News: Birding, Giveaways, Big Awards, Sporting Clay Winners & More 

The outdoor press has been busy the past week, and much has transpired since we last rounded up news for your consumption. This week, the flurry of headlines continues. Check them out below. 

In other Hook & Barrel news, Blake Shelton is the feature of the March/April issue of the magazine. He talks music, hunting, fishing, life on the road, and more. 

“What an honor it has been for Team H&B to work with one of country music’s biggest personalities,” said Nino Bosaz, Hook & Barrel’s Editorial Director. “The vibe you’ll get from this exclusive interview is man, Blake Shelton is the real-deal outdoorsman and a true gentleman you’d want go hunting or fishing with. He’s as authentic as it gets, which is refreshing in this day and age of celebs going off the deep end.” Subscribe today if you haven't already.

Sports digital platform OutKick recently launched a new sub-brand titled  OutKick Outdoors. It will focus on all outdoor activities, including hunting, fishing, hiking and more. OutKick Outdoors content will include memes, videos from outside creators and OutKick readers who enjoy doing outdoor activities. Make sure to follow @outkickoutdoors on Instagram and TikTok. 

Federal Ammunition’s Derrick Mein is a former Olympian (twice over). Recently, he performed quite well at the Jack Link’s Cup. Incredibly, he was the High Over All winner for three of the major events (FITASC, the Thursday Prelim, and the North Prelim. He was second overall in the Jack Link’s Cup Main Event. 

“The Jack Link’s Cup was a great experience, providing its own unique challenges as a shooter,” said Mein. “Changes in weather, along with challenging presentations, were at the top of that list. The confidence I have in the Federal Premium High Over All (HOA) shotshells I use for competition helped me overcome those challenges to beat some of the best competitors in the world.” 

Continuing with the Jack Link’s event, Remington’s Brandon Powell won the High Over All main event. Nearly 1,400 worldwide shooters attended the event from February 10-16, 2025. 

“This is the second weekend in a row that Brandon has won the Main Event High Over All,” said Jason Nash, Remington’s VP of Marketing. “To follow up on a Caribbean Classic win with another victory at the prestigious Jack Link’s Cup is simply incredible.” 

Winter is the peak birding season for many Michigan birders. Incredibly, these small birds use key methods to survive the harsh weather and temperatures. “The black-capped chickadee is an expert at staying cozy in cold temperatures – shivering and contracting opposite muscle groups to stay warm and even lowering its body temperature at night and entering regulated hypothermia to conserve energy,” said Nicole Minadeo. “These birds are frequent visitors to backyard bird feeders, carrying sunflower seeds to store in tree bark for later, when food is scarce.” 

Silencer Central recently received a top award from the NWTF at its 2025 National Convention and Sport Show. NWTF awarded it the 2025 Innovation Award, which recognizes NWTF partners positively impacting conservation and innovation in the outdoor industry. 

“I am immensely proud of our company for this award,” said Brandon Maddox, Silencer Central CEO. “Conservation is something that is a vital part of our company’s core values. I challenged our team to find ways to support conservation efforts that go beyond traditional monetary donations, and it has been paying off for our partners.” 

The Savage Arms team is excited to announce it recently received an award for the 2025 Rifle of the Year at the 2025 British Shooting Show. This is the UK’s largest shooting-centric retail event. 

“We are thrilled to receive this award and with our growth as a brand in the UK,” said Robert Gates, vice president of sales and marketing at Savage Arms. “Our team in Europe has done an amazing job of getting Savage to the forefront, and this recognition of the 110 Carbon Tactical shows where we stand as a brand, and our ability to innovate for specific markets.” 

Hook & Barrel Magazine announced an exclusive giveaway that offers Jason Aldean fans a chance to win tickets to his show. It includes a VIP lounge access opportunity for a pre-show acoustic set and Q&A session. 

“Talk about My Kinda Party — one lucky winner is going to have the music experience of their lifetime,” said Niki Morrison, Hook & Barrel’s Director of Marketing and PR. “Having Jason on our January/February cover was huge for Hook & Barrel; now we’re able to keep the excitement going as he kicks off his Full Throttle tour. Having access to a special VIP acoustic set and Q&A with Jason Aldean will definitely be a bucket-list item for any of his fans!” 

“Readers and viewers can enter the sweepstakes by visiting hookandbarrel.com,” said a Hook & Barrel representative. “The sweepstakes is currently running through March 16, 2025, and the winner will be announced shortly thereafter.”