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The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) opened its 2026 regulatory public comment period on July 7, giving hunters, anglers, trappers, boaters, and other stakeholders until August 5, 2026, to weigh in on proposed rule changes and fee increases. Among the topics open for comment are freshwater fishing, license and permit fee increases, game and nongame species, watercraft regulations, and more.

All I wanted to do once I returned home was test my bow properly at the range. Out in Wisconsin, I noticed that my issues only showed up on targets beyond 35-40 yards, which I hadn’t really shot much of, if I’m honest. Undoubtedly, that contributed to the problem, because at those ranges and under the margins, any inconsistencies aren’t easy to detect due to the speed of modern compound bows.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee advanced S.140, the Wildfire Prevention Act, with an amendment from Senator Mike Lee that would nullify the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule across most national forests. The committee voted 11–9 to report the amended bill to the full Senate, which means this is no longer just another bad idea floating around Washington. It is now eligible for a Senate floor vote.

The key to reading topo maps starts with contour lines. When contour lines are spread apart, the terrain is usually flatter. When they are stacked close together, the ground gets steeper. When those lines are packed extremely tight, you may be looking at a bluff, cliff, or sharp elevation change.

The Future of Turkey Hunting in North Texas: A Path to Restoration Texas Parks and Wildlife: Rebuilding Wild Turkey Populations By Justin Campbell | Equalized Outdoors Newsroom For turkey hunters in North Texas, opportunity often comes with a long drive. It's important to note that, for this article, North Texas includes the Eastern Texas counties east of the metroplex, which currently have closed seasons. Hunters near Dallas–Fort Worth may live close to millions of people, b

After six months with the Mathews ARC 34, I’m revisiting the bow that left me confused at first — this time after tuning, 3D shoots, field courses, broadhead testing, and real range time.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has started its warm-season Neighborhood Fishin’ channel catfish stockings across the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, including Chisholm Park, a centrally located site serving anglers in Euless, Bedford, and Hurst.

Closures in Matagorda and Wharton counties reflect broader shifts in Texas wild turkey management, as TPWD responds to population trends, strengthens hen protections, and prepares for additional regulatory discussions this spring Equalized Outdoors Newsroom April 2nd, 2026 It’s officially spring, and turkey season will be open in every zone in the state by the time you read this. We have been on the go since Nashville, filming, interviewing, researching, and prepping for th

On a recent TikTok Live, Equalized Outdoors, George’s Boy Outdoors, and Ronnie "Cuz" Strickland came together for what was billed as an open discussion on turkey hunting. What unfolded instead was a rare, unscripted exchange that exposed a deeper tension—and opportunity—within modern conservation culture: how the resource is talked about, who gets invited into the conversation, and who is trusted to carry it forward.

I almost wrote Saturday off. After experiencing the crowds on Friday, I expected Saturday at the National Wild Turkey Federation Convention to be heavier, louder, and harder to move through—the kind of day where meaningful conversations get swallowed by foot traffic and noise. It would’ve been easy to assume the experience and stay back.

Walking was the only option that made sense. I parked back at the hotel and walked the entire stretch to the convention center—1.1 miles, according to Apple Maps. Due to traffic being backed up well beyond reason, it was faster to cover the distance on foot. That walk turned out to be a fitting primer for what Day One of NWTF Convention 2026 would feel like.

On a busy weekend inside The Battery Atlanta, SITKA’s fishing category launch unfolded less like a traditional product release and more like a community gathering built around access, education, and hands-on exposure to the next phase of the brand’s technical system design.

The Virginia elk lottery is now open and accepting applications through March 31, offering hunters one of the most affordable entry points into an elk draw in the United States.

One of the most consequential changes for non-resident hunters is that the 10-day non-resident hunting license can no longer be used for turkey hunting. While the 10-day license is still offered for general hunting, it is not valid for the take of wild turkeys.

For the 2026 season, Total Archery Challenge has implemented a mandatory safety video that must be viewed prior to finalizing registration. According to organizers, participants will be unable to complete checkout unless the video has been watched in full.

As the new year approaches, non-resident hunters begin shifting focus from the previous season to application deadlines, unit research, and early e-scouting for the fall ahead. For elk, mule deer, and whitetail deer, many Western states open or close non-resident application windows between January and June, requiring early organization and clear planning.

As we head towards another new year, and deer seasons around the country begin to conclude, the anticipation of another spring begins to fill the mind. For some, the thought of spring is never far. It is always there, living rent-free in the afflicted minds.

November brings excitement for a multitude of reasons, especially if you’re a bowhunter. There’s the pre-rut, then the rut — that magical time in the whitetail woods, in most of the country anyway, where anything is possible. Giant bucks can be had, and encounters begin to peak. The playing field is as level as it will ever be between the novice and the experienced hunter.

Idaho is entering a significant new era for nonresident big-game hunting. Beginning with the 2026 season, the state is replacing its long-standing first-come, first-served nonresident deer and elk tag sale with a structured drawing system. The December queue-based scramble — known for website instability, random line assignments, and hidden in-person inventory reduction — is ending.

Welcome back to The Brief our quick hitting industry news segment. As the state of Virginia enters week two of gun season, there's a deadline approaching. Applications for Virginia’s Spring Turkey Quota Hunts close on