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Live AR500 Next Gen Rifle & Pistol Demos at Casper’s Family Fun Day – July 26!

July 22, 2025

Key Takeaway

Big Horn Armory will demo its AR500 Next Gen rifle and pistol at Wyoming Gun Company’s Family Fun Day in Casper on July 26.

NCWRC plans to extend either-sex deer season by up to 25 days in six WNC counties to bolster herd balance and CWD management.

Maine’s bowhunters association will dissolve as crossbow kills nearly match traditional bow harvests, leaving adult novices without guidance.

Waterfowl-licensed hunters can apply by July 31 for the August 7 blind drawing at Quemahoning Reservoir.

Hunters risk losing a hot bait site for up to a week if scents, noise or movement spook Maine black bears at the stand.

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Big Horn Armory to Demo AR500 Next Gen at Casper’s Family Fun Day

Wyoming Gun Company’s Family Fun Day in Casper on July 26 will feature Big Horn Armory’s AR500 Next Gen rifle and pistol at its Vendor Showcase. With live-fire demonstrations and on-site sales, attendees—from novice shooters to veteran hunters—can experience the rifle’s power and versatility firsthand.

Event Highlights:

Date & Location: July 26 at Wyoming Gun Company, Casper, WY

Featured Gear: AR500 Next Gen rifle & pistol, uppers, merch

Community Focus: Hands-on demos to unite first-time shooters and seasoned hunters

North Carolina Proposes Deer Season Expansion, Regulation Overhaul

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) has opened public comment on a suite of proposed rule changes for the 2026-27 season, most notably extending the either-sex white-tailed deer season in six western counties.

Key expansions: Madison County would see a 25-day increase, while Avery, Caldwell, Burke, Mitchell and Yancey counties gain 18 days.

Objective: Manage growing herds, improve buck-to-doe ratios and assist Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) control.

Additional tweaks include trout stream reclassifications in Buncombe County, new fishing closures to protect muskellunge, simplified CWD carcass transport rules and adjusted camping dates to avoid overlap with turkey season. Public comments are due by Sept. 15, 2025, ahead of an October NCWRC vote.

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Crossbow Surge Threatens Maine Archery Education

Maine’s longstanding Bowhunters Association is winding down operations, citing dwindling membership tied to a surge in crossbow usage across the state. In 2024, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife recorded 4,851 deer taken by archers, split almost evenly between crossbows (2,460) and bows (2,391) after license reforms eliminated a separate permit for crossbow hunters.

Supporters say crossbows have opened the sport to hunters with physical limitations and boosted license revenue, while purists warn that unregulated adoption risks overharvest and erodes mentorship opportunities. With the state archery season structure unchanged and educational resources scant for adult newcomers, the closure signals a pivotal moment in Maine’s archery future.

Applications Open for Quemahoning Reservoir Goose Hunt

Cambria Somerset Authority has opened applications for its annual goose and duck blind drawing at the Quemahoning Reservoir, accepting waterfowl-licensed hunters’ entries through July 31 at no cost. Applicants must email their license information and contact details to beverly@cambriasomersetwater.com.

The blind assignment drawing takes place on August 7 ahead of the authority’s regular meeting. Successful applicants gain exclusive access to managed blinds aimed at reducing waterfowl overpopulation and minimizing contamination in the popular swimming and recreation area.

Discipline and Preparation Define First-Time Maine Black Bear Hunts

Maine’s black bear season rewards patience, planning and poise.

Successful self-guided hunts begin long before opening day: bait sites must be scouted and prepped in August, and stands erected to take advantage of prevailing wind patterns. Veteran guide John Floyd warns that noisy gear handling, foreign odors or sudden movement can shut down a prime location for days. For new hunters, mastering tree-stand discipline—staying motionless, scent-free and silent—often proves the toughest challenge but remains the surest path to filling a tag.

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