Pope & Young, North America's bowhunting conservation organization, is hosting an online-only auction on May 15th featuring exclusive archery tags, premium hunts, and sought-after historical bows from the Pope & Young Museum. Pre-bidding is currently live with items including an Acoma Pueblo velvet elk governor's tag, Stone sheep hunts, and products from Big Shot Archery, Garmin, Redneck Blinds, and Xpedition.
Carbon Express Pro-Staff archer James Lutz earned gold and silver medals for Team USA at Archery World Cup Stop #2 in Shanghai, China, competing with Carbon Express Nano Pro RZ arrows and TruFire Rivet release equipment.
Dead Air Silencers has been recognized with the 2025 Shooting Sports Retailer Gold Award in the suppressor category, voted by readers and retailers nationwide. CEO Ernie Beckwith highlighted the company's commitment to innovation, premium products, and customer support that earned this industry recognition.
The Murray Road Agency, a strategic marketing and brand development firm, has been nominated for the 2026 Best of South Carolina Awards in the Business & Creative Services category. CEO Tim Brandt highlighted the agency's dedication to delivering innovative marketing solutions and its commitment to Charleston and South Carolina's business community.
VKTR Industries has acquired U.S. Patent No. 7,735,410 for the Combat Match Bolt from inventor Robert Clark. The company plans to bring the product to market in 2026, leveraging its enhanced durability and reliability features compared to standard bolt configurations.
SLG2, Inc. released its Q1 2026 Report highlighting the Grand Safety Tour's impact across four states, with 1,155 guests participating in events supported by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's. The report reveals 39% of guests improved their attitude toward firearms, while 72% indicated plans to purchase a firearm following their experience.
Major League Fishing's Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 4 streams live on MyOutdoorTV from Douglas Lake in Tennessee, featuring up to 150 pro anglers competing for a top prize of $135,000. The three-day tournament (May 8-10) will be broadcast by Chad McKee and Rob Newell on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV app, and Rumble.
SHIELD Sights highlighted competition results from the EHC Warm Up Cup 2026 in Hungary, with SHIELD-equipped shooters securing top podium finishes including Bartosz Szczesny's 1st place in the Optics Division and Miroslav Zapletal's 1st place in the Production Optics Division.
The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP®) concluded its 2026 Eastern National Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky, with 16,082 students from 1,132 schools competing. NASP® President Tommy Floyd highlighted the event's significance as a celebration of student achievement, family support, and expanded outdoor recreation opportunities, including the growing NASP® 3D discipline.
Darton Archery, Black Eagle Arrows, and Conquest Archery dominated the ASA event in Minden, Louisiana, with podium finishes across multiple divisions. Chance Beaubouef won Men's Open Pro, while the brands secured victories in Women's Pro, Crossbow, Senior Masters, and numerous other categories, demonstrating strong archer confidence in their equipment.
At the Hyundai Archery World Cup Stage #2 in Shanghai, the USA earned four medals led by Alexis Ruiz, who won gold in compound mixed team with James Lutz, silver in compound women's team with Olivia Dean and Kaylee Gurney, and bronze in individual compound women's competition.
SLG2, Inc. will bring its Shoot Like A Girl experience to Bass Pro Shops in Chesterfield, Michigan on May 16-17, 2026. Led by all-women instructors, the free event features hands-on firearm and archery demonstrations, safety education, and product showcases from leading outdoor brands for participants of all experience levels.
Whitetails Unlimited awarded $18,500 to shooting sport organizations in South Dakota, including 4-H, Boy Scouts of America, and scholastic trap teams. The grants support hundreds of youth through WTU's Staying on Target Program, which promotes shooting sports and hunting traditions.
Blocker Outdoors experts Nate Hosie and Randy Birdsong of HeadHunters TV, and Jason Powell of Jason Powell Outdoors share late-season turkey hunting tactics, including softer calling, patience, and strategic decoy placement for pressured birds during May's challenging conditions.
The Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports and the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA) released PUP AI, an interactive chat tool designed to help users access information from the National R3 Clearinghouse. The tool makes recruitment, retention, and reactivation research more accessible to agencies, organizations, and professionals working to strengthen hunting and shooting sports participation.
North Dakota is accepting applications for district game warden positions with exams scheduled in June at locations in Minot, West Fargo, Bismarck, and Dickinson. Applicants must register by May 27 through the North Dakota State Job Openings website and meet requirements including a bachelor's degree, valid driver's license, and peace officer license eligibility.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) is hiring a Field Representative to cover Idaho, Utah, and Washington, managing Friends of NRA fundraising events, volunteer committees, and grant promotion across the three-state region.
NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi will appear on Fox Business's Health Uncensored with Dr. Drew on May 10 to discuss Project ChildSafe and the "Brave Conversations" initiative, which partners with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Department of Veterans Affairs to promote secure firearm storage and suicide prevention.
Liberty Safe, America's #1 safe manufacturer, unveiled the Presidential Signature, an ultra-premium safe featuring Pro-Flex™ modular shelving for customizable organization. The safe combines robust steel construction with advanced locking mechanisms, premium interior finishes, and luxury design elements including high-gloss color options and a 5-spoke ship's wheel handle.
Walker's has launched the Razor Junior Muffs, youth-sized hearing protection designed for younger shooters. The muffs feature dual Hi-Gain microphones, HD speakers, sound-activated compression, and a 23dB Noise Reduction Rating, now available online and through select retailers nationwide.
ScentLok, owned by Nexus Outdoors in Muskegon, MI, launches premium everyday apparel including the Campfire Flannel Shirt, updated Flannel Long-Sleeve, Logo Sun Tech Hoodie, and Shed Lightweight Tech Hoodie designed for hunters transitioning from technical outdoor pursuits to daily wear.
Zanders, a premier national distributor based in Sparta, Illinois, announced the addition of Swampfox Optics to its wholesale catalog. Dealers can now access Swampfox's innovative optics solutions including red dot sights, prism scopes, and LPVOs through Zanders' nationwide distribution network.
SLG2, Inc. will bring its Shoot Like A Girl experience to Bass Pro Shops in Chesterfield, Michigan on May 16–17 as part of its 2026 Grand Safety Tour. Led by all-women instructors, the free event features hands-on demonstrations with a FATS by Inveris simulator, archery instruction, and product displays from leading outdoor brands, welcoming participants of all experience levels.
Elite Archery's Varos compound bow has been named Outdoor Life's 2026 Bow of the Year after a three-day evaluation of seven flagship hunting bows. Outdoor Life called it "the most accurate bow we tested," with the Varos averaging 2.79-inch groups at 50 yards and winning for accuracy, features, and overall performance.
Buck Knives, Inc. announced its 2026 product lineup featuring the 110 and 112 Slim Heritage Elites with MagnaCut steel blades, the 724 Mustang mid-lock EDC knife, and three new Alpha Backcountry fixed blades. All products are available at buckknives.com and authorized retailers.
Mike Stock, President and CEO of Hodgdon Powder Company, has been appointed to the NSSF Board of Governors. Stock brings over two decades of firearm industry leadership, including previous roles at Winchester Ammunition and service on the SAAMI Board of Directors.
Outdoor Sportsman Group promoted Ryan Barnes, an eight-time goose calling champion and journalist, to Editor in Chief of WILDFOWL Magazine. Barnes brings extensive waterfowl hunting expertise and experience from building Split Reed, a popular digital media company focused on waterfowl hunting content.
NEBO, THAW, and TRUE offer complementary road safety solutions including portable lighting, jump starters, heating products, and emergency tools designed to help drivers handle unexpected roadside emergencies with confidence and preparedness.
Team Remington's Sheaffer Stanfill shot a perfect 500x500 to win the 30th annual Krieghoff Masters Championship at Forest City Gun Club in Savannah, Georgia. Teammates Alessandro Vitale, Connor Thigpen, and Clay Baldwin also earned podium finishes, with Team Remington sweeping the Men's Doubles competition.
20North Marketing has signed on as Platinum Sponsor of the 2026 NSSF Marketing & Leadership Summit, taking place May 12–14 at The Hilton Beachfront Resort & Spa in Hilton Head. The digital marketing agency will support industry conversations on AI, leadership, consumer behavior, and digital marketing strategies.
Hornady® announced partnerships with Scouting America, serving as ammunition sponsor for Camp Cedars Rifle and Shotgun programs and the Mid-America Council's annual Sporting Clays Event. Vice President Jason Hornady emphasized the programs' focus on discipline, responsibility, and respect for youth development in shooting sports.
United Call Works, a premium wildlife call manufacturer co-founded by Jimmy Wren and Casey Schultz, has joined Whitetails Unlimited as a national sponsor. The Oak Harbor, Ohio-based company offers duck, goose, deer, and elk calls along with OEM services.
Vortex® has renewed its Silver sponsorship of the Vortex Outdoor Adventure Camps Fund with the Boone and Crockett Club for 2026, supporting youth scholarships and gear for conservation education programs at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch. CEO Tony Schoonen and Brand Manager Sawyer Briel emphasized the partnership's importance in inspiring the next generation of conservation stewards.
CZ announces the addition of Brennah Gaston to its professional shooting team. Gaston, a rising star in practical shooting, earned a gold medal with Team USA at the 2025 IPSC Handgun World Shoot and is the reigning Ladies Open National Champion. She will compete in major USPSA and IPSC matches throughout the 2026 season using CZ firearms.
Athlon Optics, a U.S. sports optics company based in Olathe, Kansas, will continue its partnership with Whitetails Unlimited as a National Sponsor. The company offers red dots, rifle scopes, spotting scopes, and binoculars backed by lifetime warranties. WTU President Jeff Schinkten praised the partnership and Athlon's commitment to quality outdoor products.
GAME & FISH TV, powered by Outdoor Sportsman Group, debuts "All In The Family" programming block every Friday evening featuring a four-hour McMillan marathon and two hours of the docuseries Kid Rodeo. The lineup showcases real-life outdoor adventures and family stories, available on multiple streaming platforms including Roku, Prime Video, and VIZIO.
Ralph, Vicki, RJ, and Aubrey Cianciarulo invite viewers to tune into season 26 of The Choice on Pursuit Channel, airing Monday May 11th at 6:00AM EST. The family continues their turkey hunting pursuit with multiple family members on the board competing for the slam.
Outdoor Channel presents "Taste Of The Wild," a Monday evening block in May featuring wild game cookery shows including Fishing the Wild with Chef Mike Robinson, WildFed with Daniel Vitalis, MeatEater with Steven Rinella, Dead Meat with Scott Leysath, Life of Fire with Pat Martin, and Duck Camp Dinners with Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois, airing 7-10:30 p.m. ET.
For 24 years, Richard Swann has worked in one of the most demanding and high-stakes roles in the U.S. Air Force - Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD). With multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan behind him, his career has been defined by precision, discipline, and the ability to remain steady under pressure.
It’s no surprise, then, that he found a natural connection in archery.
Swann’s introduction to the sport came in 2016, not through his own pursuit, but through his son. Living in Georgia at the time, his son joined the Paulding County 4-H Archery Team - an opportunity that quickly became a family endeavor. Like many youth programs, volunteers were essential, and Swann stepped up.
“I figured if I was going to coach, I should probably learn to shoot,” he said.
That decision sparked a journey that would grow far beyond a simple volunteer role.
After earning his initial 4-H certification and USA Archery Level 1 Instructor credential, Swann began shooting compound and participating in local leagues. Drawn to the technical side of the sport, he continued advancing his coaching education, achieving Level 2 and Level 3 certifications in quick succession.
When the opportunity arose in 2021 to pursue USA Archery’s Level 4 Coaching certification through remote learning, Swann didn’t hesitate. Fresh off a deployment, he leaned into the challenge.
“Level 4 focused heavily on Olympic archery, so I picked up a recurve bow to better understand the process,” he explained.
That step changed everything.
While his initial goal was to transition into Olympic recurve, Swann found himself captivated by the simplicity and challenge of barebow. What began as a learning tool quickly became his competitive focus.
Now, he’s a regular presence on the competition line, shooting in local leagues and tournaments whenever possible, and making the trip to national events whenever he can.
But for Swann, archery is about far more than scores and rankings.
Like many veterans, he faces ongoing battles that aren’t visible from the outside. He lives with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), along with depression and anxiety - challenges that can make even the simplest steps feel overwhelming.
“There are times it’s hard to find the motivation just to go shoot,” he shared. “And that’s tough when you have goals of being one of the best.”
Yet, it’s in those moments that archery becomes most important.
“When I’m struggling - dealing with memories, survivor’s guilt, or anxiety - if I can get out and shoot, it brings me back to the present,” Swann said. “It requires focus on every step. It’s almost like meditation. It quiets everything else.”
That sense of presence - of being fully in the moment - is something Swann has come to rely on. Each shot demands attention, control, and intention. In return, it offers clarity.
And beyond the personal impact, there’s another layer that keeps him coming back: the people.
“The archery community is incredibly supportive and accepting,” he said. “As I look toward retirement from the military, it’s reassuring to know I’ve already found another tribe - a place where I belong.”
With his Air Force career set to conclude in March 2027, Swann is already building the next chapter of his life. Through coaching, competition, and connection, archery has become a foundation for what comes next.
His message is simple, but powerful:
“Archery is for everyone. It’s fun, it’s challenging, it’s family. It brings peace. It helps you heal.”
And if you ask him, there’s always room for one more on the line.
For those inspired by stories like Richard’s and interested in trying archery for themselves, becoming a member of USA Archery is a great place to start. Membership connects archers of all ages and abilities with certified coaches, local clubs, events and a nationwide community passionate about the sport.
