June 23, 20226 — Duck Commander, a world-renowned leader in duck call manufacturing, is proud to announce its new duck call, made specially in celebration of America’s 250th birthday. A limited run of only 50 calls, the all-new Commander Cut: America 250 can be found exclusively on Duck Commander’s online store.
Featuring a patriotic design, the call is finished in blue with red and white accents and proudly displays the commemorative phrases “250 Years of America” and “In God We Trust.” Designed to mark this historic milestone, the limited-edition call serves as both a collectible keepsake and a high-performance hunting tool for waterfowlers who value tradition, craftsmanship and country.
“For many hunters, time in the blind is about more than the hunt itself. It’s about family, tradition and the values that connect generations,” said Duck Commander Brand Manager Jacob Mayo. “As we celebrate 250 years of America, we wanted to create a call that reflects that heritage while delivering the performance hunters expect from Duck Commander.”
This special edition call pays homage to the classic PS Olt calls from Illinois, modified for hunting in the public timber of South Arkansas and Northern Louisiana. It features a .14 mil reed and an upslope J-frame design, delivering a raspy tone with deep bass in the middle and lower ranges. The call is engineered to produce a loud, piercing tone to attract high-flying ducks and offers a loose feed for chatter, enhancing its effectiveness in finishing birds.
The Commander Cut: America 250 exemplifies a balance of power and volume, while maintaining the finesse and back-pressure necessary for the distinctive Cajun squeal. This design reflects Duck Commander’s commitment to quality and innovation in waterfowl hunting equipment.
For more information about Duck Commander’s leading line of waterfowl hunting products, visit www.DuckCommander.com and follow the Duck Commander team on Instagram, Facebook or YouTube.
About Duck Commander: Duck Commander was founded by Phil Robertson in West Monroe, Louisiana, and grew from a small family operation making handcrafted duck calls into a recognized outdoor brand. The Robertson family later became widely known through the A&E series Duck Dynasty, while continuing to develop and sell Duck Commander products to customers worldwide. Today, the company remains based in West Monroe and continues to celebrate the hunting, fishing and outdoor traditions that have been central to its story from the beginning. To learn more about Duck Commander and the Robertson family, visit the Duck Commander website.
Definitions of the Golden Hour include “a period shortly after sunrise and just before sunset when the sun is low in the sky, producing soft, warm, and diffused light.” This source goes on to state that “shadows are longer and less harsh, colors appear richer and more golden or reddish, and the light is more flattering, especially for photography and film.” All of that is true, but there are Golden Hours, and then there are Golden Hours. This was the latter. In all my time outdoors, and all of my wife, Frances’ time as a photographer of my shooting and hunting, there had never been richer colors and softer light than what surrounded us on the Elbert County Gun Club’s sporting clays course near Elberton, Georgia.
The encompassing environment balanced perfectly the beautiful Fausti CLASS shotgun I held. It had a bright-finish receiver with gold game birds, a Prince of Wales grip and slender game-style forend. Frances and I found ourselves at our gun club near Elberton, Georgia with less than a month before a return to a favorite hunting area, the mountains and high-plains of the Eastern Cape of South Africa. In fact, our return to the Eastern Cape, prompted our session on the sporting clays course. It did not take much prompting by “Sports Afield” Editor-in-Chief, Diana Rupp to convince me to both write up an article on an upland bird hunt planned for the Eastern Cape and carry along a shotgun from the storied, Fausti family of Brescia, Italy. Company president Giovanna Fausti graciously agreed to Diana’s suggestion, and shipped me the beautiful, CLASS 12 gauge over/under with 30” barrels currently resting in the crook of my arm.
The author with a Fausti CLASS at Elbert County Gun Club’s sporting clays course.
CLASS over/under shotguns reflect both the quality of manufacturing, and attention to aesthetic detail, for which Fausti is known. The CLASS comes in .410, 28, 20 and 12-gauge chamberings. Having hunted Eastern Cape birds with Stormberg Elangeni Safaris before, I knew that I’d be trying to knock large, tough Guinea Fowls out of the air. On the same hunt, I would pit myself against Grey-wing Partridges that often flushed well before a hunter was close, always moving incredibly fast while using the Eastern Cape’s windy environs to add jukes to their flight paths. I knew both the Guinea Fowl and Grey-wing hunts required a 12-gauges power and reach, at least for this hunter. Giovanna recommended the 30-inch barrel equipped on this shotgun after I described the potential for longer shots, even with, or likely because of, the longer barrels, the CLASS sent my way, handled quickly, proving superb on distant targets on the sporting clays course I went to prepare for the hunt.
The Fausti Class over/under.
When I raised the Fausti CLASS for the first time, I noticed that it settled naturally into my shoulder and supporting hand; it also pointed quickly at whatever object chosen, at whatever angle. A partial explanation for the wonderful fit is that Fausti fashions each action around the particular gauge. The 12-gauge sent to me thus had a more robust gestalt than would a lighter gauge yet at the same time, looked and felt streamlined in its design. This afforded the quick and repeatable shouldering and target acquisition while simultaneously providing a classic elegance and beauty to the shotgun. Put another way, the shotgun looked as good as it handled.
Complementing its beautiful lines were the action’s so-called coin finish with gold inlays of partridges. Likewise, the gold of the CLASS insignia complimented the rich brown of the oil-finished walnut stock. The checkering on forearm and pistol grip again combine beauty, and functionality, promising a good grip for hands sweating from chasing Guinea Fowl and climbing in the Eastern Cape mountains’ thin air in pursuit of Grey-wings.
The Fausti CLASS ready for action.
A feature not immediately apparent when one is examining the shotgun, but one that Fausti, rightly, sees as unique and functionally significant is the Four-lock system that secures the closed CLASS (and all other Fausti over/unders). To quote Fausti, “As the name suggests, the system is based on four holding points: a pair of classic lugs made in the barrel monobloc for a vertical hold and locking of the barrels to the action, to which is added a further pair of lugs contained inside the sides of the action, which guarantees a lateral closure and a mechanical seal in the longitudinal direction between the barrels and the action.”
As always when working with a firearm foreign to me, I worried how it and I would perform in the field. First up was the challenging ‘Red’ course at my shooting club. The positioning of the machines at the particular stand at which we spent most of our time prevented the shooter from seeing the clays until they were well along their fight path. The Modified (upper barrel) and Improved Cylinder (bottom barrel), removable chokes, patterned the shot well enough that I missed no birds.
After warming up with singles, I switched to true pairs. Even this presentation resulted in broken targets, with no escapees. Time-after-time, whether I pushed the buttons controlling the machines, then shouldered the CLASS and fired, or waited for Frances to respond to my call of “Pull,” the birds disintegrated. I am not a shotgunner. I state that with no self-deprecation, or shame. I have been, and will always be, primarily a rifle shooter and hunter. However, after the first time I chased game bird species in Africa, I swore I would never miss that wonderful experience when on the Continent. The sporting clays course results with the CLASS 12-gauge proves that it functions very well for someone like yours truly, and would perform even better in the hands of an accomplished shotgunner.
One last point that may surprise others as much as it did me. The CLASS model is an entry level shotgun from Fausti. With a MSRPs of $3515 (20 and 12-gauges) and $4280 (.410 and 28-gauges), it should fit into the budget of most looking for not only a beautiful firearm that they will be proud to carry, but also a highly-functional and sturdy tool for use on both a clays course and in my pursuit of South African game birds.
Mike Arnold brings decades of experience in hunting and conservation. Through his work in the field and in education, he shows how ethical hunting supports wildlife and sustains wild places. Visit his web site Mike Arnold Outdoors at https://mikearnoldoutdoors.com
June 16, 2026 — Accokeek, MD – Beretta USA introduces the new Beretta A400 L Field, the latest evolution of the renowned A400 platform. Combining the competition-proven performance of the revolutionary A400 action with refined aesthetics and premium craftsmanship, the A400 L Field delivers an elevated shooting experience for discerning hunters and clay target enthusiasts alike.
Built for shooters who appreciate both beauty and performance, the A400 L Field features a striking nickel-plated receiver adorned with intricate scroll and floral engravings, paired with a highly figured Grade 2.5+ walnut stock and forend. Designed with enhanced ergonomics, enlarged checkering surfaces, and an ambidextrous palm swell, the new stock configuration provides superior comfort, control, and instinctive handling in the field or on the range.
“The A400 platform has become one of the most trusted and proven semi-automatic shotguns in the world,” said Caleb McMillen, Beretta USA Sr. Product Manager for Long Guns. “With the new A400 L Field, we wanted to create a shotgun that delivers the advanced performance shooters expect from the A400 while elevating the craftsmanship and visual appeal for those who appreciate a truly refined sporting firearm.”
At the heart of the A400 L Field is Beretta’s innovative B-LINK® gas operating system, engineered to deliver up to 36% faster follow-up shots while reducing recoil and enhancing overall shooting comfort and stability. The system is paired with a DLC-coated bolt assembly and enlarged operating controls, including an oversized bolt handle, extended bolt release, and enlarged loading port for fast, intuitive handling in all shooting conditions. The A400 L Field also incorporates Beretta’s exclusive Steelium® Plus barrel technology, designed to optimize shot patterns while significantly reducing felt recoil for smoother swings and decisive on-target performance.
Additional premium features include:
Full nickel-plated receiver engraving with intricate scroll and floral patterns
Grade 2.5+ walnut stock and forend with enhanced ergonomics
Steelium® Plus barrel technology for superior pattern performance
B-LINK® gas operating system for fast, reliable cycling
DLC-coated bolt assembly and enlarged operating controls
Aluminum trigger guard for added durability and refined styling
Already favored by competitive shooters worldwide, the Beretta A400 platform is known for its speed, reliability, and natural handling characteristics. The new A400 L Field builds on that legacy with refined styling and premium details that make it equally at home in the uplands or at the sporting clays course. For more information on the new Beretta A400 L Field, visit Beretta.com or contact your local authorized Beretta dealer.
About Beretta: Established in 1526, Beretta is the world’s longest-standing industrial dynasty, with a legacy spanning 16 generations of continuous family ownership. For 500 years, firearms bearing the Beretta name have been trusted and used around the world. Beretta USA Corp. was established in 1977 and quickly became the provider of the most widely deployed sidearm in the U.S. Armed Forces. Today, Beretta USA is part of Beretta Holding Group, which includes over 50 global subsidiaries and 20 renowned brands. Beretta manufactures, distributes, and markets a complete range of firearms, accessories, and apparel. The company also owns and operates six Beretta Gallery retail stores worldwide.
Beretta celebrates the iconic 680 platform, a symbol of reliability and timeless style, chosen by over one million hunters and shooters. Produced in a limited edition of 1,526 hunting shotguns and 1,526 sporting shotguns, the 687 Silver Pigeon 500 Years is a tribute to a true Italian legend: a tireless icon at the side of generations of enthusiasts around the world.
Featuring a dedicated serial number, selected Grade 3 walnut wood and a classic floral engraving enhanced with gold details — including the Beretta 500 Years logo on the bottom of the receiver — this limited-edition shotgun combines refined aesthetics with the renowned performance of the Beretta 680 platform.
Its flawless locking system, characterized by the iconic trapezoidal shoulders and dual conical locking lugs, ensures strength and reliability, while the Beretta Steelium® barrels with an 80 mm double progressive forcing cone deliver outstanding ballistic performance.
Main Features:
MicroCore® recoil pad
Grade 3 walnut wood
Dedicated serial number: 1,526 hunting pieces, 1,526 sporting pieces
Laser floral engraving with gold details
Gold 500 Years logo on the bottom of the receiver
Rounded fore-end
Steelium® barrels: profile with 80 mm double progressive forcing cone
Optimachoke® HP chokes
Hunting: 6×6 mm top rib; Sporting: 10×8 mm top rib
June 12, 2026 — Renowned for delivering high-quality gear and accessories for firearm training, cleaning, and transport, Birchwood Casey has announced the expansion of its product lineup with the introduction of several new gun cleaners, all 100% biodegradable.
Dedicated to helping hunters, shooters, and outdoor enthusiasts protect their most valuable gear since 1948, the brand stays true to its roots with the launch of its Synvex™ Copper Cutter, Synvex™ Carbon Cutter, Synvex™ CLP-X Oil, and Synvex™ Bore Wash, a lineup of biodegradable gun cleaners delivering powerful, modern formulations designed to remove fouling with the efficiency of traditional petroleum-based solvents.
Synvex™ Carbon Cutter dissolves heavy carbon and powder buildup on bolts, brakes, and more, and is safe to use on metal, polymer, and coated surfaces. The formula also stays on surfaces long after application, so there’s no need to worry about rapid evaporation.
Synvex™ Copper Cutter offers the simplest way to remove stubborn copper and lead fouling, while also preventing future fouling buildup on everything from bore steel to other sensitive finishes.
Synvex™ CLP-X Oil cleans, lubricates, and protects in one simple step, quickly penetrating the metal surfaces on any firearm, leaving a moisture-displacing, rust-preventing shield that reduces both friction and wear. The synthetic-based formula is also MIL-PRF-63460F-rated, making it appropriate for use on U.S. military weapons.
Synvex™ Bore Wash is safe for use on everything from Cerakote and hydro printing to plastic and wood, breaking down oil, grease, and grime without leaving unwanted residue behind.
“This new line of gun-cleaning products provides a more environmentally responsible way to maintain firearms,” said Jeff Mcnail, VP of Brand Management. “Each is non-corrosive, low-odor, formulated to be safer on skin, and also breaks down naturally over time, which is a win for hunters and shooters alike, regardless of level.”
Created for shooters who demand both reliability and accountability from all their gear, the new lineup proves firearm maintenance can be effective, efficient, and environmentally mindful all at once.
You can also learn more and check out the entire family of GSM brands at www.gsmoutdoors.com.
About Birchwood Casey: The premier provider of gear and accessories tailored to training, cleaning, and transporting firearms, Birchwood Casey has been serving shooters—from competition-caliber to collectors and gunsmiths—since 1948. Dedicated to seeing both novice and experienced shooting enthusiasts through the full spectrum of learning to handle and maintain their firearm, as well as advance their technical and tactical shooting skills, the brand boasts an extensive assortment of innovative products ranging from holsters, cases, and gun-care equipment, to benches, throwers, targets, and more, all with a long-standing commitment to quality.
June 11, 2026 — Delta Waterfowl today praised House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., and Ranking Member Jared Huffman, D-Calif., for introducing The Great American Outdoors Act 250 to reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund, a critical funding tool used to address deferred maintenance across federal public lands and waters. The investment in infrastructure would provide $95 million per year for five years.
Since its creation, the Legacy Restoration Fund has provided substantial funding for infrastructure improvements on lands managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Forest Service. These projects have enhanced habitat management, improved public access, and ensured sportsmen and women can continue to enjoy America’s public lands and waters.
“We’re grateful for Chairman Westerman and Ranking Member Huffman for their bipartisan leadership in taking steps to reauthorizing the Legacy Restoration Fund,” said John Devney, chief policy officer for Delta Waterfowl. “The Legacy Restoration Fund has delivered meaningful benefits for ducks and duck hunters by helping USFWS refuge managers and other federal land managers address long-overdue infrastructure needs which directly support enhanced wetland habitat management and public access. Reauthorizing the Legacy Restoration Fund will ensure that the backlog on infrastructure on refuges and other public lands can be addressed.”
Across the country, national wildlife refuges provide critical habitat for breeding, migrating, and wintering ducks and represent important access for waterfowl hunters. Yet, the National Wildlife Refuge System currently has a $2.6 billion deferred maintenance backlog, which means pumps, water-control structures, dikes, and other essential habitat management features need repair.
“A well-managed National Wildlife Refuge System is fundamental to a brighter future of ducks and duck hunters,” Devney said. “Reauthorization of the Legacy Restoration Fund has been one of Delta’s highest priorities for this Congress and has been a centerpiece of our Restore Our Refuges Initiative.”
In 2025, Delta formally launched Restoring Our Refuges, an impactful advocacy campaign to secure enhanced public funding to revitalize the health and waterfowl value of federal refuges and state-owned wildlife management areas throughout the United States.
Delta Waterfowl will continue to work closely with members of the House of Representatives and Senate toward reauthorization of the Legacy Restoration Fund.
Delta Waterfowl is The Duck Hunters Organization™, a leading conservation group founded in 1911 that uses science-based solutions to produce ducks, conserve prairie wetlands, and ensure the future of waterfowl hunting in North America. Visit their website.
When discussing shotgun performance, hunters and shooters often focus on payload weight, choke selection or shot material. However, one factor stands above the rest: pellet pattern.
The traditional standard for evaluating shotgun patterns is the 30-inch circle. While useful, this measurement can sometimes obscure a more important concept, which is the size of the shooter’s effective pattern and the resulting margin of error.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. June 3, 2026 – In front of hundreds of Ducks Unlimited (DU) members and volunteers at DU’s 89th National Convention in Tampa, Florida, DU elected new volunteer leaders, including President Dr. Rex Schulz and Chairman of the Board Robert “Bob” Spoerl.
As DU’s 48th president, Dr. Rex Schulz, a resident of Quincy, Illinois, will work with the thousands of DU volunteers, staff, supporters and partners to further the mission of Ducks Unlimited in conserving wetlands that benefit not only waterfowl, but also other wildlife and people.
“Being elected president of Ducks Unlimited is not about a title,” Schulz said. “It’s about making a promise. A promise to fight for every acre of wetland, every flight of migrating waterfowl, and every community that depends on healthy water and wild places. Together, we will honor the legacy of those who came before us by pushing even harder for the future we believe in, one where conservation isn’t just something the members, volunteers and supporters of Ducks Unlimited do, it’s who we are.”
Schulz previously served as DU first vice president. He continues to serve on the Ducks Unlimited Canada Board and is a trustee of Wetlands America Trust, the land trust and foundation arm of Ducks Unlimited. He also serves on several DU national committees.
After 30 years of pathology service to Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Illinois, Schulz recently retired from West Central Pathology Specialists as a founding partner and president. He is an avid waterfowler, upland bird hunter and golfer. He and his wife, Lori, live in Quincy, Illinois, and they together manage her family’s Centennial Farm for deer and turkey.
In his new role as board chairman, Bob Spoerl, a Waupaca, Wisconsin resident, will ensure DU meets major mission-critical goals and will represent more than 650,000 Ducks Unlimited members at international, national, regional, state and local events. He serves on the board of Wetlands America Trust.
“Stepping into this role as chairman of the board is humbling and deeply meaningful,” Spoerl said. “For more than three decades, Ducks Unlimited has been part of my life, my family and my identity as a conservationist. To continue to help guide this organization, on behalf of more than 650,000 members who care passionately about wetlands, wildlife and the future of our continent’s waterfowl, is an honor beyond measure. Together, we will protect the landscapes that shaped us, strengthen the mission that unites us, and ensure that the next generation inherits a world rich in habitat and opportunity.”
Spoerl, who served as DU’s 47th president, is the retired president of Premium Brands. He continues to serve on the Ducks Unlimited de México and Ducks Unlimited Canada Boards, as well as several national committees.
He is an avid waterfowler, deer and elk hunter, and passionate conservationist who splits his time between Waupaca and Scottdale, Arizona, with his wife, Kim. Spoerl manages his Wisconsin property for maple syrup production.
The Spoerls are Ducks Unlimited John E. Walker President’s Society Members, DU Grand Slam Legacy Sponsors and Ducks Unlimited de México Legacy Sponsors.
In concurrence with the elections, Chairman of the Board Chuck Smith officially completed his two-year term.
Ducks Unlimited’s new members of the board include:
James Cook Doug Frey Richard Godfrey Jake Hansen Chad Hohenwarter Dallas Hempstead John Killen Mike Link Brian Mattison Nyleen Troxell Stowe Peggy Sundstrom Jim Talbert Orlin Taylor Mark Woodward
Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 19 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife and people in all 50 states. DU is growing its mission through a historic $3 billion Conservation for a Continent comprehensive campaign. Learn more at www.ducks.org.
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