Avian-X won the Bowhunting World Readers' Choice 2026 Gold Award for Wild Turkey Decoys, marking the brand's second consecutive victory. The award recognizes the realism and durability of Avian-X's HDR line, including the HDR Strutter, HDR Jake, and HDR Feeding Hen decoys.
Awards & Honors
Lee R. Anderson received the Beretta & Safari Club International Foundation Conservation Leadership Award at the 11th Annual Award Gala in Nashville, Tennessee. The prestigious award, sponsored by Beretta, recognizes Anderson's exemplary leadership and lifetime commitment to wildlife conservation, outdoor education, and humanitarian service.
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.
Harold Knight and David Hale, co-founders of Knight & Hale Game Calls, were inducted into the Grand National Calling Championships Hall of Fame during the National Wild Turkey Federation's 50th Anniversary Convention. The ceremony recognized their 50+ years of influence in game call design and conservation.
Muddy Outdoors received a 2026 Gold Award in the Climbing Stick category from Bowhunting World magazine readers. The award recognizes Muddy's innovative climbing sticks and systems, including the Pro Sticks, for their design, durability, and ease of use trusted by hunters.
Zanders, an all-women-owned distributor based in Sparta, Illinois, received OpticsPlanet's Distributor of the Year award for 2025. The recognition honors Zanders' commitment to outstanding service, reliable fulfillment, and industry-leading product availability across firearms, ammunition, optics, and outdoor gear.
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.
Springfield Armory's Kuna 9mm pistol has earned an Editors' Choice Award from On Target magazine for being selected as a best new product for 2025. The PDW-style pistol features a roller-delayed operating system, ambidextrous controls, and is priced at $1,179 to $1,330 depending on configuration.
Traditions® Performance Firearms announced Steve Kirkpatrick of The WL Carter Company as the 2025 Sales Representative of the Year. Kirkpatrick has represented Traditions products since 2006, demonstrating outstanding performance and dedication to customer relationships and brand growth.
Harold Knight and David Hale, founders of Knight & Hale Game Calls, received the 2026 Fox Haas Conservation Lifetime Achievement Award during Mossy Oak's 40th anniversary celebration. The award honors their fifty-year legacy of innovation, ethical hunting advocacy, and land stewardship that has influenced generations of hunters and conservationists.
Springfield Armory's Kuna 9mm has been selected as Best New PCC in 2025 by Guns.com Readers' Choice Awards. The PDW-style pistol features a roller-delayed operating system, ambidextrous controls, and is available in two versions priced at $1,179 and $1,330.
EchoCore Suppressors' Sector 5.56 Compact suppressor received On Target Magazine's 2025 Editor's Choice Award for exceptional innovation and engineering. The 12.9-ounce, 5-inch suppressor features advanced DMLS construction and XCR technology, earning recognition for sound performance and efficiency.
Ameristep won a Gold Award in the Ground Blind category from Bowhunting World magazine readers for the second consecutive year in 2026. The company introduced the Frontline Wide-Bottom Extreme, a hub-style blind accommodating up to three hunters with six silent sliding windows and a 180° bowhunter view.
Heckler & Koch USA announced its 2025 sales awards, naming Covey Sales & Marketing as Rep Group of the Year, Jack Hale of Core Line Marketing as Overall Sales Rep of the Year, and Jake Lindemann from Owen J. Brown & Associates as Premium Dealer Sales Rep of the Year. HK achieved growth despite a challenging year for the firearms industry.
Traditions® Performance Firearms honored The WL Carter Company as its 2025 Rep Group of the Year during pre-SHOT Show activities in Las Vegas. The award recognizes the manufacturer's representative group's exceptional performance and 28-year partnership with Traditions Firearms since 1998.
XS Sights' Optic Plate and OR-Height Sight Bundles for Glock MOS pistols won ON TARGET Magazine's Editors' Choice Award. The precision CNC-machined steel plates offer 30% more thread engagement and are compatible with ACRO and RMR footprints, providing a drop-in solution for red dot mounting with minimalist iron sight backups.
Outdoor Sportsman Group presented Chris Dolnack, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, with its Lifetime Achievement Award at SHOT Show in Las Vegas. The award, presented by Michael Waddell during live filming, recognized Dolnack's three decades of contributions to the shooting sports and firearms industry.
Summit Treestands earned the Gold winner award in the 2026 Bowhunting World Readers' Choice Award for Climbing Treestands. Brian Malone at Summit Treestands highlighted the company's commitment to designing treestands that exceed expectations for safety, comfort, and silence.
Benelli USA announced its 2025 Sales Representative of the Year Awards honoring outstanding performers across its Benelli, Franchi, Stoeger, and Uberti USA brands. Recipients include Chase Spurgin, Ken Johnson, Tyler Harpster, Dave Lotito, James Tullos, Bentley Scott, Christian Larsen, and Greg Rader, recognized for exceptional sales performance and customer service.
