2025 Montana Regional Hunting Forecasts Available

As leaves fade to yellow, storefronts across Montana turn orange, adorned with huge “Welcome Hunters” banners. FWP also steps up to help people prepare for the season with its annual Hunting Forecast. The links below break down the state region by region to outline what hunters can expect for deer, elk and pronghorn. It’s also not just focused on big game. The forecasts include an upland game bird season outlook with trends for grouse, partridge and pheasant using FWP’s spring survey results, weather and other data. Read more

Hunting

Pronghorn Numbers Strong in Eastern Montana, Mixed Bag Everywhere Else

Pronghorn are some of Montana’s most popular game animals to pursue, and their populations span much of the eastern two-thirds of the state and even some valleys in western Montana.

However, hard winters and droughts can have big impacts on populations and so from year to year the numbers can fluctuate some. A few years ago, a tough winter in central Montana took a toll on antelope numbers, but in many places, things are looking up. Particularly in part of eastern Montana where numbers are well above normal trends.

Population Monitoring and Licenses Read more

Hunting

Fiocchi Reintroduces Texas White Wing in Convenient Bulk Pack

CSG Member, Fiocchi of America, a global leader in premium ammunition, proudly announces the return of its iconic Texas White Wing shotshell — now available in a convenient bulk 4-box field carton designed with dove hunters in mind.

Built for the ultimate wingshooting experience, Texas White Wing is engineered for precision, power, and performance in every shot. This 12-gauge, 2-3/4″ shell delivers a 1-1/8 ounce payload of #7.5 shot at 1,250 fps, delivering hard-hitting effectiveness and smooth, reliable cycling. The result is the perfect balance of pattern density and velocity to keep hunters in the action from sunrise to sundown. Read more

Ammunition

Grizzly Bear Captured and Relocated in Cody Region

After consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department captured and relocated a subadult male grizzly bear on August 15, 2025.

The grizzly bear was captured for cattle depredation on U.S. Forest Service lands in Fremont County. In cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Shoshone National Forest, the grizzly bear was relocated to the Mormon Creek drainage approximately 5 miles from the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

Grizzly bears are relocated in accordance with state and federal law and regulation, and Game and Fish is required to update the public whenever a grizzly bear is relocated.

WHY RELOCATION? Read more

Wildlife

ZeroTech Optics Launches New Trace ED 1-10x24FFP LPVO

This Isn’t an Upgrade. It’s an Uprising.

1-10x LPVOs promised to be the ultimate solution—but most came up short.
Washed-out glass at max magnification, distorted fishbowl views at 1x, and reticles overloaded with noise left shooters compromising where it counts. The Trace ED 1-10×24 FFP changes that. With ED glass clarity, true first focal plane performance, and rock-solid durability, it’s built to deliver—without the trade-offs.

Why 1-10x Is the New “Do-It-All” Sweet Spot

Across the shooting world, 1-10x LPVOs have become the ultimate utility players. These optics are replacing standard hunting scopes, red dots, and even mid-tier tactical glass. Why? Because they deliver both ends of the spectrum—CQB speed and precision at distance.

ZeroTech’s Trace ED doesn’t just enter this category. It resets the bar. Read more

Optics

XS Minimalist Night Sights Now Available for Colt Python Revolvers

Fort Worth, Texas – XS Minimalist night sights are now available for Colt Python revolvers. True to their name, Minimalist sights are designed for shooters who want a simple and effective notch and post sight with no extra frills.

The front sight features a tritium center surrounded by a glow dot that comes in two color options – green or orange – to best suit individual preference. The windage adjustable rear sight is a serrated, blacked-out anti-glare notch with a wider width to help drive your eye to the front and quickly align your sights.

“The serrations in the rear of our Minimalist sights drive focus downrange,” said Jeff King, Marketing Manager, XS Sights. “With our bright front sight, upgrading factory sights with XS sights makes these revolvers all the more effective by driving your eye to the target for faster acquisition and improved accuracy.”

Retail Price: $137.99 Read more

Firearms, Optics

NRA Lands Major Legal Victory: New Mexico Waiting Period Law Ruled Unconstitutional

In response to the major Second Amendment victory in Ortega v. Grisham, the NRA lawsuit against New Mexico’s seven-day waiting period law, John Commerford, Executive Director of NRA-ILA, released the following statement:

“In courtrooms across America, the NRA is successfully leading the charge to protect law-abiding Americans’ Second Amendment rights. The 10th Circuit has sided with the NRA and held that radical waiting period laws are indeed unconstitutional. This decision not only impacts gun owners in New Mexico but serves as a key piece in dismantling similar gun control laws across the country.” – John Commerford, NRA-ILA Executive Director Read more

Gun Control

RavenEQ Launches AI Chatbot Helping Hunters This Big Game Season

RavenEQ, the AI solutions provider built exclusively for outdoor brands, has launched a first-of-its-kind consumer-facing AI experience that puts official and approved hunting regulation information into a mobile-first, conversational chatbot. Powered by RavenEQ’s technology, the Raven Guide gives instant answers to hunters, guides, and wildlife officers at any moment, anywhere.

For generations, state hunting brochures have been the go-to resource for rules and regulations, often stretching to 80+ pages in print and hosted as large pdf files that are difficult to read. Finding answers requires reading, searching and retaining knowledge from these traditional formats. The Raven Guide harnesses all of that information in a simple to use chatbot that can be accessed by desktop or mobile and can be used to apply, plan and stay legal in the field.

It works with natural language and answers simple questions such as: Read more

General

Blaser F16 Pro Series Shotgun Wins Outdoor Life Editor’s Choice Award

The Blaser F16 Pro Series over-and-under shotgun was named Editor’s Choice by Outdoor Life in the competition category. Described by Outdoor Life as a “Fabulous shooter,” the test team also mentioned its “Excellent craftsmanship” and “very good value”.

“Shooting a Blaser F16 Pro in a sporting clays competition won’t guarantee anything beyond a participation trophy, but you sure as hell will shoot better and tip the odds in your favor of a podium finish if you shoulder one.

This is a purpose-built over and under with one goal in mind – pulverizing clay targets no matter how far away or fast they are traveling. The 32-inch ported barrels and 8.5-pound weight make this the softest shooting double we’ve ever tested, as well as one of the sweetest swinging 12-gauges we’ve shot.” John Snow, Outdoor Life Shooting Editor

Designed by Blaser Pro Staff and World Champion shooter Cory Kruse, and available in right-handed and left-handed models, the F16 Pro Series features an elegant walnut stock (wood grade 4) with an adjusted pitch angle. This allows for a more comfortable flush fit mount on the shoulder while further dispersing felt recoil. Added weight in the stock and barrel deliver perfect balance while aiding in recoil reduction in conjunction with the new Kick-EEZ® butt pad.

The F16 Pro Series 32” barrel comes with RHINO’s patented 13-port “pigeon porting” system and RHINO G1 series chokes with GP30 nonstick coating, exactly like those used by Cory Kruse in competition.

“It is an honor to receive Outdoor Life’s prestigious Editor’s Choice award, and we appreciate their recognition of the time and effort that Cory and the Blaser team put into the design of the F16 Pro Series,” said Jason Evans, CEO, Blaser Group. “This shotgun is tournament ready out of the box, and the reduced recoil and balance of the F16 Pro Series make it a dream to shoot.”

MSRP:

$7,015 (right-handed model)

$7,515 (left-handed model) Read more

Firearms

Michigan DNR Researchers to Test trail Cameras in Elk Survey

Researchers from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources will pilot the use of trail cameras to estimate the state’s elk population as part of a larger research project aimed at determining the most accurate and cost-effective way to manage the elk herd.

The DNR’s Wildlife Division recently set up about 200 cameras in and around the core elk range, which encompasses some 1,100 square miles across northern Lower Michigan. Most of the cameras are on state-managed land, although DNR researchers worked with landowners to set up cameras on private land as well.

Camera data will be compared against the DNR’s current method of estimating the elk population – aerial surveys – to determine which method is more precise and cost-effective.

Survey goals, challenges Read more

Wildlife
1 … 104 105 106 107 108 … 2,052