Beretta USA announced that its Beretta AX800 Suprema earned Top Range Performer of the Year and the Beretta 92G Elite LTT II, developed with Langdon Tactical Technology, received Competition Gun of the Year at the 2026 Industry Choice Awards.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department honored top partners and employees during its July Commission meeting in Sheridan. The Safari Club International Foundation and Wyoming Department of Transportation received the Excellence in Wildlife Conservation Award, while Black Hills Energy received the Industry Wildlife Stewardship Award. The Casper Region aquatic invasive species team prevented over 500,000 zebra mussels from entering Wyoming waters.
Heath Hampton, an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission game warden, received the 2026 Sgt. Monty Carmikle Game Warden of the Year award at the agency's Enforcement Awards banquet. Hampton, based in Sebastian County, was recognized for his exemplary work including 18 public events reaching 2,000 youth and a multi-state serial turkey poacher investigation.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recognized Donald McLellan of Oakland County for 40 years of volunteer instruction and Brandon Poel of Muskegon County as the 2025 Hunter Safety Education Instructor of the Year. Both volunteers have significantly contributed to Michigan's hunter safety education programs through their dedication and mentorship.
Outdoor Life selected TenPoint Crossbow Technologies' TX Ultra 29.5 as the 2026 Best Premium Crossbow. Scott Einsmann praised the crossbow for its accuracy, ergonomics, and ease of use. The TX Ultra 29.5 shoots up to 460 FPS and features new 8MM Axles, X-Wide Limbs, and ACUslide MAXX cocking technology.
Outdoor Life selected TenPoint Crossbow Technologies' Titan X De-Cock as the 2026 Best Value Crossbow at $799, also achieving the most accurate performance with a 1.4-inch group average, outperforming the Ravin R10X Pro and Excalibur Rev X TD in testing.
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.
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.
Iowa DNR Fish Culture Research Biologist Alan Johnson received the Midwest Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA) Fisheries Biologist of the Year award for his decades of research advancing fish culture science and conservation. Based at Rathbun Fish Hatchery, Johnson's technical breakthroughs in walleye culture have shaped modern warm and coolwater fish culture practices.
Sgt. Steve Griebel of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources received the Association of Midwest Fish and Game Law Enforcement's Officer of the Year award for Iowa. Griebel serves as field training officer, mentors conservation officers, and provides expertise on hunting regulations, curriculum development, and timber enforcement.
Dave Roberts of MWS Associates, Inc. has been named 2026 Sales Rep of the Year by TenPoint Crossbow Technologies for exceptional performance in driving sales growth and expanding brand presence across Texas and Oklahoma. The award recognizes his consistent execution in strengthening dealer relationships and recruiting new accounts.
The Alabama Turkey Hunters Hall of Fame inducted its third class, including Bob Walker of Livingston and Corky Pugh of Montgomery, along with posthumous honorees Ben Ezelle, Doug Camp, and Ken Tucker. The ceremony took place at the Mobile Convention Center during the World Championship Turkey Calling Contest.
Murray Road Agency, a Charleston-based strategic marketing firm serving the outdoor industry, has been named a Marketing Firm Regional Winner in the 2026 Best of South Carolina awards presented by The Guide to South Carolina. CEO Tim Brandt highlighted the recognition reflects their client relationships and team's commitment to helping outdoor brands connect authentically with audiences.
Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois and his series "Duck Camp Dinners" received a James Beard Foundation Award in the Lifestyle Broadcast Media category. The show, now in Season 4 on MyOutdoorTV and Outdoor Channel, explores Louisiana's wetlands and Cajun culinary traditions.
Winchester Ammunition received the Industry Partner of the Year Award from the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) U.S.A. for supporting the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks and the Mississippi Scholastic Shooting Program through employee volunteer efforts.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission received the Commission/Board of the Year Award from the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Deputy Chief of Fisheries Dave Zafft won Professional of the Year, and Federal Aid Coordinator Christina Maleesa received Outstanding WAFWA Contributor of the Year for her grant writing work.
CZ presented its inaugural Breakthrough Awards to Davidson's and Ann Arbor Arms during a gala at the company's 90th Anniversary Celebration in Prague. Davidson's received the distributor award and Ann Arbor Arms the retail award, both recognized for exceptional growth, partnership commitment, and brand advancement.
Jeff Crane, President and CEO of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, received the National Wildlife Federation's Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of wildlife conservation leadership. Crane played a pivotal role in advancing landmark legislation including the Great American Outdoors Act and the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act.
The Wild Sheep Foundation and International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation are accepting nominations for the biennial Markhor Award, with a deadline of August 14, 2026. The award recognizes outstanding conservation initiatives that integrate sustainable use, particularly hunting, to conserve biodiversity and support local livelihoods.
Wildlife for Tomorrow announced the 2026 Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame inductees: Leland "Bill" Brake, Mark Hullinger, James Marquardt (posthumously), John Millican, and the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory. The 28th Annual Banquet will be held August 22, 2026, at The Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park.