Marilyn Bentz, Executive Director of the National Bowhunter Education Foundation since 2003, received the Archery Trade Association's Industry Impact Award at the 2026 ATA Trade Show. The award recognizes her contributions to growing participation in archery and bowhunting through safety education and industry leadership.

Bleecker Street Publications announced the acquisition of Gun University, founded by Ryan Cleckner and Dave Chesson, a leading online platform for firearms education and gear reviews. The acquisition expands Bleecker Street Publications' portfolio while maintaining Gun University's mission of delivering responsible firearms education and training resources.

Team Mathews secured four victories across six pro divisions at the 2026 ASA Pro/Am in Russell County, Alabama, with Brady Myers winning Men's Pro, Cara Kelly claiming Women's Pro, Chris Perkins taking Known Pro, and Ryan Jeffries winning Senior Pro, totaling eight podium finishes.

Remington Ammunition celebrated strong performances by its sponsored trap shooters at the 46th Annual Southern Grand in Odessa, Florida, with Team Remington capturing two of five event championships. Notable winners included Ian Lawrence in High All Around, Zach Nannini in Handicap Championship, Wyatt Debrie as Junior Champion, and Barrett Debrie winning Sub-Junior titles.

Federal Ammunition's sponsored trap shooters achieved strong performances at the 46th Annual Southern Grand in Odessa, Florida. Weston Anderson earned Singles Co-Champion honors with Fiocchi's Ricky Marshall, Jr., while Hall of Famer Deborah Ohye Neilson won High All Around and High Over All Championships in the Lady II Division.

Chestnut Hill Outdoors highlights fruit tree varieties well-suited to southern climates, addressing challenges posed by warmer winters and limited chill hours. The company recommends low-chill peaches, plums, nectarines, warm-climate apples, pears, persimmons, figs, and pomegranates for reliable harvests in the Southeast.

Whitetails Unlimited distributed $318,541 in grants through its HOPE for Wildlife Program, with funds primarily supporting land acquisitions for public hunting access. The organization partners with state and federal agencies to enhance wildlife habitat, increase hunting opportunities, and reduce poaching through initiatives like Deer Management and Whitetail Watch.

The Light Goose Conservation Order, an annual tradition since 1999, offers unique spring waterfowl hunting opportunities in northern states with relaxed regulations. Guide JR Borchelt of Waterfowl Assassins and Hardcore Waterfowl discusses hunting strategies in the Dakotas, emphasizing full-body decoys, large spreads, and electronic callers for pursuing snow geese during migration.

Rock River Arms introduces the 10.5-inch A1 Carbine SBR to celebrate the new zero tax on NFA Short-Barrel Rifles. The retro rifle features a lightweight chrome moly barrel, forged LAR-15M lower receiver, and is available with M4-style or fixed entry stock options, priced at $1,135-$1,150.

Real Avid has launched Master Collections series for AR-platform firearms, offering bundled tooling and maintenance products ranging from basic cleaning sets to armorer-level assemblies. The collections include five AR-15 options and four dual-platform AR-15/10 solutions designed for DIY enthusiasts and professional gunsmiths.

ScentLok introduces the BE:1 Silentude Jacket, Bib, and Pant, featuring the quietest premium fleece fabric ever developed. The gear combines Carbon Alloy® odor control with Precip-X™ water resistance and articulated design for maximum comfort during extended hunting sits.

TUO, a Nexus Outdoors brand, introduces the Clement Puffy Jacket featuring body-mapped Paralite™ insulation with 80g in the core and 60g in sleeves for thermal efficiency without bulk. The technical jacket combines a wind-resistant 20D nylon shell with extreme packability and articulated design for outdoor performance.

Buck Commander unveiled the BUK OPS Cycloptic™ series featuring patent-pending Primetime Color Vision™ technology for enhanced low-light visibility. The line includes the Cycloptic handheld viewer and Cycloptic-X crossbow scope, both offering 4K video recording, 1-5x zoom, and customizable reticle options.

Badlands announces the new Mag Turkey Vest, a lightweight run-and-gun vest featuring a Fidlock® magnetic seat system for quick deployment and mobility. The vest weighs 2 lbs. 8 oz., includes silent magnetic box call pockets, and is covered by Badlands' Unconditional Lifetime Warranty.

SPYPOINT, a global leader in trail camera technology since 2004, earned multiple gold awards in the 2026 Readers' Choice Awards from Bowhunting World and Predator Xtreme. The company won gold in Best New Product for the FLEX-DARK Series, Trail Camera, and Cellular Trail Camera categories, marking the first time any company has swept these awards.

North Lake Outdoors, founded by George Benning and Kyle McKinney, has renewed its sponsorship with Whitetails Unlimited. The Minnesota-based company specializes in extra-large cutting boards for hunters and anglers, manufacturing all products domestically.

The United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) and Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA) have become official partners of NSSF's First Shots program, an introductory target-shooting initiative. The partnership will offer First Shots Intro to Steel Challenge experiences at participating clubs, providing safe introductions to competition shooting for new participants.

The Boone and Crockett Club has partnered with the University of Wyoming to establish a Working Lands Wildlife Conservation Professorship in the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources. The program will focus on wildlife habitat conservation, ranch management, and wildlife disease research, including chronic wasting disease, while supporting Wyoming's ranching communities and big game populations.

Dead Air Silencers announced the hiring of Jack Cannon as Key Accounts Manager. Cannon brings 15 years of experience from Davidson's Inc., where he held multiple roles including National Accounts Manager. CEO Ernie Beckwith stated Cannon's background will help the company better serve wholesalers and distributors.

Ranew's Outdoor Equipment offers the Firminator lineup of food plot implements for turkey hunting, including the G3, RT, and ATV models. Each features an Accurate Seeding System for efficient planting of various crops like wheat, rye, oats, and clover, with easy adjustments for different terrain conditions.

German Precision Optics (GPO USA) now includes a premium custom-fitted Cordura stay-on zip case at no additional charge with all PASSION APO spotting scopes, including the 16-48×65 APO and 20-60×85 APO models, providing rugged protection for field use.

Federal Ammunition has begun shipping its America 250th commemorative ammunition line, featuring limited-edition loads across American Eagle, Top Gun, and Champion product families. The special packaging honors the country's 250th anniversary while delivering reliable accuracy and performance across rifle, handgun, rimfire, and shotshell categories.

Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. announced ten distinguished retailers nationwide as 2025 Ambassador Dealers, including Americana Arms, Not Just Guns, H&H Shooting Sports, Fuquay Gun, Fin Feather Fur Outfitters, Magnum Shooting Center, Freedom Firearms, Idaho Guns & Outdoors, Shoot Straight, and Smoky Mountain Guns & Ammo, honoring their exemplary performance and dedication to the brand.

Vortex Optics has renewed its commitment as a national sponsor of Whitetails Unlimited, according to WTU President Jeff Schinkten. The Barneveld, Wisconsin-based optics company offers riflescopes, binoculars, spotting scopes, and accessories backed by an unlimited lifetime warranty.

MyOutdoorTV announces "Turkey Season Full Strut" presented by TriStar, featuring comprehensive turkey hunting content from March through May on the premier streaming platform. The programming includes popular segments like Can't Stop the Flop, BuckVentures Turkey, and Spring Thunder, plus live scheduled channel TurkeyStream and replays of Michael Waddell's live turkey hunts.

Outdoor Sportsman Group Networks announces a packed Q2 schedule starting March 30, featuring new series and seasons across Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network, and MyOutdoorTV. Highlights include Chef Mike Robinson's Fishing the Wild, Heather Douville's Our Way of Life, and live McKenzie ASA Pro Am archery tournaments on Sportsman Channel.

I can’t complain about my life. Still, I sometimes wish I could spend as much time in the woods as a game camera. 

And that’s really the definition of a good tool: doing the tasks we either can’t do or prefer not to do, so we can still live a balanced life.

Game cameras - especially cellular models - have completely changed the way we hunt just about everything. And that's evident to serious turkey hunters who use them to understand birds, habitat, and timing.

Why?

Because they see it all. Twenty-four hours a day. Seven days a week.

Game cameras don’t need a kitchen pass. They don’t have to ask for time off work or squeeze in a scouting trip between soccer practice and mowing the lawn. They sit quietly where we place them and simply watch.

They don’t overcall. They don’t move, twitch, sneeze, or snore either.

They just collect information.

And these days, with cellular technology, they send those little digital “Wish You Were Here” postcards straight to our phones.

So what does the perfect hunting partner actually do for us now?

To find out, I reached out to Dan Rensel, Regional Director for the National Wild Turkey Federation and a Pro-Staff member for SPYPOINT, to talk about how modern trail cameras, particularly cellular models, are changing the way turkey hunters scout birds and understand the ground they hunt.

1. How can using a game camera help the average hunter learn more about their local turkey population?

Dan Rensel: 

Game cameras help identify daily turkey movement patterns and show when and where birds are using specific areas throughout the day. Instead of relying on a fleeting visual count, cameras provide documented images that allow for more accurate population estimates.

They also reveal seasonal shifts. Turkeys don’t use the same areas year-round. Cameras show when flocks begin transitioning to breeding ranges, when they establish strut zones, and how their use of food sources changes through winter, spring, and summer. Over time, that data builds a much clearer picture of your local flock dynamics.

2. How does a game camera help a hunter understand turkey behavior better than in-person scouting?

Dan Rensel: 

Boots-on-the-ground scouting has value, but turkeys are extremely alert and easily pressured. Human presence can alter movement patterns, especially near roost sites and strut zones.

Cameras allow hunters to observe without intrusion. You can learn when gobblers leave the roost, the routes they prefer, where dominant birds strut, and where hens feed, all without disturbing the area. That unpressured look often reveals higher-percentage locations that might otherwise be compromised by too much foot traffic.

3. Does the type of camera matter? What advantages do high-quality cameras offer?

Dan Rensel: 

Absolutely. The type of camera matters.

Cellular cameras provide an unpressured, real-time overview of turkey activity. That means fewer trips into the woods and less disturbance. Trigger speed and recovery time are also critical. Turkeys move quickly, and lower-end cameras can miss key moments entirely.

High-quality video capabilities add another layer of insight. With strong audio and video clarity, you can observe dominance displays, flock hierarchy, feeding behavior, and even predator interactions. That level of detail goes far beyond a single snapshot and provides a much deeper understanding of flock dynamics.

4. What are best management practices when using cameras to improve and protect wild turkey populations?

Dan Rensel: 

Camera placement is everything.

Position cameras in meaningful locations, near known roosting areas (at a respectful distance), established strut zones, seasonal food sources, and travel corridors between open areas and timber.

The information gathered should guide habitat improvements. If birds consistently use open areas, that may signal a need for more thinning, prescribed fire, or native forage development. Cameras don’t just help you hunt smarter, they help you manage smarter.

5. Can you share a personal example of how cameras changed your understanding of turkey behavior?

Dan Rensel: 

I’ve used game cameras, especially cellular models, for many years, and they’ve become one of the most valuable tools in my scouting and management toolkit.

Over time, they’ve shown me exactly when turkeys return to their breeding ranges in several of my hunting areas. It’s not precise clockwork, but it’s impressively consistent. That pattern recognition has helped me identify the most productive windows to target specific groups of gobblers during the spring season.

Cell cameras have also saved me countless hours. Some of my hunting properties are more than an hour away. Real-time updates prevent unnecessary trips when birds aren’t active and allow me to focus on areas that are heating up. That ability to make timely, data-driven decisions has made cellular cameras a true game-changer.

6. How does turkey management differ from deer management, and can cameras help with that difference?

Dan Rensel: 

Turkeys and deer use habitat very differently.

Turkeys rely heavily on visibility and line of sight for predator detection. They prefer open timber, thinned areas, and accessible food plots. Habitat management often involves prescribed burning, disking fields to promote native forbs, and opening the canopy to allow sunlight to reach the forest floor.

Deer, on the other hand, depend more on cover. Thick bedding areas, dense edges, and shrubby vegetation provide security, fawning areas, and escape routes.

Game camera strategy should reflect those differences.

For turkeys, focus on:

• Daylight strut zones in late winter and spring
• Field edges and open feeding areas
• Time-lapse mode on larger fields to monitor broad movement patterns

For deer, camera placement typically centers around:

• Travel corridors and trails
• Rub lines
• Scrapes
• Feeding areas with heavy cover nearby

Understanding how turkeys interact with habitat allows landowners and hunters to tailor both their scouting and their management strategies accordingly.

And it saves us a lot of time we can devote to other things like family, friends, and work.

Jay Pinsky, Editor - The Hunting Wire & The Archery Wire

jay@theoutdoorwire.com