Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Sierra Bullets is proud to announce its 2026 new product lineup. Beginning in early 2026, Sierra will roll out three waves of new bullets that will be available through stocking dealers, major retail sporting good stores, their websites and www.SierraBullets.com. To purchase new products at a dealer near you, visit the dealer locator at Sierra Dealers. Read more
Lipsey’s, a nationally renowned firearms distributor, celebrates the return of the legendary Smith & Wesson Night Guard, now reintroduced as a Lipsey’s Exclusive with modern enhancements designed for today’s shooters.
Originally produced in 2010, the Night Guard has been thoughtfully updated while staying true to its rugged, hard-use heritage. The new Night Guard lineup debuts with two L-Frame editions: the 5-shot Model 396 chambered in .44 Special, and the Model 386 chambered in .357 Magnum with a 7-shot capacity. Both models deliver significant power in a lightweight package, featuring a scandium frame paired with a stainless steel cylinder.
Lipsey’s collaborated closely with Smith & Wesson to enhance the original design. Key updates include a 3-inch barrel, no internal key lock, a ball detent lock-up for increased strength and durability, and a thicker forcing cone. The revolvers are equipped with a fully adjustable rear sight with a .150″-wide notch and an XS .130″-width square-top front night sight, enabling fast target acquisition at close range while maintaining accuracy at distance. Hogue Bantam rubber grips complete the package, providing excellent recoil control and concealment. Read more
IRVING, TX – Avian-X, the industry leader in waterfowl-hunting innovation, revealed the expansion of its motion duck decoy assortment with the addition of three new species to the popular Power Butt Kicker lineup: Mallard Hen, Pintail Drake, and Black Duck.
Engineered to replicate the precise feeding behavior of live birds, these new motion decoys feature anatomically accurate feeder-butt profiles paired with power-kicking webbed feet that generate true-to-life motion at the water’s surface. From natural ripples and wake to the unmistakable splash signatures of mallards, pintails, and black ducks actively feeding, this system delivers the micro-movements that convince high-circling flocks to commit.
Every decoy includes a lifelike feeder-butt body in the hunter’s species of choice, a high-impact power module, two power-kicking webbed feet, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with charger—everything needed to deploy realistic feeding action right out of the box. And, because the decoys are designed for maximum effectiveness, each unit offers two motion modes: Read more
15 new models built on the next-generation Inertia Driven® platform with refined ergonomics and field-focused upgrades.
After debuting the next generation Affinity 3 and Affinity 3.5 in 2025 – the platform’s first major evolution in more than a decade – Franchi builds on that momentum for 2026 with the introduction of 15 new models across both lineups, offering hunters expanded options to make the Affinity their own.
Within the Franchi family, the Affinity is a true do-it-all Inertia Driven® semi-auto—trusted for its proven reliability, clean operation, and the kind of field performance that holds up across seasons. Paired with Franchi’s signature craftsmanship and Italian design influence, the updated Affinity lineup brings together tradition, function, and modern refinement in one familiar platform.
The latest Affinity shotguns feature an all-new stock design that highlights Franchi’s Italian artistry while delivering meaningful ergonomic improvements. A slimmer forend with enhanced checkering provides a more secure grip and faster, more responsive swings, while grip checkering is positioned higher and farther back to improve control in real-world shooting conditions. Read more
Dayton, OH – MTM Case-Gard® makes range trips effortless with the new Pistol Range Kit (PRK), a purpose-built, all-in-one solution that keeps your range essentials organized, protected, and ready to go.
Packed inside a clear red, water-resistant dry box, the PRK includes a foam-padded handgun tray, five-magazine storage case, ear and eye protection, safety flags, and paper targets—everything you need for a safe and productive day at the range. Compact, secure, and portable, it’s perfect for both new and experienced shooters.
Key Features: Read more
Stoeger builds guns for people who put in real hours and expect their gear to do the same. That mindset drove the launch of the STR-9 Thinline last year—and it’s exactly why Stoeger is stepping it up with the new STR-9 Thinline+.
Like every pistol in the STR family, the Thinline is built on Stoeger’s proven striker-fired, semi-auto platform. What makes it different is how it carries. The slim, one-inch-wide slide rides close to the body to stay out of the way, while the standard-size grip gives shooters a solid, confident hold—no compromises when it counts.
The STR-9 Thinline+ refines that formula even further. Its ported barrel and lower overall profile reduces printing and lowers the bore axis for improved recoil control. A larger magwell makes reloads quicker and more forgiving, and the Tungsten Cerakote slide finish adds both durability and corrosion resistance for everyday carry in real conditions. Read more
New A.I. models, cold-weather controls, and updated camo for unforgiving seasons.
Accokeek, MD — Benelli’s Advanced Impact (A.I.) evolution continues to gather momentum in 2026 as the Super Black Eagle 3 A.I. lineup expands with new 28-gauge models, new camouflage offerings, and purposeful operational enhancements. Built for demanding environments and uncompromising performance, the latest SBE 3 A.I. updates reinforce Benelli’s leadership in modern waterfowling shotguns.
Benelli’s Advanced Impact barrel technology has established a new benchmark in shotgun performance, maintaining higher pellet density while delivering increased velocity and penetration compared to conventional barrel designs. From open water to tight timber, and from first light to final shot, A.I. technology delivers decisive results—on both clays and birds alike.
For 2026, Benelli introduces its first-ever 28-gauge Super Black Eagle 3 models, all of which are equipped with Advanced Impact (A.I.) barrels and chambered for 2 3/4- and 3-inch shotshells. Read more
Viridian Weapon Technologies has expanded its Modern Dot Sight family with two optics engineered to accelerate response and sharpen decision-making. The MDS25 and MDS35 were built from the ground up to eliminate tunnel vision, reduce visual clutter, and give shooters a cleaner, faster path from sight picture to shot.
In a market long reliant on outdated, round-bodied red dots, Viridian’s Modern Dot Sights move the category forward. Both models feature expansive square lenses, top-mounted internals, and refined visual geometry designed for fast acquisition and total field awareness—delivering more information in every moment a shooter spends behind the gun.
Built Around the Shooter’s Line of Sight
Rather than adapting legacy tube designs, MDS optics are engineered from the shooter’s visual perspective. Thin-walled housings and large, clear lenses dramatically increase field of view while relocating critical components to the top of the optic for an uncluttered sight picture and maximized situational awareness.
Viridian’s green-dot technology and fully multi-coated glass deliver a precise, high-contrast aiming point while maintaining more natural color transmission through the lens, helping shooters stay locked on target in any lighting condition.
All MDS optics feature: Read more
Hawke® Optics, a global leader in precision sporting optics, introduces the Vantage IR 1–4×20 Turkey Dot Scope in Mossy Oak® Bottomland, purpose-built to give turkey hunters fast target acquisition, precise shot placement, and a camo pattern that blends seamlessly into spring woods. Combining Hawke’s proven optical performance with an illuminated turkey-specific reticle and iconic Mossy Oak® Bottomland finish, this optic is designed to deliver when the moment of truth arrives.
The Vantage IR 1–4×20 offers the versatility turkey hunters demand. On 1x, it provides rapid, reflex-style shooting when birds move in close. When distance increases, the scope zooms smoothly to 4x for confident shot placement at the edge of effective range. A generous four inches of eye relief and adaptable mounting options make it compatible with a wide variety of turkey shotguns and shooting styles. Capped, low-profile ½ MOA turrets and a precision glass-etched reticle with multi-stage red and green illumination provide dependable control in the field.
At the heart of the scope is Hawke’s Turkey Dot IR reticle, designed specifically for fast, intuitive targeting on moving birds. Read more
We’re reaching out to gather your thoughts on the next iteration of Michigan’s hunting and outdoor mapping support tool, Mi-HUNT.
For years, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts across the state have relied on a web?based interactive mapping application that helped plan trips, explore public lands and land cover information, and locate areas open to hunting. The tool offered detailed map layers including state game and wildlife areas, federal lands, cooperating private lands, vegetation cover and topography.
As we begin development of the next-generation hunting locator tool for Michigan, we want to hear from you! Your insights will help shape a tool that’s intuitive and useful. We’re asking passionate hunters, trappers and outdoor recreationists like you to take a short survey to share how you use mapping and land?location tools — and what features you’d love to see in the future.
Your experience and input will directly influence decisions about features, usability and priorities for this resource. Whether you use mapping tools often — or only occasionally — your voice matters!