Written by Jim Shepherd, editor of The Outdoor Wires:

For the past year, we've seen signs in the sales of big-ticket items that despite our putting our best faces forward, things are not going well for out economy. We're not talking the overall gloom-and-doom of some news outlets, but we're certainly not going to try and tell you that slowdowns in sales aren't impacting business.

Since the introduction of HI-SEAS Grand Slam Braid, fishermen have been raving about its surprising value and uncompromising performance. It has proven to be everything you could want in a super braid without the super high price. In fact anglers around the country have reported that it quickly became their favorite braid because it fishes better than the competition.

Traditions Performance Firearms is the proud recipient of the 2008 Field & Stream "Best of the Best" product in the muzzleloading category for their newest innovation the Pursuit II XLT Muzzleloader. This highly regarded annual awards program is designed to find and honor the absolute best new and innovative products in hunting each year. The announcement was made in the September 2008 issue of Field & Stream.

Whitetails Unlimited is continuing their financial support of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, whose stewardship of the National Assembly of State Caucuses continues to be a huge success. The NASC is the only organization in the United States whose sole purpose is to coordinate and work with state elected officials to promote and protect the rights of sportsmen and women. This year's support will put WTU's total contribution to the CSF at $25,000.

"Our Videos Are Different," is the motto - Team Drury's unmatched fire for growing and hunting big whitetails is what sets them apart and is also what produced the single most impressive reel of encounters and kills ever captured in the company's 19-year history. The record-breaking season is captured on the new Whitetail Legacy Series featuring three all-new releases: Whitetail Madness® 11, Dream Season® 11 and Volume 8 of the 100% Wild Fair Chase Series®, Fatal Attraction. Each over 2 1/2 hours long, each with a specific focus to highlight every angle of every deer hunter's dream season.

ESPN Outdoors announces that Jose Wejebe, who has hosted Spanish Fly on ESPN2 for 13 years, will host the ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series television coverage on ESPN2. The Sunday morning shows, which will chronicle the six stand-alone, world-class events, will begin in April 2009. The ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series will kick off September 5-7 with the Southernmost Light-Tackle Anglers Masters (S.L.A.M.) tournament in Key West, Florida.

The September/October edition of the award-winning Bassmaster Magazine is in BASS member mailboxes now. A must-read for pro anglers and their fans, the 11 annual issues are the most popular benefit of BASS membership and continue to provide tips and strategies that help anglers reel in big catches. To join BASS and start receiving Bassmaster, visit www.Bassmaster.com

The shooting sports are alive and well in our high schools, as we cover the largest high school air rifle match in the country. Then for shotgunners, we've got Pro Tips, taught by the Army Marksmanship Unit members of our Olympic shotgun team. And then Bob Munden's flipping coins, edge-wise, in Impossible Shot. More info...

The 2009 Bassmaster Opens, comprised of three qualifying series in a Southern, Central and revamped Northern division, each with three events, will visit diverse and productive fisheries for a total of nine events in Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Louisiana and Texas, BASS announced today.

The USA Shooting Shotgun Team has recorded its highest medal count in Olympic history- four- taking on the toughest competitors in the world with Winchester® AA® ammunition.