Ameristep^®, the leading manufacturer of innovative ground blinds, chairs, hunting accessories, and more for use in any environment, announced the launch of a new oversized, yet stealthy hunting blind in 2026, featuring all-over Mossy Oak Bottomland camouflage.

Introducing the Frontline Wide-Bottom Extreme. Its wide-bottom design comfortably accommodates up to three hunters along with all their gear, without ever feeling cramped. Constructed from rugged 300-denier fabric in legendary Mossy Oak Bottomland camo, the blind features a waterproof roof that ensures users stay protected from inclement weather, easily withstanding changing conditions throughout the season.

Designed specifically with bowhunters in mind, the Frontline Wide-Bottom Extreme includes four silent-sliding shooting windows with one-way see-through Extreme Mesh and silent hook-and-elastic connectors, allowing shots from virtually any angle. Inside, a ShadowGuard™ coating eliminates silhouettes, while multiple mesh storage pockets keep essentials organized and accessible. Plus, thanks to the Spider Hub® frame system, setup and takedown are both quick and simple, allowing hunters to spend more time in the field doing what they love, and less time fussing with gear. Read more

SPYPOINT, a global leader in trail camera technology since 2004, is proud to announce its 2026 trail camera line-up, featuring three new models designed to deliver more performance, more flexibility, and more control for hunters. This launch marks the beginning of a new era for SPYPOINT, as the brand introduces a bold new look and pushes the boundaries of scouting technology with one of its most comprehensive and innovative trail camera line-ups yet.

“This is an exciting moment for SPYPOINT,” said Jimmy Angers, President and CEO of SPYPOINT. “Not only are we introducing satellite technology that redefines the limits of remote scouting, we’re also unveiling a new look that’s inspired by SPYPOINT’s innovative and audacious spirit, while paying homage to our first 21 years of success.”

FLEX-RANGE: Freedom to Go Further
Hunters can take their scouting further than ever before with the FLEX-RANGE, SPYPOINT’s first-of-its-kind cellular trail camera with a satellite backup option. Read more

IRVING, TX – Avian-X, the industry leader in waterfowl-hunting innovation, revealed the expansion of its motion duck decoy assortment with the addition of three new species to the popular Power Butt Kicker lineup: Mallard Hen, Pintail Drake, and Black Duck.

Engineered to replicate the precise feeding behavior of live birds, these new motion decoys feature anatomically accurate feeder-butt profiles paired with power-kicking webbed feet that generate true-to-life motion at the water’s surface. From natural ripples and wake to the unmistakable splash signatures of mallards, pintails, and black ducks actively feeding, this system delivers the micro-movements that convince high-circling flocks to commit.

Every decoy includes a lifelike feeder-butt body in the hunter’s species of choice, a high-impact power module, two power-kicking webbed feet, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with charger—everything needed to deploy realistic feeding action right out of the box. And, because the decoys are designed for maximum effectiveness, each unit offers two motion modes: Read more

We’re reaching out to gather your thoughts on the next iteration of Michigan’s hunting and outdoor mapping support tool, Mi-HUNT.

For years, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts across the state have relied on a web?based interactive mapping application that helped plan trips, explore public lands and land cover information, and locate areas open to hunting. The tool offered detailed map layers including state game and wildlife areas, federal lands, cooperating private lands, vegetation cover and topography.

As we begin development of the next-generation hunting locator tool for Michigan, we want to hear from you! Your insights will help shape a tool that’s intuitive and useful. We’re asking passionate hunters, trappers and outdoor recreationists like you to take a short survey to share how you use mapping and land?location tools — and what features you’d love to see in the future.

Your experience and input will directly influence decisions about features, usability and priorities for this resource. Whether you use mapping tools often — or only occasionally — your voice matters!

TAKE THE SURVEY ?

Jan. 20, 2026
Michigan elk hunters faced challenging weather and storm-ravaged terrain to harvest 153 elk in 2025.

A record number of applicants – 47,493 – applied for one of just 260 elk licenses that were issued through the state’s annual drawing. The elk hunt took place in the northern Lower Peninsula over two periods – one that stretched across late August and September and one in December.

“With more than 47,000 applicants for the 260 elk hunting licenses made available, Michigan elk hunting is a highly prized opportunity,” said Brent Rudolph, the deer, elk and moose management specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Read more

Stealth Cam^™, the leader in cellular trail camera technology for over two decades, announced its upgraded 3.0 series trail cameras, delivering major advancements to the brand’s core camera lineup in 2026.

Designed for serious hunters and wildlife managers, these cameras introduce a suite of advanced technologies that push surveillance capabilities to the next level, all of which are easily accessible through the Command app*.

At the core of the 3.0 series cameras, including the Deceptor™ MAX 3.0, Revolver PRO™ 3.0, and Spectre 4K Pro, is AI-powered false image detection. This breakthrough onboard system automatically filters out irrelevant motion events, ensuring hunters only get photos that matter. Supporting this capability is the addition of PIR zone selection, which lets users define exactly how and where motion should trigger a capture in the camera’s frame, dramatically improving precision and reducing unnecessary transmissions. Read more

Tomorrow, January 14, at 9:30 a.m., the Michigan Natural Resources Commission is holding a meeting at Lansing Community College, West Campus, rooms M119-121, located at 5108 Cornerstone Drive in Lansing.

This meeting will cover various subjects and issues important to Michigan sportsmen, including deer management goals, elk season results, coyote hunting and trapping season, along with a public comment opportunity, and more.

View Agenda

The Commission must hear from us – the sportsmen – because the future of our hunting and fishing traditions depends on it. These vital resources are entrusted to the Commission’s care, and if we remain silent, others will shape the outcome. Animal rights extremists are ready to fill that void and dismantle the heritage we hold dear. We cannot allow that to happen in the Great Lakes State. Our voices matter, let’s make sure they’re heard.

There has never been a more crucial time in sportsmen’s history than now to be involved and engaged in protecting our way of life. Share this email with your family and friends. Urge them to join the fight with you and the Sportsmen’s Alliance. The extremists work tirelessly to erode our rights, values, and heritage, and we must work harder to ensure they are secure today and for the future.

Read and Share Alert Online

Today, January 13, the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) and Secretary Doug Burgum released Secretarial Order 3447 to expand hunting and fishing access on all federally managed public lands unless lawful exceptions exist. Among other things, the order directs DOI offices to identify and remove unnecessary regulatory or administrative barriers to hunting and fishing on DOI-managed lands and waters; expand access and opportunities where compatible with law, refuge purposes, park enabling statutes, reclamation area requirements, safety, and conservation needs; and improve coordination and regulatory alignment with state, tribal, and territorial wildlife agencies.

“Today’s order is a victory in the open-access battle the Sportsmen’s Alliance has been fighting for decades,” said Rob Sexton, Senior Vice President at the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “We have never wavered from our mission to shift the presumption of public lands to open for hunting and fishing, and our multiple successes across DOI’s land holdings show that. We welcome SO 3447, and we stand ready to ensure that its directives are carried out in future agency actions.” Read more

Many 400- and 500-pound bears tagged in UP

By ANDY HENION
Communications representative, Wildlife Division
Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Bear hunters recorded another robust season in Michigan in 2025, harvesting nearly 2,000 animals and bringing home a remarkable number of large bears in the Upper Peninsula.

At the Escanaba-area check stations alone, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources registered an estimated 20 bears above 400 pounds and eight bears above 500 pounds, according to Cody Norton, the DNR’s bear, furbearer and small game specialist.

“We saw a phenomenal number of unusually large bears harvested across the Upper Peninsula,” said Norton, a Marquette-based wildlife biologist and avid bear hunter. “This is something we’ve been working toward with our long-term bear management plan – growing the total number of bears and giving hunters more opportunities to harvest large, mature animals.” Read more