Arkansas Alligator Hunting Permit Applications Available

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Permitted hunts help control alligators to reduce conflicts with communities. Image courtesy Tara Bennett.

Applications for the 2026 Arkansas alligator hunting season are available at www.agfc.com until midnight July 31. Anyone interested in pursuing alligators on public land in Arkansas must apply for one of the nine hunting locations within Arkansas’s three open Alligator Management Zones.

The following locations have been allotted public hunting permits for the 2026 alligator hunting season (Sept. 18-21 and Sept. 25-28): Read more

Hunting

Bleecker Street Publications Celebrates America’s 250th with a Giveaway

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As America celebrated 250 years of independence, Bleecker Street Publications is marking the occasion the only way we know how with legendary firearms and a giveaway worthy of the nation that built freedom.

The 250th Anniversary Giveaway is officially live, giving one lucky winner the opportunity to take home two of Smith & Wesson’s most celebrated firearms: the Model 1854 Traditional Walnut Lever Action and the Model 19 Classic (No Internal Lock). Together, they represent nearly two centuries of American firearms innovation from one of the country’s most storied manufacturers. This isn’t simply another patriotic promotion, it’s a celebration of American craftsmanship, heritage, and the enduring culture that has defined generations of shooters, hunters, competitors, and defenders.

America’s 250th birthday deserves more than a commemorative logo or another collection of products assembled under a patriotic banner. It deserves something authentic, something that celebrates the companies and traditions that helped shape American firearms history. That’s exactly what this giveaway delivers.

“America’s 250th birthday is a milestone worth celebrating the right way,” said Charles Anderson, CEO of Bleecker Street Publications. “Smith & Wesson has spent more than 170 years building firearms that have become part of America’s story. Pairing two of its most iconic models in one giveaway is our way of honoring that legacy while giving one reader an unforgettable prize.”

The promotion reflects what Bleecker Street Publications has always been about, connecting passionate Americans with the firearms, gear, and stories that matter. Everyday, readers turn to Bleecker Street Publications for trusted reviews, breaking product news, in-depth testing, and expert editorial covering every corner of the firearms and outdoor industries. The 250th Anniversary Giveaway extends that mission by putting two firearms into the hands of one fortunate winner.

While many anniversary promotions focus on building the biggest dollar figure, Athlon Outdoors chose to focus on something more meaningful, iconic firearms with genuine historical significance.

The firearms community doesn’t measure value solely by a price tag. It measures value through heritage, craftsmanship, performance, and the stories every firearm carries with it. Few manufacturers embody those qualities like Smith & Wesson, and few pairings better represent America’s firearms legacy than a classic revolver alongside a beautifully crafted lever-action rifle.

As the nation reflects on a quarter millennium of freedom, Bleecker Street Publications invites the shooting community to celebrate the enduring spirit that built America and continues to define it today.

The 250th Anniversary Giveaway is open now for a limited time. Official rules, prize details, and entry information are available on the Athlon Outdoors giveaway page. Read more

Contests, Firearms

Second Amendment Wins Support For Knife Rights’ Federal Cases

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Recent Second Amendment decisions by the Supreme Court of the United States and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals have resulted in the filing of Notices of Supplemental Authority under Rule 28(j) in all three of Knife Rights’ federal lawsuits challenging knife bans as unconstitutional under the Second Amendment. These are our challenges to California’s 2-inch and over ban on switchblades, Minnesota’s total ban on switchblades and the Federal Switchblade Act. Critically, the courts reaffirmed and clarified controlling Second Amendment precedents that apply in our cases. Rule 28(j) makes provision for calling the court’s attention to authorities that come to the party’s attention after the brief has been filed.

In United States v. Hemani, the Supreme Court ruled against the federal government’s attempt to broadly prohibit firearm possession by marijuana users. While that might seem far removed from our fight against knife restrictions, its unanimous decision was a huge victory that goes to the heart of our cases. Hemani made it clear that while the government may use analogies in the historical-tradition analysis in Bruen’s “Step Two,” any analogy must be comparable in whom it burdens, why it burdens them, and how it does so. This supports our cases by doubling down on SCOTUS’ Step Two test and reminds the courts that attempts to stretch these boundaries to a breaking point with inappropriate analogies are not allowed. In none of our cases do the government’s historical analogs meet this requirement. They are all bridges too far, either in terms of timing, being too far removed from the founding era, and/or when it comes to “who,” “why” and “how.” Read more

Cutlery

OHA Responds to IP 28 Signature Submission

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“We Are Ready to Protect Our Oregon Way of Life.”

SALEM, OR — Following today’s 5:00 PM deadline for Initiative Petition 28 signature submissions, the Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) issued a strong declaration of readiness to defend the state’s outdoor heritage, science-based wildlife management, and rural economies against what it calls a reckless attack by out-of-state extremist groups.

While proponents of IP 28 submitted a batch of 142,784 signatures to the Secretary of State’s office at the final hour, OHA leaders emphasized that a raw signature count does not equal automatic ballot qualification. Over the coming days and weeks, the state will undergo a verification process to determine the legitimacy of the submitted signatures.

Regardless of the verification outcome, OHA is fully prepared to wage a sophisticated, fact-driven counter-offensive. Read more

Hunting

NSSF-Adjusted NICS Background Checks for June 2026

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The June 2026 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,123,006 is an increase of 11.7 percent compared to the June 2025 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,004,986. For comparison, the unadjusted June 2026 FBI NICS figure of 1,886,539 reflects a 1.2 percent decrease from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 1,909,294 in June 2025.

New for 2026 – Monthly NFA checks (Form 1 and 4) to provide improved market insights: Read more

Firearms

Montana Commission Approves Changes to Mountain Lion Quotas

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HELENA – At its June meeting, the Fish and Wildlife Commission approved mountain lion quotas for fall 2026 through winter 2027. The approved quotas included two amendments offered by commissioners from regions 2 and 3. The commission also approved a proposal for hound hunting on the Charles M. Russell (CMR) and UL Bend (ULB) national wildlife refuges that becomes effective for the 2027-2028 season if adopted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS).

Among the approved changes proposed by FWP are a reduction in quotas for specific parts of southwest Montana. Monitoring in this area consistently demonstrates a decline in mountain lion populations consistent with previous commission direction. Reducing quotas will allow hunting to continue reducing mountain lion populations while limiting rates of reduction. Read more

Hunting

Buy Big Game Permits Starting July 8

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Hunters may begin purchasing Nebraska big game permits that are available over the counter in July for the 2026 seasons.

On July 8, residents may buy any available deer, antelope, and undrawn elk permits within limits, starting at 10 a.m. Central time. Eligible resident landowners may buy any limited landowner elk, deer and antelope permits subject to availability.

On July 22, nonresidents may buy any limited antelope and deer permits in any unit subject to availability and within permit limits. Eligible nonresident landowners may buy any limited landowner elk and antelope permits. Read more

Hunting

New CHAMP and Crossbow Permits Effective July 1

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GW: Way behind the times with these permits to use crossbows.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) reminds hunters that all existing crossbow permits and all Challenged Hunter Access/Mobility Permits (CHAMPs) expired June 30, 2026.

Any person wanting to hunt on or after July 1, 2026 using a crossbow permit (Rule R12-4-216) or CHAMP (Rule R12-4-217) will need to complete a new medical evaluation and submit a new application to AZGFD. Applications are now being accepted in person or by mail at any AZGFD office. Read more

Archery

FPC Moves to Add California “Glock Ban” Challenge to Handgun Roster Lawsuit

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Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) filed a motion to supplement Renna v. Calif. Attorney General Rob Bonta, its federal lawsuit challenging California’s handgun roster, to add a claim against the State’s ban on semiautomatic handguns with cruciform trigger bars, including nearly every Glock and Glock-style pistol on the market.

The plaintiffs include FPC, individual and retailer FPC members, San Diego County Gun Owners PAC, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, Second Amendment Foundation, and National Rifle Association of America. They are represented by Bradley A. Benbrook and Stephen M. Duvernay of Benbrook Law Group, PC.

The motion was filed on July 1, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

California’s ban on handguns with a cruciform trigger bar adds to its existing unconstitutional handgun-ban regime by prohibiting peaceable people from acquiring some of the most popular handguns in the country. Read more

Gun Control

Wyoming Grizzly Bear Relocated to Reduce Conflict Potential

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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 June 29, 2026.

The grizzly bear was captured at a cattle depredation site on public land in Sublette County. In cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Shoshone National Forest, the grizzly bear was relocated to the Five Mile Creek drainage approximately five 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
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