Spring Snow Goose Hunting in the Dakotas

The Light Goose Conservation Order (LGCO) is considered an annual tradition for many waterfowl hunters since it began in 1999. There is no other waterfowl opportunity in North America offering such latitude when it comes to regulations: There are no magazine restrictions, no daily bag or possession limit, use of electronic callers is permitted, and you can shoot 30 minutes past sunset – all sacred no-no’s across the US during regular waterfowl seasons regulated by state and federal law enforcement.

Besides the potential for high volume shoots, anybody who participates in this unique opportunity will tell you it’s the spectacle of the spring migration that keeps them coming back. On the best migration days hunters should expect to witness waves of various waterfowl and other bird species rolling past, but no other species of waterfowl surpasses the lesser snow goose in number and density during migration. It’s common to see hordes of snows and their smaller cousins Ross’s geese mob an area on the ground and in the air, in what can only be described as an incredible sight to behold.

The Mid-Continent population of light geese primarily migrate through the watersheds of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers consistently congregating in key areas within Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa, eventually packing into the neck of their hourglass shaped migration corridor in North and South Dakota. Read more

Hunting

Sportsmen’s Alliance Wins Major First, Second Amendment Victory in California

After four years of litigation, California finally conceded its youth firearms marketing law is unconstitutional and agreed to pay the challenging parties $481,792 in attorney’s fees. The Sportsmen’s Alliance was the first to sound the alarm about this Constitutional nightmare, and believe this victory isn’t just for Californians, but is one shared by all Americans.

In summer 2022, California passed Assembly Bill 2571. The bill banned any marketing of firearms or accessories that might be attractive to minors. In it’s original form, the bill was so broad that advertising youth hunter education programs was illegal. Sportsmen’s Alliance opposed the bill, calling it “dangerous legislation that takes hunter education and firearm safety training off the table in California,” and criticized the bill sponsors for “worshipping anti-gun and anti-hunting dogma over firearm safety.”

The bill passed, and Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation, Safari Club International, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, and So Cal Top Guns, with support from the National Rifle Association, immediately sued, alleging that the law violated the First, Second, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments. It took nearly two years and an appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals before we were able to get a preliminary order enjoining the state from enforcing the law.

“The First Amendment provides different levels of protection to all forms of speech,” said Michael Jean, Litigation Counsel for Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation. “When it comes to commercial advertising, it protects truthful, non-misleading advertising, unless those advertisements further some other illegal activity.”

The Ninth Circuit recognized the law “does not ‘directly’ and ‘materially’ further” the purported goals of “reducing gun violence and unlawful use of firearms by minors.” Instead, it bans truthful advertising — “for example, an ad showcasing a safer hunting rifle with less recoil for minors would likely be unlawful in California.”

But California was undeterred by that defeat. It prolonged the litigation by seeking an additional appeal before 11 judges on the Ninth Circuit—which was unanimously rejected. Then it fought the scope of the injunction in the district court. But after a second loss in the Ninth Circuit, California finally acquiesced. It now acknowledges what was obvious all along—it infringed on sportsmen’s First Amendment rights, and its paying a heavy price for doing so.

“This is why we have an in-house litigation team,” Jean continued. “And if California does it again, we will sue them again.” Read more

Gun Control

Beyond the Bird Feeder: The Surprising Science of Black Bear Predation

 

 

As black bear populations rebound across North America, the line between wild carnivore and human-bear conflict continues to blur. Science shows that while they are formidable predators, black bears’ preference for “easy” calories is what truly defines their complex role in our modern landscape.

By John Nettles, Boone and Crockett Club Fellow, Clemson University

Black bear hunting plays an important role in the local history and culture of much of North America. However, by the early 1900s, overhunting and habitat degradation had dramatically reduced black bear populations. Thanks to successful conservation efforts by agencies and harvest managers, populations have since rebounded. In fact, the American black bear is now the world’s most abundant large carnivore and one of the very few carnivores with an increasing population. This recovery has allowed many states to expand current seasons or reestablish hunting seasons for black bear.

The story of black bear conservation doesn’t stop there, though. Increasing numbers of both people and bears have led to greater overlap between the two populations and to a new conservation challenge: human-bear conflict (HBC). Read more

Wildlife

Boone & Crockett Member Spotlight—John M. Olin

Olin and SI cover

John Olin was a business titan who understood that if there was no game left to hunt, consumers would have little use for his company’s Winchester firearms, or Western ammunition. He stood at the crossroads of industry and science, using the weight of the Olin Corporation to help fund the future of conservation.

By Steve Wagner

Since its inception, the Boone and Crockett Club has been a bridge between science, conservation, and hunting. After all, without science-based conservation, there would be no hunters—and thus no hunting industry.

In 1887, Theodore Roosevelt’s original cast of Club members included George Bird Grinnell, owner and editor of Forest and Stream, essentially the Wall Street Journal for that era’s sportsmen. Others ran companies deeply vested in the commercial success of hunting, such as leather-goods magnate Bronson Rumsey, and Archibald Rogers, whose freight services buoyed manufacturing supply chains and retail product distribution. Today, the corporate connection continues with Johnny Morris of Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s, past-Club president Tony Caligiuri of Boyt Harness Co., and CJ Buck of Buck Knives, just to name a few.

Nestled between the Club’s early pioneers and its modern-day CEOs, there was John Olin.

Reviving Winchester

Born in 1892, Olin began his career in 1913 as a 21-year-old chemical engineer for his father’s Western Cartridge Co. Read more

Ammunition, Wildlife

Zanders Offers Distinctive Eagle Gen 2 .45ACP Iver Johnson Handguns

Zanders, a premier national distributor based in Sparta, Illinois, is pleased to announce that several color configurations of the ever-popular Iver Johnson Arms Eagle Gen 2 .45 ACP handguns are in stock and available to dealers.

Known for blending classic styling with modern performance, these models deliver both reliability and visual distinction, offering dealers unique inventory options that stand out in the display case. Each pistol features the proven Eagle Gen 2 platform chambered in .45 ACP, paired with distinctive finishes available through Zanders.

The newly available Iver Johnson models include the following: Read more

Firearms

Nosler’s ASP Loads Ideal for Today’s Lever Action Rifles

Bend, OR – Nosler®, Inc. a global leader in the manufacture of premium bullets, cartridge cases, ammunition, firearms and suppressors, is proud to highlight the versatility of its ASP™ (Assured Stopping Power) ammunition line with loads that are an excellent option for today’s lever-action rifles.

As modern lever guns continue to grow in popularity, shooters are rediscovering the versatility of classic revolver cartridges. Nosler’s ASP™ Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP) loads in .38 Special, .357 Magnum and .44 Remington Magnum provide dependable expansion, controlled penetration and consistent accuracy. These new offerings from Nosler are well suited to lever-action carbines used for hunting, personal defense, and training.

Each ASP™ bullet features a skived jacket designed for reliable expansion and effective weight retention across a wide range of impact velocities. Nosler’s tight manufacturing tolerances and strict attention to detail ensure accuracy and reliability in every round. When fired from a rifle, these classic cartridges benefit from increased velocity and improved ballistic performance compared to a revolver.

Available Now:

ASP™ Revolver Ammunition

    • 38 Special— 125gr ASP™ JHP
    • 357 Magnum— 125gr ASP™ JHP
    • 44 Rem Mag— 240gr ASP™ JHP

Read more

Ammunition

Henry Repeating Arms’ New Rifle Series Donates to Our National Forests

Henry Repeating Arms, one of America’s leading firearm manufacturers, has launched a new series of commemorative rifles to benefit the National Forest Foundation (NFF), the nonprofit partner of the United States Forest Service (USFS).

The National Forest Foundation Edition Rifle Series honors America’s National Forests and Grasslands while contributing to conservation projects across nearly 200 million acres of public lands nationwide. Proceeds from the rifles will help fund initiatives focused on reforestation, wildlife habitat restoration, watershed protection, and trail improvement in National Forests across the country.

“These lands are a national treasure that must be protected to ensure they can be enjoyed by future generations,” said Anthony Imperato, Founder and CEO of Henry Repeating Arms. “Millions of Americans hunt, hike, camp, and connect with nature in our National Forests every year. Through this initiative, we’re proud to support the work of the NFF and the USFS to help protect and restore the forests and grasslands that make those experiences possible.”

The commemorative series includes four rifles built on some of Henry’s most recognizable platforms, each featuring custom engraving and upgraded materials that pay tribute to America’s public lands. Read more

Firearms, Wildlife

SAF Files Amicus Brief Challenging 18-20 Carry Ban in Pennsylvania

The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and its partners filed an amicus brief with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court challenging the state’s firearms carry ban by 18–20-year-olds.

The brief was filed in support of the appellant in Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Kareem Mohammed Williams Jr., and challenges the state’s prohibition of law-abiding 18-to-20-year-olds carrying firearms for self-defense. SAF joined the National Rifle Association and Firearm Owners Against Crime in the amicus filing.

“Pennsylvania’s ban defies Bruen by denying young adults their Second Amendment rights without any historical tradition of such age-based restrictions at the Founding,” said SAF Director of Legal Research and Education Kostas Moros. “History shows that 18-to-20-year-olds were not only part of ‘the People’ protected by the Second Amendment but were required to keep and bear arms for militia and self-defense purposes. We urge the Court to reverse the lower court ruling and recognize that this subset of adults is afforded the same fundamental right to self-defense as other Americans who are 21 and older.” Read more

Gun Control

Bid on Formula 1 Racing Trip to Benefit Project R3con Exclusively on GunBroker.com

GunBroker.com is giving motorsports fans and supporters of a powerful cause the chance to secure an unforgettable experience at one of the most high-profile racing events in the world. A new charity auction benefiting Project R3con is now live, featuring two tickets to the 2026 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.

Hosted on GunBroker.com, the auction offers bidders the opportunity to attend the Miami F1 race while directly supporting Project R3con, an organization dedicated to assisting veterans and first responders through community, purpose, and outdoor-based healing initiatives.

The auction begins at just one penny with no reserve, ensuring that every bid helps drive support for Project R3con’s mission. The winning bidder will receive two tickets to the 2026 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix—one of the premier events on the global racing calendar, known for its high-energy atmosphere, elite competition, and world-class entertainment.

All proceeds from the auction will go directly to Project R3con, reinforcing GunBroker’s ongoing commitment to supporting organizations that serve those who have sacrificed in service to others.

The auction is open now and will close the evening of March 29, 2026. Bidders are encouraged to act quickly and return often, as competitive bidding is expected for this one-of-a-kind experience.

To view the auction and place a bid, visit:
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1161564240

About Project R3con

Project R3con is a nonprofit organization focused on helping veterans and first responders reconnect with purpose through outdoor experiences, community engagement, and personal development.

General

Application Deadline for Deer and Elk Permits, Nonresident Combination Licenses is April 1

Don’t wait to apply for deer and elk permits. The application deadline is April 1. Hunters can buy licenses and apply for permits on the FWP website; click on “Buy and Apply.”

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks offers several tools to help hunters navigate the application process. The application process is different for residents and nonresidents, but FWP has created instructional videos to help with both kinds of customers.

Hunters and anglers can also take advantage of the MyFWP mobile app. The app holds and displays licenses, permits and E-Tags, which can be downloaded and used in the field without cell service. To create a My FWP account, visit the MyFWP login page. Read more

Hunting
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