The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation announced new board leadership with Todd Walker as chair, AshLee Strong as vice chair, and five new members including Mark Baker, John Green, Ike Eastman, Will Primos, and Adam Weatherby. The 16-member board from 11 states leads RMEF's conservation efforts for elk, wildlife habitat, and hunting heritage.
IHEA-USA released its 2025 Annual Report highlighting expanded partnerships with state agencies, industry manufacturers, NASP, and USAA. The organization launched new technology tools including StateView Dashboards, PUP AI Education Assistant, and PathPerks with Guidefitter, while establishing the EduTech Catalyst Fund to support hunter education and shooting sports instruction nationwide.
HeadHunters NW completed an executive search resulting in Dr. Todd Adkins' appointment as Executive Director of the Oregon Hunters Association. Dr. Adkins brings 30 years of hunting and conservation experience, including previous roles at Sportsmen's Alliance and the NRA-ILA, and will lead OHA's transformation and growth.
Camp Woodie, the South Carolina Waterfowl Association's flagship youth summer camp, is adding a multi-lane climbing tower, waterslides, and swimming enhancements for 2026. The camp has also expanded staffing with new Camp Care Specialists, Activity Experts, and Lead Facilitators to enhance camper experiences and safety.
The Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports announced that the R3 License Data Dashboard will not be maintained for 2026 following the completion of its development funding. The public tool provided free visualizations of hunting and fishing license purchase trends to support Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation efforts.
Wildlife Forever announces Brandon Helm's hire as invasive species project manager. Helm will partner with stakeholders to promote the Clean Drain Dry Initiative and combat invasive species spread. He previously worked with the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Knife Rights achieved significant legislative victories in 2025 across multiple states, including knife law preemption bills in Ohio, Arkansas, and Idaho, switchblade ban repeals in Hawaii, Vermont, and Delaware, and debanking protection for the knife industry in Idaho. The organization also successfully amended bills in Washington and North Carolina while continuing federal litigation challenging switchblade bans in California and Minnesota.
Knife Rights criticizes the Trump administration's Department of Justice for defending the Federal Switchblade Act in court, arguing the DOJ's response brief contradicts claimed Second Amendment support. Attorney John Dillon states the government's arguments are baseless, and Knife Rights plans to file a final brief early next year while seeking donations to continue the legal fight.
The NRA Foundation achieved record assets in 2025, reflecting disciplined stewardship and commitment to its charitable mission. Under Executive Director Peter Churchbourne's leadership, the Foundation continued funding hundreds of programs nationwide supporting marksmanship training, hunting, and youth shooting sports while maintaining strong governance and financial management.
With state legislative sessions for 2026 on the horizon, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has revealed the slate of state legislators who will serve as an advisory entity for CSF staff in their administration of the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) in the coming year through their election to the NASC Executive Council.
Mr. and Mrs. Bourbon was founded in 2018 by Russ Smith and Cecy Linzey. Russ, who has a background in professional basketball, spent years mentoring and shadowing in the bourbon industry. He worked with some of the biggest master distillers in Kentucky.
Last week, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) hosted the 22nd Annual NASC SportsmanLegislator Summit in Memphis, Tennessee. The NASC Sportsman-Legislator Summit is the premier annual gathering for state legislative sportsmen’s caucus members and partners from across the country.
The National Rifle Association reminds students nationwide that applications for the 2026 NRA Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) are due in less than one month. This prestigious, all-expense-paid, six-day leadership and scholarship program for rising high school juniors and seniors will take place July 21–26, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
Derya Arms announced a new partnership with the MidwayUSA Foundation. As part of this partnership, Derya Arms is donating a selection of firearms and accessories, including .22LR rifles, various DY9 pistols, and a special edition hand-engraved pistol.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) are celebrating a decade of successful partnership in Colorado by announcing a 10-year renewal of a landmark statewide stewardship agreement.
The U.S. Senate took the final step on legislation requiring federal agencies that manage fresh waters to digitize and pool their regulatory data into a consistent mapping format, allowing the American public to confidently access and enjoy our nation’s public waters. H.R. 187, the Modernizing Access to Public Waters Act (MAPWaters Act), led in the House by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) members, passed the Senate and now heads to the President’s desk to become law.
The Boone and Crockett Club announced that Mary L. Webster was elected as the Club’s 38th president during the organization’s 137th annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, last week. She is the first woman to serve in this position since the Club’s inception in 1887. Ms. Webster follows in the footsteps of her late husband, Paul D. Webster, who served as the Club’s 24th president from 1995 to 1997.
The Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) announces the appointment of Stephanie Spika Hickey as its new Executive Director. In her new role, Spika Hickey will lead POMA’s strategic vision to champion excellence in outdoor storytelling, strengthen relationships between media professionals and industry partners.
Now, turkey hunters have a clear and unobstructed route to make a difference. TFT’s “Fly Down Committee” has officially landed, and it’s quickly changing how thousands of turkey hunters throughout the nation contribute their concerns, ideas, and expertise.
Located in the heart of Michigan’s elk range, the Pigeon River Country State Forest in the state’s Lower Peninsula now includes an additional 8,850 acres, thanks to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s contribution of funds for a recent land acquisition by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).