Carbon Express Arrows announced that Alexis Ruiz, the 2026 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final Champion in women's compound, has joined its professional shooting team. The 26-year-old from Phoenix, Arizona, defeated Mexico's Dafne Quintero in a shoot-off and earned multiple medals at World Cup Stage 2 in Shanghai alongside teammate James Lutz.
As whitetail season kicks into gear across the country, hunters are looking for every possible edge against one of the most wary game animals in North America. With the Barnett Hyper Raptor T-Rex™ crossbow, they now have a powerful, ready-in-an-instant option built to perform.
Dallas Safari Club announced Gray N. Thornton as the 2027 recipient of the Peter H. Capstick Hunting Heritage Award, recognizing his three decades of leadership in wildlife conservation with Safari Club International, Dallas Safari Club, and the Wild Sheep Foundation, where he currently serves as President and CEO.
PRADCO Outdoor Brands recognized three outstanding sales representatives for 2026: Chad Bauman as Sales Representative of the Year, Bert Moore as Regional Representative of the Year for the Southeast, and Rocky Stewart as Regional Representative of the Year for the Northeast.
Hook & Barrel Magazine announces the third annual Top Shelf Awards, a reader-driven event celebrating top outdoor brands, products, and personalities across 23 categories. Voting is open through November 30, with select category winners receiving awards at SHOT Show 2027.
USA archers earned 10 medals at the Para Pan American Championships in Lima, Peru, with KJ Polish setting championship records and claiming three golds. Brandi Iannoli secured a quota slot for next year's Para Pan American Games after setting a career-high score of 659, while Jason Tabansky was named World Archery Americas' 2025 Para Archer of the Year.
The National Field Archery Association and Archery Trade Association announce the inaugural NFAA 3D Challenge during ATA Show Week, January 7-10, 2027, at the Indiana Convention Center. Open to archers of all ages and experience levels, the event runs January 8-10 alongside the NFAA Rushmore Rumble and features optional cash prizes.
The Pope and Young Club, North America's leading bowhunting conservation organization, announced online registration is now open for their 35th Biennial Convention. The event will be held April 8-10, 2027, at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, AR, featuring seminars, vendor displays, auctions, and networking opportunities for bowhunters.
Whitetails Unlimited awarded a $20,000 grant to the Southeastern Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) conference in New Orleans, supporting law enforcement collaboration among 16 southeastern states and anti-poaching efforts.
The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation is hiring a Senior Coordinator for the South Central States region covering Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. The role supports policy, advocacy, and development efforts while liaising with state legislators, wildlife agencies, and conservation partners. Candidates should have a bachelor's degree and 2-3 years of relevant policy experience.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) is hiring Regional Directors for Kentucky, Tennessee, New England, Western Colorado, and Western Montana. Successful candidates will oversee volunteer chapters, lead fundraising events, and manage grant programs in their assigned territories.
Easton Archery announces the 4MM X4, a premium Acu-Carbon target arrow designed for competitive archers. Available in Standard Grade and Match Grade options, the X4 features advanced carbon construction and dimensional consistency for repeatable performance across multiple target disciplines.
Field & Stream TV announced a content partnership with RedVane Outdoors, bringing the digital hunting brand's authentic storytelling to Field & Stream TV's FAST channels. RedVane Outdoors, founded by Robert Taylor and Daniel McVay, has grown to over 6 million combined views since launching in January 2026.
Tactacam has integrated its DEFEND 360 Cellular Camera with the REVEAL Mobile Application, allowing hunters to manage both camera types in one platform. The integration includes new features like Live View recording, 2-Way Audio, and AI Object Tracking, alongside REVEAL's Hunt Radar and mapping tools.
Whitetail Institute announces the Obsession Block, a nutritional supplement featuring 17% protein and essential minerals designed to support whitetail deer year-round while providing strong attraction to encourage consistent deer activity on hunting properties.
Blocker Outdoors introduces the Scent Shield X-Factor lineup, a complete scent-control system built on technology from the original 1985 Scent Shield formula. The system includes laundry detergent, body soap, shampoo, and fall blend sprays, each designed to eliminate odors through multiple mechanisms for hunters pursuing whitetail, elk, and mule deer.
BLACKHAWK introduces the Mini EDC Pocket Multi-Tool, a lightweight everyday carry option featuring eight essential tools including pliers, tanto-style knife, and screwdrivers in a compact 3.15-inch closed length. The tool retails for $64.99 and is available through Bear & Son Cutlery.
Wild Wildebeest Lodge has renewed its sponsorship with Whitetails Unlimited, announced by WTU President Jeff Schinkten. Located in South Africa's Limpopo Province, the lodge offers hunting and non-hunting African adventures while supporting WTU's conservation mission.
WTU President Jeff Schinkten announces that Memory Mount, connecting the trophy to the memories, has joined as a Whitetails Unlimited national sponsor.
Pursuit Channel is proud to highlight its dual Sunday night programming lineups, giving outdoor enthusiasts two distinct ways to spend their evening with premium hunting and outdoor content beginning at 8:00 PM ET.
Ralph, Vicki, RJ, and Aubrey Cianciarulo invite viewers to tune into season 26 of The Choice on Pursuit Channel, airing Monday September 21st at 11:30PM EST. The crew continues chasing Illinois whitetails with hopes of filling more tags as bucks remain active.
When the 2026 bow season rolled around, I was privileged to sit in a tree stand and harvest a big game animal. As more of a rifle hunter, I tend to like spotting and stalking more than sitting and waiting (I don't sit still very well!). For bow hunting, we decided to set up a tree stand for me to sit in. We decided it would be a big advantage to set it up early so the deer would get comfortable with it.
Practice is the key to success.
About a week later, I was freezing my butt off sitting 25 feet off the ground waiting for a deer or the unsuspecting bear to walk thirty yards away from me. Unfortunately, no bears or deer walked past me in the 12 to 14 hours I sat there, which kinda stunk. I did see a couple of deer but only one buck, and he was too small to shoot - at least for the moment.
A couple of days later we came back and stayed the night so we could get up in the tree stand a little earlier. Dad dropped me off, then went back for Esther, which turned out to be him going back to sleep for another hour and a half…
Although that trip was unsuccessful, we planned to come back.
Small game is excellent archery practice.
When we came back, my hopes weren’t as high as when we came the first time. Nevertheless, I got up in my tree stand and waited for about six hours.
Have you ever fallen asleep in a tree stand? If you do, I would make sure to clip your harness first…
I was on the brink of falling asleep when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a coyote run up to 45 yards and stop. Having never harvested a coyote before, I put a broadhead right through his chest. He ran about 20 yards and fell over and died. I almost fell out of my treestand to try and get to him! I took some pictures and carried him back to my treestand to wait for anything else to walk by.
About a half-hour later, I started to see deer come out to feed. The little buck from the first trip stood perfectly broadside at thirty yards. It was too easy not to resist. I slowly drew my bow, settled the thirty-yard pin behind his shoulder, and let fly. He ran about a hundred yards, fell over, and died. I almost jumped out of my tree stand to get down to him! I was a little excited, if you couldn't tell.
I got a few pictures while Dad and Esther were on their way over, then we gutted him and dragged him out. While this was not what some people would call a trophy buck, he's my first bow buck. I was more than happy with him.
My first bow buck and my first coyote in one night; I think that's a two-for-one combo!
