SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – December 28, 2023 – Silencer Central, America’s largest silencer dealer, is thrilled to announce their collaboration with Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation (OSCF) and South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks to recognize the significant contributions made by hunters and targets shooters, as well as industry manufacturers that support wildlife conservation efforts across the country through the Pittman-Robertson Act.

As part of their ongoing commitment to conservation, OSCF has developed a video series titled ‘Connecting with Conservation,’ where they collaborate with industry manufacturers and state fish and wildlife agencies. The latest installment of this series showcases a visit to South Dakota and Silencer Central’s Sioux Falls headquarters, shedding light on the remarkable conservation efforts taking place in the state.

“We are proud to connect with and visit Silencer Central. It was great to learn of their dedication to conservation. By donating millions of dollars’ worth of their suppressors to conservation groups they truly are making a difference.,” said Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation’s Executive Director Jim Curcuruto. “By contributing $3.6 billion each year, America’s 60+ million active HATS (Hunters, Anglers, Trappers and Shooters) are truly the primary funders of wildlife conservation in America, and we appreciate Silencer Central helping to spread that message.”

The Pittman-Robertson Act, also known as the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration, generates funds from an excise tax on select outdoor products and goes to benefit projects such as land acquisition and improvement of wildlife habitat, introduction of wildlife into suitable habitat, research, surveys and inventories of wildlife populations, and hunter education programs, including construction and operation of public target shooting ranges.

“As more people hunt and target shoot, more money goes to conservation,” said Brandon Maddox, CEO of Silencer Central. “We are proud to partner with a variety of conservation organizations to expand this initiative and we’re honored to host OSCF at our headquarters.”

Over the past 86 years, the partnership between hunters, sport shooters and outdoor industry manufacturers has become the largest contributor to wildlife conservation and public access to natural resources in America. In just the past five years, nearly$5 billion has been collected from outdoor industry manufacturers and made available to state wildlife agencies for their conservation efforts.

The ‘Connecting with Conservation’ video series is produced with the support of The Murray Road Agency. Funding for this project is provided by the Multistate Conservation Grant Program (F23AP003940), a program supported with funds from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program and jointly managed by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Watch YouTube video here loop.

The mission of the S.D. Game, Fish & Parks is to serve and connect people and families to the outdoors through effective management of our state’s parks, fisheries and wildlife resources. For more information and to learn how to get involved, visit gfp.sd.gov.

For more information and to explore Silencer Central’s extensive range of products, visit SilencerCentral.com, or call 888-781-8778.

Eliason, previously with Bushmaster and Windham Weaponry, brings 34 years of executive-level sales experience to Hydra Weaponry.

Hermon, Maine (December 2023) – Hydra Weaponry, Maine’s largest firearms employer, designers, and manufacturers of the truly modular MARCK-15 Hydra® Weapon System, announce industry executive, Mark Eliason, has joined Hydra Weaponry as the new vice president of sales and marketing.

Eliason began his career in the firearms industry at Bushmaster.  When CEO Richard Dyke sold Bushmaster to Cerberus Group in 2006, the company was moved out of Maine. Dyke reopened the Bushmaster facility under the new name Windham Weaponry and Eliason became VP of Sales and Marketing for the new company.

Ironic as it may seem, Hydra Weaponry is a return home for Eliason. His former boss Dyke purchased a small Maine-based firearms company called Gwinn Firearms, founded by Mack Gwinn Jr, a Vietnam Special Forces officer turned firearms designer and manufacturer. This company became known as Bushmaster. Gwinn developed the first Bushmaster pistol and rifle. Eliason recalls his first job putting together guns in Dyke’s basement in high school.

“There is a minimal learning curve for me in joining Hydra Weaponry since I have been working with variants of the original Bushmaster and modular rifles with Windham,” Eliason said. “I am looking forward to this new adventure working with Hydra Weaponry, a Maine company that manufactures innovative and versatile firearms products.”

Eliason will be drawing on his 34 years of experience in sales and marketing to increase brand awareness among distributors and dealers, as well as, create sales and marketing programs for the growing line of Hydra Weaponry firearms.

“We are very excited to have Mark on our team,” Mack Gwinn III stated. “He has the experience and relationships already built within our industry to help give our brand access to critical sales channels.

Mark Eliason will be attending the SHOT Show at the Hydra Weaponry booth 40420 and will be taking appointments. Contact laura@lauraburgess.com to set up an appointment.

For more information on Hydra Weaponry, visit the new website at www.hydraweaponry.com.