of every kind, celebrated the President’s signing of the most important fish and wildlife legislation enacted this congressional session, S. 3051, the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (ACE Act).
On Friday, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt took the last step necessary to formally establish Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park as the 422nd park to join the National Park System and the fourth new park created by the Trump Administration.
 

With Friday’s announcement from the National Shooting Sports Foundation that SHOT 2021 was officially cancelled, the initial reactions from many in the industry seemed pretty ho-hum. After all, virtually every industry event of substance before and immediately after SHOT had already been cancelled. For many, it was already a foregone conclusion they weren’t going to be in Las Vegas in January.

That didn’t mean the disappointment wasn’t palatable for some.

In a brief conversation with Chris Dolnack, NSSF’s Senior VP charged with running SHOT, he summed it up pretty succinctly: “it’s a bitter pill, but there really isn’t any alternative. It’s the right decision.”

He had just finished a video call with his staff breaking the news to them that the board had decided cancellation was the only rational decision. They were simply out of time to wait any longer.

After Nevada officials decided not to revise the guidelines for gatherings in Las Vegas, there simply was no other answer. With COVID-19 cases trending upward in Nevada, the Dakotas and across the west, there was no way the governor was going to relent on relaxing the restrictions.

In our conversation, Dolnack expressed his concerns for the workers in Las Vegas he’s come to know from his role with NSSF/SHOT.

As he pointed out, Las Vegas is suffering more than most places. With so many workers unemployed because of the unprecedented curtailment of operations, Dolnack admitted he’d hoped SHOT would help reverse a tough trend. Unfortunately, for Dolnack, his staff, and the workers in Las Vegas, SHOT won’t be the first major event to return in 2021.

Later in the day, SIG SAUER became the first company to step up in support of the NSSF, pledging a major donation to support the NSSF’s ongoing work.

“It’s disappointing that we will not be able to gather as an industry in 2021 at SHOT Show,” said Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive VP of Commercial Sales for SIG.

“All of us at SIG SAUER are thankful for their continued efforts…SIG is pleased to announce a $500,000 donation to support the NSSF’s ongoing work in education, safety initiatives, compliance and security resources, import/export guidance, consumer activation initiatives, governmental relations and operational needs for 2021.”

Hopefully, other companies will recognize the gap in funding caused by the cancellation of SHOT Show 2021 and step up. For many, “stepping up” won’t mean anything more than simply becoming an NSSF member. In the crazy year that has been 2020, the NSSF has stepped into the gap left by other pro-gun groups with their own share of “issues.”

The Archery Trade Association’s moving forward with plans for their ATA Show Online.

Meanwhile, the Archery Trade Association’s moving forward on plans for their ATA Online 2021 event. It’s scheduled to take place January 11-15, 2021. And, no, it’s not a typo.

ATA has moved the dates by a week. The ability to move dates so easily is certainly one plus for a virtual event.

ATA promises they’ll have an event that offers “commerce, innovation, and opportunities to connect” despite the inability to “touch new products and meet in-person.”

The virtual event will be open to all ATA members No registration necessary. Access, we’re told, will come via the member’s dashboard at MyATA. We’re told that members should log in in advance to make certain their dues are current, and their dashboard correctly configured.

Once the show begins, they’ll able to look at digital content from “exhibitors.” Their content will include online profiles that include product showcases, videos, press releases, and those all-important 2021 ATA Show specials.

There will be a number of free education sessions, in addition to a virtual Archery Industry Masterclass. It’s a $79 educational opportunity covering four tracks: business, coaching, marketing and archery tech.

While I’m one of those firm believers in the value of trade events, I’m also one of those people who’s intrigued at the prospects of being able to “attend” training sessions after an event ends. With SHOT, there simply aren’t enough hours to get to everything associated with the actual show. With virtual events, the educational opportunities are there after the event ends.

That may be a virtual benefit with tangible results. We’re all learning how this works, and as we progress, as always, we’ll keep you posted.

—Jim Shepherd

Editor’s Note: Read NSSF President & CEO Joe Bartozzi’s full statement regarding the SHOT Show 2021 cancellation here.

 
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