U.S. Forest Service Unveils Plans to Hire Summer Seasonal Employees in 2026

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service announced plans to hire up to 2,000 seasonal positions for the upcoming summer recreation season, helping to support active management work and improve access and experiences on national forests and grasslands.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, USDA is restoring fiscal responsibility, efficiency and accountability so that Americans can count on services that endure,” said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. “We have addressed millions of dollars in salary deficits inherited from the previous administration. The Forest Service is now on a path to fiscal solvency and able to fill these critical seasonal positions to improve services for visitors this summer.”

“Hiring these seasonal positions is essential to delivering the services visitors rely on,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “Our seasonal employees are active members of the communities they serve. They keep forests open and accessible, campgrounds and other facilities clean, and neighboring towns thriving. It’s a direct investment in the people who make our national forests and grasslands special.”

Now that the Forest Service has streamlined its hiring process and shortened hiring timeframes, seasonal employees can begin work earlier — opening more opportunities for people in rural communities to compete for jobs close to home. Read more

Wildlife

FPC Prevails in New York Non-Resident Carry Ban Lawsuit, Encourages People to Apply for a License

Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) today announced that the parties have reached an agreement to successfully resolve the plaintiffs’ federal lawsuit challenging the New York state and county defendants’ laws, policies, and practices banning firearm carry by residents of other states, Shaffer v. Quattrone. FPC filed the case in November 2024, arguing that people “do not surrender their Second Amendment protected rights when they travel outside their home state.”

Now, as a result of the FPC lawsuit and the plaintiffs’ settlement with the State of New York, the State now expressly holds the position that in-state residency or employment is not required for licensure and clearly posted this confirmation on its website, which is now obligated to state (in relevant part):

Is New York residency or employment required to apply for a firearm license?

No. New York law does not require residency or in-state employment to apply for a firearm license. While the Penal Law directs applicants who live or work in New York to file their firearm application in the county of residence or principal place of employment, this provision does not exclude nonresidents from applying. Licensing officers may accept applications from nonresidents, and residency is not among the eligibility criteria for being issued a firearm license. Applications from nonresidents who do not live or work in New York should be evaluated under the same standards as all others.

Read more

Gun Control

Don ’t put all your (fish) eggs in one basket

Restored reef in Saginaw Bay diversifies spawning habitat and promotes resilience

By JEFFREY JOLLEY, PhD., Southern Lake Huron unit manager
Fisheries Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and MARCEE WARDELL, communications specialist, Fisheries Division, Michigan DNR

Imagine a reef: sunlight streaming through the azure water reveals a vibrant underwater community, where fish, large and small, dart into holes and crevices or swim around the reef’s edges while other aquatic creatures make their homes or search for food.Did you think of a coral reef, covered in pink anemones and surrounded by brightly colored tropical fish like blue tang and clownfish?Now imagine a reef, with dappled sunlight and teeming with fish, in Lake Huron, in Saginaw Bay.Surprised?Maybe you shouldn’t be.Check out previous Showcasing the DNR stories in our archive at Michigan.gov/DNRStories. To subscribe to upcoming Showcasing articles, sign up for free email delivery at Michigan.gov/DNREmail.

Lake whitefish are shown congregating over rocky cobble.
Pieces of limestone, quarried locally in the Thumb area, were moved out to the reef location on barges. Reefs used to be common in Saginaw Bay, and organizations like the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and others are working to restore reef habitat for the benefit of fish like lake whitefish and walleye, as well as many other aquatic species.

The disappearance of rocky reefs

Though corals did once thrive in the northern Lower Peninsula about 350 million years ago (the remains of which are now Petoskey stones), the reefs that existed in Saginaw Bay were rock reefs. Read more
Fishing

Michigan DNR reports Gladwin County’s first CWD-positive wild deer

Gladwin is now the 18th Michigan county where chronic wasting disease has been identified in the wild deer population, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. A hunter-harvested deer from Clement Township recently tested positive for the disease.

The Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed the CWD finding. The sample was also sent for a secondary confirmation to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, where results are pending but anticipated to confirm CWD infection. Read more

Wildlife

Mauser Introduces New M98 Das Original Bolt-Action Rifle

Mauser is pleased to introduce the new Mauser 98 Das Original bolt-action rifle. Harnessing a combination of advanced technology and old-world craftsmanship, this modern iteration of one of the world’s most iconic rifles delivers the accuracy and reliability embraced by millions of Mauser owners for more than a century. And it is now available in .300 Win Mag for the first time ever!

The original M98 was prized for its controlled round feed, extreme strength, reliability and safety. The new M98 Das Original is designed with these same features along with improvements including a Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coating on the bolt for extra protection from wear, a gold-colored trigger, and elegant hand-selected Grade 5 wood. The magnum configurations come with a red safari recoil pad system for improved comfort.

“The Mauer 98 Das Original edition was built in Germany for American hunters and collectors who appreciate perfection and top-tier engineering,” said Jason Evans, CEO, Blaser Group. “The new Das Original delivers the legendary reliability of the original M98 with enhanced features and, for the first time ever in a Mauser 98, this edition is now available in .300 Win Mag.”

New Features: Read more

Firearms

Beretta Introduces New Sako 90 Grizzly: Built to Hunt – Classic Walnut Beauty Meets Modern Performance

Beretta introduces the Sako 90 Grizzly, a rifle built for hunters who appreciate traditional craftsmanship without sacrificing modern performance. Blending refined walnut aesthetics and precision engineering, the Grizzly is designed to deliver dependable accuracy and durability in every hunting environment.

At the heart of the Sako 90 Grizzly is a beautifully crafted, high-grade walnut stock accented with rosewood details. The classic profile offers both timeless elegance and ergonomic comfort, ensuring confident handling whether in a stand, on a stalk, or navigating rugged backcountry terrain. Performance matches its looks. The rifle features a fluted stainless-steel barrel protected by a Graphite Black Cerakote finish, delivering exceptional resistance to the elements while maintaining the rigidity needed for consistent, repeatable accuracy. A machined integral Picatinny rail provides a rock-solid optics mounting platform that will never shift or loosen, giving hunters total confidence in their zero. With a medium-contour barrel that balances weight and stiffness, the Sako 90 Grizzly upholds the legendary accuracy that Sako rifles are known for around the world. From whitetail in dense hardwoods to elk in open country, the Grizzly is built to perform season after season. Read more

Firearms

Boone and Crockett Club Touts New Funding for Big Game Migration in Make America Beautiful Again Announcement

The Boone and Crockett Club cheered the infusion of new funds available for big game migration habitat conservation and restoration announced today as part of the Make America Beautiful Again Commission. To support this core sportsmen’s priority, almost $8 million has been added to the $2 million in base funds available this year through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) for their Western Big Game Seasonal Habitat and Migration Corridors Fund. Private and tribal funding is also included in the total.

Projects funded by the program improve habitat in priority areas identified by state wildlife agencies to address the needs of big game species as they travel to and stopover in their summer and winter range habitats.

“The migration corridors program began in 2018 as a proof-of-concept for a few species of big game. Having continued ever since, it has now proved the concept,” said Simon Roosevelt, Executive Vice President of Conservation at the Boone and Crockett Club. “The Trump administration, Secretary Burgum and Director Nesvik in particular, has recognized this and we look forward to further expansion of this invaluable effort. More species, and more areas – especially in summer ranges – need to benefit from this work.”

Big game such as elk, mule deer, and pronghorn are iconic species in the West, providing important hunting and recreational opportunities and contributing a vital source of protein for western ecosystems. Read more

Wildlife

Leupold Launches Game-Changing BX-6 Range HD Rangefinding Binocular Featuring Hornady 4DOF® Ballistics

Leupold & Stevens, Inc., provider of the world’s most rugged, lightweight, and clear sport optics, is pleased to announce the launch of the game-changing new BX-6 Range HD rangefinding binocular. With world-class optical clarity, fast, accurate ranging capabilities out to 6,000 yards, the most advanced ballistics intelligence available, and precision GPS pinning, the BX-6 Range HD is poised to be the best and most feature-rich rangefinding binocular available.

“Our team put an incredible amount of work into the BX-6 Range HD, and the result is the most complete rangefinding binocular on the market.” said Tim Lesser, Vice President of Product and Marketing for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “You’re getting incredible glass, the most advanced ballistics possible, and the most accurate GPS pinning software available. It is the whole package and offers solutions for both hunters and shooters.”

As a binocular, it all starts with the glass. The BX-6 Range HD offers unmatched light transmission that’s designed to outperform in the most challenging conditions, industry-leading glare reduction for a clear image in direct, harsh light, and the resolution and clarity that professional hunting guides and shooters demand. With the best optical performance Leupold has ever offered in a rangefinding binocular, the BX-6 Range HD sets a new standard. The rangefinding engine, meanwhile, is an industry best. Capable of exceeding ranges of 2,000 yards on deer-sized game, 3,000 yards on trees, and 6,000 yards in long-range mode, it delivers the fastest and most accurate ranging performance available. Read more

Optics

Henry Repeating Arms Introduces Deadeye Revolvers with Sight Upgrades

Henry Repeating Arms has announced the addition of two new revolver variants, the H16 Golden Boy Deadeye Revolver and the H17 Big Boy Deadeye Revolver, created in direct response to feedback from Henry owners and enthusiasts. Built on the same solid foundation as the standard Golden Boy and Big Boy revolvers, the new Deadeye models feature upgraded sights that enhance accuracy for target shooting and plinking.

The Deadeye revolvers retain the proven traditional double-action, premium materials, and craftsmanship from the base models, while adding a fully adjustable rear notch sight and a high-visibility fiber-optic front sight. This sighting system allows users to fine-tune their point of impact and acquire targets quickly across a wide range of lighting conditions.

The H16 Golden Boy Deadeye Revolver holds 10 rounds of .22 Short, Long, or Long Rifle and features a deeply blued and polished steel frame, genuine American walnut grips, and a polished brass backstrap and trigger guard. The H17 Big Boy Deadeye Revolver holds 6 rounds and is chambered for .357 Magnum or .38 Special, making it a natural companion to Henry’s H6 Big Boy lever-action rifles.

Both models are available with a choice of Gunfighter-style grips for enhanced control or Birdshead-style grips for a more compact feel. Each revolver features a smooth double-action and crisp single-action trigger, a 4-inch round-profile barrel, and a quick-takedown cylinder system activated by a switch inside the trigger guard that simplifies cleaning and maintenance. Read more

Firearms

MDT Announces TIMBR Core Laminate Rifle Stocks

MDT is proud to announce the release of the TIMBR Core Laminate Rifle Stock, expanding the TIMBR Core lineup with a modern laminate option for hunters seeking an upgrade from factory polymer stocks with a classic look and feel.

The TIMBR Core Laminate is available at launch for the following inlets:

    • Ruger American Short Action (Right Hand)
    • Savage 110 Short Action (Right Hand)
    • Tikka T3/T3x Short Action (Right Hand)
    • Remington 700 Short Action (Right Hand)

Read more

Firearms
1 … 48 49 50 51 52 … 2,065