Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
NSSF tracks and reports monthly U.S. export units for several sporting arms, ammunition, and optics categories from the US International Trade Commission. Below are the results for August 2023 compared to August 2022. Read more
The December 2023 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,775,834 is an increase of 1.6 percent compared to the December 2022 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,747,506. For comparison, the unadjusted December 2023 FBI NICS figure 2,730,855 reflects a 10.1 percent decrease from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 3,036,531 in December 2022. December 2023 marks the 53rd month in a row that has exceeded 1 million adjusted background checks in a single month.
The fourth quarter 2023 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 4,742,029 reflects an increase of 4.6 percent compared to the 4,532,341 figure for fourth quarter 2022.
The annual 2023 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 15,848,055 reflects a decrease of 3.5 percent compared to the 16,425,484 figure for annual 2022. Year 2023 was the 4th highest year on record, exceeded by years 2020 through 2022. Read more
Offensive Marketing Group (OMG!) recently had the privilege of contributing design elements alongside the legendary firearms customizers at KOTED ARMS who produced a one-of-a-kind 500 S&W Magnum BFR (Biggest Finest Revolver) outfitted with a Burris Optics scope for YouTube personality Robert Arrington of Deer Meat for Dinner. The unique custom revolver features intricate engravings of hunting locations and prized game animals that are special to Robert throughout his time as a skilled hunter and esteemed content creator.
The creative effort was organized by Offensive Marketing Group and served to bring together prestigious brands BFR and Burris Optics, legendary designers Jonathan DeVries and Steve Gonos of Koted Arms, and Robert Arrington, an influential industry figurehead and content creator. OMG Co-Founder, Jared Tremp and Master Gunsmith Brett Pikula of BFR joined Robert to film the unveiling of this heirloom piece and then embarked together on an epic wild boar and deer hunt that utilized the revolver. The video of the revolver reveal debuted on the Deer Meat For Dinner YouTube channel, which boasts an impressive 3.38 Million subscribers on December 19th, 2023.
“Fostering connections and helping bring to life a truly unique heirloom for one of our friends and favorite industry personalities, while involving the amazing brands that we are honored to represent and work with daily in this way is truly a pleasure.” Read more
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s statewide squirrel-hunting celebration is back for its third year. Get a buddy and get to the woods next Friday and Saturday to take your chance winning prizes and notoriety as the best bushytail hunter in your neck of the woods.
“AGFC Education Division staff started the Big Squirrel Challenge in May of 2021 at J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozarks Highland Nature Center,” Eric Maynard, interim chief of education for the AGFC, said. “It was so popular that we expanded it to a statewide event with 12 locations for people to weigh-in their squirrels and win a prize.”
The official rules are available at https://www.agfc.com/education/2024-big-squirrel-challenge, but here are the main details in a nutshell (or acorn, if you prefer). Teams hunt from noon, Jan. 12-noon, Jan. 13 during legal shooting hours to harvest the three largest squirrels they can find. Hunters are welcome to use squirrel dogs or still hunt for their bushytails.
“They’re welcome to go ahead and harvest their legal limit of 12 per person, but we only weigh the top three at the end of the event, and each squirrel can only be weighed once,” Maynard said. “After the weigh-in, all squirrels will be returned to the hunters to enjoy for supper.”
Squirrels are weighed (skin on and field-dressed) and winning teams are announced at 1:30 p.m. for each region. Each regional first- and second-place team will receive medals and bragging rights for their effort. The top teams in the state will be announced in a press release Jan. 15 and will receive additional prizes, including an Umarex air rifle. Read more
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources recently partnered with Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife and the Utah Wild Sheep Foundation to create a new nursery facility for desert bighorn sheep in Utah in an effort to help grow the species’ population in the state.
Bighorn sheep were released onto an initial nursery facility in Duchesne County in 2022. In the spring of 2023, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife purchased a roughly 1,000-acre property in Boothe Valley near Promontory Point in Box Elder County and built a high fence around the property, with some additional funding from private donors. The property has ideal bighorn habitat and lower predator densities than the initial property, which led to the relocation of the nursery desert bighorn sheep herd. Read more
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The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has announced its lineup of Master Instructor and Range Officer training courses for 2024! These courses allow learning opportunities on how to train others in marksmanship as well as to ensure safety and proper regulations at local competitive events. The training schedule has expanded in 2024 to reach even more individuals around the country – offering dates in the winter, spring, summer and fall months.
Those seeking certification in teaching marksmanship basics and match details as “Master Instructors” of CMP’s sanctioned Garand, Springfield and Modern/Vintage Military (GSMM) rifle or Rimfire Sporter rifle events should look to the GSMM Master Instructor Training Workshops. Registration fee for the class is $135 and includes a notebook, thumb drive, sling, 20 dummy rounds and a CMP Rifle Scorebook.
Upcoming 2024 GSMM Master Instructor Training Workshops:
For more on CMP Master Instructors, visit https://thecmp.org/training-tech/gsmm-master-instructor/. Read more
Applications are now being accepted for the Porcupine Mountains Artist-in-Residence Program for 2024 spring, summer and fall and winter 2025 residencies.
The program is open to artists and artisans whose work can be influenced by the unique northern wilderness setting of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park – also known as “the Porkies.”
Located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the park encompasses 25 miles of wave-washed shores, four inland lakes, entire river systems, countless waterfalls, enchanted wooded peaks and an escarpment that rises slowly from the edge of Lake Superior until it plummets abruptly into the Carp River valley.
Still, the park’s most impressive feature – and the reason for its creation – is its virgin forest of eastern hemlock and northern hardwoods and the variety of flora and fauna that it supports. Because of these attributes, the park is an ideal location to inspire creativity. Read more
European American Armory Corp. (EAA) proudly announces the shipping of the EAA/Girsan Witness2311® C in 10mm, a robust 4.25” barrel length, double stack 1911 pistol designed for performance and affordability. Boasting a 15+1 capacity, this pistol is optic-ready for RMS/RMSc footprint, featuring enhancements like an extended beavertail, magazine well, white dot front and rear sights, steep front and rear cocking serrations, and an accessory rail. EAA’s National Sales manager Chase Duffey said “The Witness2311® in 10mm is a game changer for the double stack market, as no one has the price and quality to match, another 1st for EAA. EAA and Girsan leading, not following.”
With a Standard Retail Price (SRP) of $1,029, the Witness2311® C stands out as one of the most cost-effective double-stack 1911’s in 10mm currently on the market. The first Witness2311’s come with the EAA Solar Powered FAR-DOT™ Optics at no charge, while supplies last. EAA FAR-DOT™ Solar has two integral rear dot fibers that give you cotangent sights built into EAA’s patented FAR-DOT™. The EAA FAR-DOT™ is one of the smallest footprint red dots on the market today and has a 4 MOA dot with brightness adjustments for clear target acquisition. In addition, EAA’s Solar Powered FAR-DOT™ is available on our website at store.eaacorp.com. Read more
NORTH HAVEN, CT – Introduced in January 2020, the 940 JM Pro autoloading shotgun rocked the competitive shooting world with its design, functionality, and competition-ready features right out-of-the-box. Now these 12-gauge shotguns, designed in conjunction with world-renowned champion shooter, Jerry Miculek, are optic ready for direct mounting of micro dot sights (Shield RMSc footprint).
Designed for the rigors of competition, the 940 Pro features a gas system that may run up to 1,500 rounds before cleaning and will cycle factory-manufactured 2.75 or 3-inch ammunition, 1 oz or greater. Internal parts (gas piston, magazine tube, hammer, and sear) feature nickel boron-coating and extra finishing for corrosion resistance and reliable performance. And the receiver has a tungsten gray or black anodized finish with the 940 JM Pro logo featured on the right side. Read more
North Haven, CT – Mossberg is now chambering its Patriot bolt-action rifle in 400 Legend. Delivering impressive down-range penetration, accuracy and extremely low recoil, the 400 Legend is ideal for deer in states where straight-walled cartridges are legal and for a variety of big game including hogs and close cover bears. A walnut-stocked version and black synthetic stock option, both with 20-inch threaded barrels, are now available.
Based on Mossberg’s proven twin-lug push-feed machined-steel action, these classically-styled Patriot rifles are fed from a flush polymer magazine with a capacity of 4 + 1. The free-floating, 20-inch carbon steel barrels are threaded (11/16”-24 threads per inch) for ease of adding a suppressor or muzzle brake; include a protective thread cap; and have a 11-degree match crown. For ease of mounting a scope, the Patriot comes with weaver-styles bases. And all Patriot rifles feature Mossberg’s patented LBA™ (Lightning Bolt Action™) user-adjustable trigger with a 2 to 7-pound range of adjustment. Rounding out these full-featured rifles are streamlined and checkered bolt handles; spiral-fluted bolts; and sling swivel studs.
Introduced by Winchester Ammunition earlier this year, the 400 Legend is a straight-walled cartridge described as having energy equivalent to the 450 Bushmaster but with 20% less recoil; 20% more energy than the 30-30 Win; 25% more energy than the 350 Legend with greater penetration; and 100% more energy than a 12-gauge slug at 100 yards with 55% less recoil. This versatile cartridge provides deep penetration, excellent accuracy, and efficient knockdown power for medium to big game animals at mid ranges of 200 to 250 yards. Read more