Muddy launched DV8 and Timber Recon Xtreme (TRX) women's hunting apparel systems featuring complete layering solutions designed for late-season cold-weather conditions. The waterproof, windproof gear includes base layers, jackets, bibs, and insulation pieces rated for temperatures well below freezing, available online and through retailers nationwide.

ScentLok introduces redesigned Climafleece base layers featuring an optimized warmth-to-weight ratio with microfleece lining, flat-lock seams, and all three of ScentLok's odor-control technologies: Carbon Alloy, Fusix, and Silver Alloy. Women's-specific cuts and men's options available starting at $99.99.

TUO introduces the Nivor Jacket and Bib, purpose-built for late-season whitetail hunting with Paralite™ insulation, AeroGuard™ windproof membrane, and Verse camouflage. Both items feature 4.9+ star ratings and are available at tuogear.com for $389.99 each.

Darton Archery has announced its 2027 TriTech V2 lineup featuring new refinements and weight-saving titanium hardware at the same price as the previous model. Available in 31, 33, 35, and new LD models, the lineup includes three new accessories: colored grip plates, toolless micro-adjust yoke splitter set, and bow stand 3rd-leg.

Bowtech announces the launch of the Anthem 36 and Anthem 39 competition-driven target bows, featuring innovative Adaptive Riser Arch technology and A.I.M. Mod for personalized shooting control. Available October 30, 2026, starting at $2,099.

Elite Archery announces the launch of the Cypher compound bow available November 2, featuring the SP2 Cam System, VX Performance Mods, and a caged aluminum riser delivering IBO speeds up to 335 FPS. The bow offers adjustable let-off up to 90% and a 25"-30.5" draw length range, available as a bare bow or Ready-to-Shoot Kit with Custom Bow Equipment accessories.

Black Eagle Arrows announced new 5mm and 5.7mm Tier One arrows and Purpose Vanes, offering bowhunters and target archers matched shaft-and-vane packages. The arrows feature Dynamic Spine Alignment for superior accuracy and repeatability, with both options lighter and stronger than competing products.

The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) and the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) honored Mark Haldane of Zambeze Delta Safaris, Mozambique, with the 2026 Markhor Award for three decades of conservation work, including recovering buffalo populations from 2,300 to 30,000 and reintroducing lions in the Zambeze Delta.

Hayden Walkush, a master's student at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, received the Boone and Crockett Club Fellow Outstanding Achievement Award for his research on Wisconsin's black bears. His work, conducted under advisor Dr. Cady Sartini at UWSP's Wisconsin Center for Wildlife, studies bear movement through working forests and hunting areas in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

The Mule Deer Foundation and Blacktail Deer Foundation are hiring a Regional Director for California Coast and Central Valley to lead volunteer chapters, expand fundraising, and cultivate donors. The remote position, based in California, offers $67,000–$74,500 salary plus benefits, with applications due November 13, 2026.

The Wild Sheep Foundation congratulates Dr. Ryan Brock, its Youth Education Program Coordinator, for being selected as Nevada's Outdoor Teacher of the Year. Brock has dedicated over two decades to outdoor education, inspiring thousands of students through hands-on learning and programs like the Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience and S.H.E.E.P.

Dallas Safari Club and The World Gunmakers' Evening announced a new international partnership to connect their communities, expand industry engagement, and celebrate sporting heritage. The collaboration includes joint promotional initiatives and event sponsorships, with DSC hosting conventions in Atlanta and Dallas, while WGE holds events in London and Philadelphia.

The Wild Sheep Foundation reaffirmed its support for constitutional hunting and fishing rights, with CEO Gray N. Thornton noting these traditions are cornerstones of conservation heritage. WSF supports states enshrining these rights in their constitutions, with Colorado voters considering Amendment 83 on November 3, 2026.

The Wild Sheep Foundation's President and CEO Gray N. Thornton received the 2027 Peter H. Capstick Hunting Heritage Award from the Dallas Safari Club. The award honors individuals whose sustained contributions have advanced wildlife and habitat conservation while protecting hunting traditions. Thornton has led WSF for eighteen years and distributed over $77 million to mission programs.

Browning Trail Cameras partnered with onX Hunt to integrate cellular trail cameras with the Strike Force Wireless app, allowing hunters to automatically share wildlife imagery to onX Hunt's mapping and planning tools for enhanced digital scouting.

NEXTORCH North America announces the P09 Multi-Function Duty Flashlight featuring white, UV, red, and blue LEDs with up to 2,000 lumens and 240-yard beam distance. Designed for law enforcement and emergency response, it includes tactical strobe, ceramic glass breaker, and IP67 durability at $79.99 MSRP.

Mossy Oak has partnered with STITCH Golf to introduce the SL2 Golf Bag featuring Mossy Oak's iconic Original Bottomland camouflage pattern. The collaboration combines both brands' appreciation for the outdoors and tradition, with the bag retailing for $398 and available online and at select country clubs nationwide.

Remington announces the availability of the 2027 Limited Edition Bullet Knife, The Homesteader, a collector-focused folding pocketknife featuring premium multi-blade design and classic materials. The knife is 100-percent U.S.A. made with hand-finished V-Flat edge and green stag bone handles, now shipping to dealers nationwide at $147.99.

Bass Pro Shops celebrates its fifth New York location opening in Victor with an Evening for Conservation on November 12, 2026, featuring legendary anglers Jimmy Houston, Kevin VanDam, Bob Izumi, and George Poveromo. Fifteen percent of sales will benefit local conservation organizations, with festivities including live entertainment, meet-and-greets, and family activities.

Santa's Wonderland returns to Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's locations across the U.S. and Canada starting November 7, offering FREE studio-quality photos with Santa, kids' crafts, and holiday giveaways through Christmas Eve. Now in its 18th season, this beloved tradition provides families with complimentary holiday experiences and festive activities.

Media members can now register for credentials to attend the 2027 DSC Convention & Sporting Expo, held January 7-10 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. DSC is providing a dedicated pressroom with amenities for the sporting press. Contact Stephanie Mallory at Mallory Communications to pre-register.

Ol'Man Outdoors, maker of Millennium Stands and innovative hunting products, has joined Whitetails Unlimited as a national sponsor. WTU President Jeff Schinkten praised the company's reliable tree stands and commitment to hunter safety through patented technology.

Nukem Hunting, maker of portable and lightweight hunting blinds created by Pat Newcomb, has joined Whitetails Unlimited as a national sponsor. WTU President Jeff Schinkten praised the partnership, noting that Nukem Hunting's stake-free blinds make ground hunting easier for hunters.

Bergara has announced its sponsorship of Beyond the Hunt, an Outdoor Channel television series hosted by Rick and Julie Kreuter. The partnership aligns Bergara's precision hunting rifles with the Kreuter's experience-driven approach to outdoor storytelling, emphasizing conservation, hunting heritage, and wildlife respect.

Field & Stream TV announced its Q4 2026 broadcast schedule featuring thirteen weeks of original fishing and hunting programming beginning September 28. The lineup includes Spanish Fly – The Next Generation, Sport Fishing TV – State of the Ocean narrated by Guy Harvey, Scott Martin Challenge, In Season with Gregg Ritz, and Wingshooting USA across FAST channels.

Outdoor Channel dedicates Saturday evenings to the MeatEater franchise with a three-hour "Prime Cuts" block featuring Rinella's Field Notes, MeatEater Season 14 premiere on November 14, and MeatEater's 12 in 26 cinematic presentations showcasing hunting, fishing, and outdoor adventures with Steven Rinella and crew.

Ralph, Vicki, RJ, and Aubrey Cianciarulo invite viewers to tune into the 26th season of The Choice on Pursuit Channel, beginning Monday, September 28th at 11:30 PM EST. Ralph returns to J&M Whitetails in Kansas seeking redemption after previous unsuccessful encounters.

Pursuit Media showcases its extensive programming across Pursuit Channel and Pursuit UP, featuring shows like Wiebe Trapline Adventures, Higdon Outdoors, Argo's How to Hunt with Ryan Kohler, and The Fish Guyz. The dual-platform approach provides outdoor enthusiasts flexible access to premium content via linear television and free streaming across major platforms.

The Realtree Channel returns to MyOutdoorTV throughout November, featuring shows from Bill Jordan, Tyler Jordan, and David Blanton. The ad-free channel includes Realtree Outdoors, Realtree Road Trips, Realtree's Monster Bucks, and Black Cloud Duck Hunting content celebrating Team Realtree's 40th Anniversary in 2026.

In my youth, and honestly until just a few years ago, it would have taken an act of God to get me out of a tree during hunting season. Few things mattered more to me than hunting. I thought that was the pinnacle of what a mature hunter was supposed to be. Single-minded, undeterred by work, family, friends, weather, equipment, or health. If I could hunt, I did hunt, and not once did I ever regret it.

This past Saturday, I had the entire day to myself, my tree stand, and the 18 acres I call home. My wife, Wendy, was working as an election officer all day for Virginia’s early voting, and I had an honest-to-goodness clean slate ahead of me. No chores. No deadlines. No distractions. So, I climbed into my tree stand, laid my bow across my lap, and prepared to watch the sun rise and set from the very spot I had clamored to occupy for decades.

God blessed my early morning dedication with an autumn sunrise for the ages. Our land consists of old-growth hardwoods that, from spring through fall, shield us from our neighbors, road noise, and, honestly, the rest of the world. In spring, that blanket of leaves is a bright, crisp green, but on this particular morning, the woods wore oranges, reds, browns, yellows, and a few stubborn green leaves that reminded me Mother Nature, not Monet, is the finest impressionist.

The sun rose higher, and the day moved along. I sat motionless. The squirrels didn’t. They scampered, jumped, ran, and climbed all around me. I’d like to think they didn’t know I was there, but I think they did. I think they always do. They just didn’t care. And on that day, without my squirrel-hunting handguns, neither did I.

I have three bucks on camera and routinely see a solid six-pointer from our back porch. During those first few hours, I hoped he’d come by. A few years ago, that thought would have never waned. I would have spent every waking moment imagining where he’d appear, how he’d approach, and whether I’d have a clear shot when he finally stepped into range.

That was then. My, how things have changed.

By midmorning, my mind had shifted from visualizing that buck, or his big brother, beneath my stand to wondering whether I had enough ingredients to make Wendy the dinner she deserved after a long day of working. I wondered whether the kitchen sink was empty, or the dishwasher. I wondered if she’d remembered to take her lunch, or whether I should text and check. And if she hadn’t, I wondered if I should bring her something to eat. She had her lunch, and they were quite busy, so a visit wouldn’t have been helpful.

I then thought about my daughter, Brenn. Now a senior at William & Mary, I wondered whether she had enough money for food, gas, and her next room-and-board payment. She earned a full-tuition scholarship, so most of her education was paid for, but there’s always something. There always seems to be something when you’re a parent, and I suppose that’s part of the job. You never really stop wondering whether your children have everything they need, even when they’re doing just fine without you.

Then my thoughts drifted to a good friend, Lee, in Montana who, as far as I can tell, has mastered life. All his children are wildly successful, either serving in the military, having graduated from college, or soon to graduate. He takes care of everyone else first, his friends included, and somehow manages to make it all look effortless. So, sitting there in my tree stand, I checked in on him and told him how grateful I was to be his friend. There wasn’t any particular reason for it. I just thought he ought to know.

My tree stand is high enough that I can see my dogs when they’re in the backyard. Occasionally, they’d venture outside, sniff around, investigate whatever mysterious things dogs find endlessly fascinating, and then wander toward the gate. Mostly, though, they’d look toward that gate and wait, perhaps hoping Wendy, Brenn, or I would come home.

Anyone who has dogs will tell you they love us far more than we ever truly deserve. Watching them, knowing they missed us and had absolutely no idea if or when we’d be back, both broke my heart and touched it. They don’t understand schedules, work obligations, or why the people they love sometimes disappear for hours. They just know we’re gone, and they wait for us to return. I don’t know that I deserve to matter that much to them, and yet I do.

I sat until around 1 p.m., then climbed down and walked back to the house. I grabbed a quick snack but spent the next few hours showering my dogs with the love and attention they deserved. We played, danced, and shared a PB&J sandwich. I did an inventory of what I needed to make dinner for Wendy, and then, as both dogs curled up around the fireplace, I rubbed their heads, told them I loved them, and climbed back into my tree stand.

I have no idea if that buck, or any deer for that matter, came by while I was gone. And I don’t know that I cared.

There was a time when leaving my stand during daylight hours would have felt like an unforgivable hunting sin. I would have spent the rest of the season wondering whether the biggest buck of my life had wandered past while I was inside making a sandwich. Worse, I probably would have convinced myself that he had. But that afternoon, I climbed back into my stand without the slightest concern about what I might have missed.

I sat motionless for the rest of the afternoon, watching the woods slowly surrender their colors to the fading light. The squirrels continued their business, the breeze moved through the hardwoods, and eventually God shut off the lights. I climbed down, walked back to the house, put my bow away, and went inside.

I never saw a deer that day. I didn’t draw my bow, didn’t release an arrow, and didn’t have a single hunting story worth telling if the only measure of a successful hunt was whether something ended up in the freezer.

And yet, I can’t remember many days in a tree stand that meant more to me.

For years, hunting was almost all I thought about, and I think that’s largely because hunting was the best part of my life at the time. It was where I wanted to be, what I looked forward to, and what I organized so much of my life around. I measured good days by the hours I spent in the woods and great days by what I brought home.

Now, even when I’m hunting, it’s hardly the only thing on my mind. I think about my wife, my children, my friends, and two dogs who apparently believe I’m the greatest human being ever to walk the earth. I think about the home we’ve built, the people I love, and how fortunate I am that so much of what matters to me is waiting just a short walk from my tree stand.

I still love bowhunting. I still love the anticipation of a buck stepping out of the hardwoods, the challenge of getting close enough to draw, and the satisfaction that comes from doing everything right. I suspect I always will.

But somewhere along the way, hunting stopped being the best part of my life and became one of the many wonderful parts of it.

I think that’s because I’ve finally built a life I don’t want to escape from.

And I don’t know if that makes me a better hunter, a better man, or both.

– Jay Pinsky

jay@theoutdoorwire.com