Maddox, a Boone and Crockett Club Professional Member, supports the review’s focus on hands-on habitat management, field-based staff and the role of hunting and fishing in the Refuge mission
Sioux Falls, South Dakota — Silencer Central founder and CEO Brandon Maddox commends the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for its Refuge Review, a comprehensive look at how the National Wildlife Refuge System is managed, and backs the direction it sets for the system's future. Maddox, a Boone and Crockett Club Professional Member, was on hand Friday, Nov. 6, when Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik announced the review's results at Audubon National Wildlife Refuge, north of Bismarck, N.D. He attended alongside past Boone and Crockett Club President James Cummins.
The review reflects a significant effort, drawing on staff surveys, site visits and consultation with Fish and Wildlife Service staff and outside partners. Its recommendations refocus the Refuge System on active, hands-on habitat management, including grazing, agriculture and forestry that advance conservation objectives.
"The Fish and Wildlife Service put real work into this review, and it shows," said Maddox. "The Refuge Review lays out a clear, disciplined plan for stewardship. It gets people out of offices and into the field, manages habitat with a hands-on approach and makes sure refuge plans don't just get written; they get done. That's the right direction for land, water and wildlife, and for the people who enjoy them today and for generations to come."
Maddox pointed to several of the review's recommendations, including:
- Moving staff from offices to the field and building a broader mix of skills on the ground
- Adding accountability so refuge plans are clear, completed and executed
- Providing regular training on the role of hunting and fishing in the Refuge mission
- Strengthening work with neighboring landowners and private partners, including guiding the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program from within the Refuge System and dedicating staff to work directly with partner groups
"I'm especially encouraged to see the review reaffirm hunting and fishing as part of the Refuge mission," said Maddox. "The review also recognizes that what happens around a refuge matters as much as what happens inside its boundaries. Working hand in hand with neighboring landowners and private partners is how conservation gets done across a whole landscape. At Silencer Central, we put real resources behind habitat and access, and we're proud to support a direction that does the same."
Silencer Central invests in hunting, habitat and access through partnerships with conservation organizations, including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Mule Deer Foundation. It has contributed more than $4.8 million in financial support and product donations to those partners so far in 2026.
To learn more about the review, visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at www.fws.gov/initiative/rooted-in-purpose or read the Boone and Crockett Club's announcement at www.boone-crockett.org.
To shop suppressors or learn more about Silencer Central, visit www.SilencerCentral.com.
Pictured L to R: Silencer Central founder and CEO Brandon Maddox and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum at Audubon National Wildlife Refuge in North Dakota on Nov. 6, 2026.
About Silencer Central: Silencer Central began its remarkable journey in 2005 as South Dakota Silencer, focusing on the underserved hunting and sport shooting community by streamlining the silencer ownership process. The company evolved into Dakota Silencer and ultimately rebranded as Silencer Central in August 2020, broadening its simplified approach to all 42 states where silencers are legal. A four-time honoree on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies — most recently in 2026 — Silencer Central has revolutionized how customers buy suppressors, managing the entire process from start to finish. With offerings such as a complimentary NFA Gun Trust, payment plans and front-door delivery or pickup at a local dealer, Silencer Central remains at the forefront of the industry. For further details, call 888-781-8778 or visit www.SilencerCentral.com.
