Awards & Honors

Daisy Outdoor Products, a member of the Iconic Outdoor Group, received the Manufacturer of Excellence Award at the 2026 Legends of the Outdoors National Hall of Fame banquet in Springfield, Missouri. The recognition honors Daisy's 140+ years of manufacturing quality airguns, including the iconic Red Ryder BB gun, and its commitment to youth shooting education through the Daisy National BB Gun Championship Match.

Whitetails Unlimited named Dan Vogt and Darel Martin as Field Directors of the Year for fiscal year 2025-2026, while Brian Kittrell received the Pathfinder Award for the third consecutive year. Executive Director Chris Konop praised the honorees' dedication to the organization's conservation mission.

Paul Butski, a longtime GSM Outdoors staff member, has been inducted into the Legends of The Outdoors Hall of Fame for his decades of conservation work and contributions to the outdoor industry. Butski is a decorated turkey calling champion with three NWTF Grand National Championships, six U.S. Open Championships, and two Levi Garrett Opens, and developed signature turkey calls for GSM and the Mantis 25 Turkey Call for Hunting Made Easy (HME).

Silencer Central, founded by Brandon Maddox, has been ranked No. 1801 on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies, marking its fourth consecutive year on the list. The Sioux Falls-based suppressor retailer's ranking reflects revenue growth measured over a three-year period.

Senior Conservation Officer Meghan Roos of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game received the 2026 IWC Guidefitter Game Warden of the Year Award from International Wildlife Crimestoppers and Guidefitter. Roos was recognized for leading significant wildlife crime investigations resulting in lifetime hunting revocations, over $180,000 in fines, and exposing a massive poaching operation involving 15+ suspects and 200+ illegally taken animals.

Outdoor Life selected TenPoint Crossbow Technologies' TX Ultra 29.5 as the 2026 Best Premium Crossbow. Scott Einsmann praised the crossbow for its accuracy, ergonomics, and ease of use. The TX Ultra 29.5 shoots up to 460 FPS and features new 8MM Axles, X-Wide Limbs, and ACUslide MAXX cocking technology.

Outdoor Life selected TenPoint Crossbow Technologies' Titan X De-Cock as the 2026 Best Value Crossbow at $799, also achieving the most accurate performance with a 1.4-inch group average, outperforming the Ravin R10X Pro and Excalibur Rev X TD in testing.

The National Bowhunter Education Foundation presented Bob Barnette with its International Instructor of the Year award at the IHEA-USA Conference in Glendale, AZ. Mathews supplied Barnette with a signed 2026 ARC bow. Barnette, a Texas bowhunter and educator, has certified hundreds of students and serves as a field operations coordinator for the Texas Wildlife Association's Youth Hunting Program.

Winchester Ammunition received the Industry Partner of the Year Award from the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) U.S.A. for supporting the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks and the Mississippi Scholastic Shooting Program through employee volunteer efforts.

Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois and his series "Duck Camp Dinners" received a James Beard Foundation Award in the Lifestyle Broadcast Media category. The show, now in Season 4 on MyOutdoorTV and Outdoor Channel, explores Louisiana's wetlands and Cajun culinary traditions.

Pursuit Channel celebrates Ted Nugent's induction into the Michigan Outdoor Hall of Fame and receipt of the Legend of the Outdoors Award. Nugent, host of Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild, is recognized for his lifelong dedication to hunting heritage, conservation, and outdoor television.

The Wild Sheep Foundation announced Gervasio Negrete as the 2027 Conklin Award recipient, recognizing him as the 25th winner of this prestigious "Tough Man" award. Negrete, a dual citizen of Mexico and Spain, has hunted across all continents and achieved 39 Ovis species and 36 Capra species worldwide. The award presentation will occur at WSF's Legacy Night banquet during the 2027 Sheep Show in Reno, Nevada on February 5th.

Marilyn Bentz, Executive Director of the National Bowhunter Education Foundation since 2003, received the Ann Weber Hoyt Award of Merit for her excellence in archery and bowhunting. Bentz has been instrumental in advancing bowhunter education and safety through her leadership roles and contributions to the archery community.

Sierra Bullets' 6.5 mm 142 grain HPBT MatchKing X bullet received a 2026 Hunt Alaska Editors' Choice Award for exceptional performance and value. The award recognizes the bullet's combination of match-grade accuracy and reliable terminal performance for hunters using modern long-range cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC.

Liberty Safe earned multiple Gold awards at industry Readers' Choice programs, including recognition from Shooting Sports Retailer, Tactical Retailer, and Predator Xtreme. The awards reflect votes from independent firearm retailers and consumers recognizing the company's commitment to quality and American craftsmanship in gun safe manufacturing.

Dead Air Silencers and Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. announced that the Ruger RXD30Ti suppressor has received the 2026 American Rifleman Golden Bullseye Award. The suppressor features advanced Triskelion and Nomad baffle technologies, an integrated E-Brake for recoil reduction, and broad HUB accessory compatibility for modern long-range and hunting applications.

The Boone and Crockett Club presented the Water for Wildlife Foundation with its 2026 Conservation and Stewardship Award during the Club's Spring Meeting. The Lander, Wyoming-based organization was honored for its 50-year history of conservation work, having supported projects valued at $2.8 million benefiting multiple wildlife species across 12 western states.

The National Wild Turkey Federation received the Winchester Legend Award at its 50th Convention and Sport Show in Nashville, Tennessee. Winchester Ammunition presented the award recognizing the NWTF's decades of commitment to conservation and hunting traditions. NWTF Board Chairman Bryan Perry accepted on behalf of the organization and its volunteers, members, and partners.

TightSpot, a Black Gold Premium Accessories brand member, won the Gold Award in the quiver category at the 2026 Bowhunting World Readers' Choice Awards, marking the 14th consecutive year for this honor. The award was presented by Bowhunting World staff during the NSSF SHOT Show 2026 in Las Vegas.

Spartan Precision Equipment's Springbok Tripod has received the NRA Golden Bullseye Award for Gear of the Year. The tripod features innovative silicone technology enabling rapid deployment from prone to standing positions and includes a MagnaSwitch quick-detach system for hunters in demanding environments.