The Shooting Wire

Wednesday, August 12, 2026  ■  Awards & Honors

GSM Outdoors Celebrates Induction of Paul Butski Into The Legends of The Outdoors Hall of Fame

After decades of championing conservation and making significant contributions to the future of the outdoor industry, longtime GSM Outdoors staff member Paul Butski has been inducted into the Legends of The Outdoors Hall of Fame. One of the highest achievements in the industry, the prestigious honor recognizes not only a career spent pioneering turkey hunting and the art of turkey calling, but also a lifelong passion for preserving the resources and the places that make hunting, fishing, and enjoyment of the great outdoors so important to so many.

"Paul's impact reaches well beyond a single accomplishment," said Fred Zink, founder of Avian-X and Zink Calls. "It's something that's experienced rather than something that's seen or touched. It's reflected in the continued strength of our industry, healthier outdoor spaces, and the growing numbers of outdoorsmen and women nationwide. Over the course of his career, he has helped pave the way for the next generation of hunters, anglers, conservationists, and outdoor enthusiasts, ensuring the passion endures and truly creating a legacy as he goes."

Included in Paul's long list of accomplishments is developing a signature line of box, friction, and mouth calls in collaboration with GSM, and introducing the Mantis 25 Turkey Call under the well-known Hunting Made Easy (HME) brand. In addition to revolutionizing hunting techniques used in the field, he is also a decorated competition caller with numerous championship wins under his belt.

Those wins include three National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Grand National Championships, six U.S. Open Championships, and two Levi Garrett Opens, along with being a champion owl hooter, all of which led to him earning a place in the NWTF Grand National Calling Championships Hall of Fame in 2020.

GSM Outdoors is thrilled to congratulate Paul Butski on his well-deserved induction and is honored to celebrate his lifetime of dedication, leadership, and impact on the outdoor passions, pursuits, and places that promote the preservation of the sportsman's legacy.

This year's hall of fame induction ceremony, which was held Saturday, August 8, took place at the John A. & Genny Morris Conservation Center in Springfield, Missouri.

If you have questions or media inquiries, please email marketing@gsmorg.com. You can also learn more about the entire family of GSM brands at www.gsmoutdoors.com.

About GSM Outdoors: GSM Outdoors designs, manufactures, and delivers the most innovative, technically advanced, and diverse assortment of gear tailored to every outdoor passion, pursuit, and application. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, GSM has rapidly grown into a global organization comprised of more than 50 hunting, shooting sports, rugged outdoors, and fishing brands all rooted in a long-standing tradition of providing customers with the best products, accessories, and app-based subscription services on the market. By leveraging the decades-deep heritage of that brand family, in addition to the latest technology the industry has to offer, GSM Outdoors is preserving the sportsman's legacy, fueling innovation, and transforming the way outdoorsmen of all kinds think outside—today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.