114 criminal charges for group of Idaho hunters 👮

Welcome to our first ‘almost Friday’ edition of your favorite newsletter. It’s been a hell of a week and I appreciate all the kind words of support we’ve gotten during our transition.

With that in mind, let’s all take a minute to grab a coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and get our first ever Monday morning dispatch out the door.

Here's what's worth reading about today:

• All heads, no meat - 114 charges in Idaho controlled hunt incident 👮

• Loss of life - Michigan man who was shot in the head has passed 🙏

• Big bulls - Are being spotted now in southern Wisconsin 💪

• Flipping the bird - Pair busted in illegal bird baiting scheme 🦆

EGREGIOUS
114 CRIMINAL CHARGES HANDED DOWN FOR BRAZEN KILLINGS AND WASTE IN IDAHO

Two hunting trips in southern Idaho have led to a plethora of charges for a group of poachers caught red handed. According to reports, the investigation kicked off after state officials noticed a group of men loading five deer heads into an enclosed trailer in the South Hills, just north of the Nevada border.

While the sight of heads is something that could very well catch any of our attention, investigators looked beyond the heads and noticed that none of the coolers the group had with them were large enough to facilitate the amount of meat that would be taken from five animals.

Given that all hunters in the state of Idaho are required to salvage a certain percentage of the meat from any animal killed, officials made contact with the group to investigate further. What was later revealed was that, in addition to the lack of meat, no one in the party had the proper tags for Unit 54 - a controlled hunt unit in which they were hunting…

34-year-old man shot while hunting in Minnesota has died: Jace Srur was taken to Sanford Hospital in Fargo after he was shot in the head around 8 a.m. Saturday while hunting near the 4600 block of 90th Ave. N in rural Clay County, which is about 20 miles north of Moorhead. Srur's death was announced on social media by his employer, Fargo-based G&T Plumbing and Heating. Read the full story.

Michigan’s firearm deer hunting season begins Nov. 15: What to know:  Regular firearm deer season opens in Michigan on Friday, Nov. 15 and runs through Saturday, Nov. 30. Hunters have up to 72 hours after taking a deer to report a kill. Read the full story.

Bull elk sighted in southern Wisconsin during annual breeding season: Christina Kizewski, DNR central elk zone biologist, said one of the bulls, a bigger more mature animal, has been hanging out near Wyalusing State Park near Bagley in Grant County and the other, a smaller "rag horn," has spent most of its time recently in Iowa County, with the latest report near Mineral Point. Read the full story.

Flood Waters Force Closure of Deer Hunting in Maurepas Swamp WMA: Flood waters in the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area (WMA) have triggered an automatic deer hunting season closure, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announced. Read the full story.

2 hunters indicted, accused of trying to lure birds illegally: Two men employed as hunting guides were recently sentenced for violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The men were convicted for placing “bait”—grain, feed, or salt to serve as a lure—to attract waterfowl for the purpose of hunting.  Read the full story.

🧑‍🚀 The Air Force Pilot Who Survived a Leap From Space: On Aug. 16, 1960, United States Air Force Capt. Joseph Kittinger ascended above New Mexico in an open gondola suspended from a helium balloon. The 32-year-old test pilot wore a pressurized suit, because without it, the extreme altitude would’ve caused his body fluids to boil. When he was 19 miles above the earth, Kittinger jumped and entered an uncontrolled descent, falling at speeds exceeding 600 mph. The free fall lasted 4 minutes and 36 seconds until, at 14,000 feet, Kittinger pulled the ripcord of his parachute.  Read the full story.

🎒 One Pack For Any Hunt! Eberlestock’s Just One Hunting Pack (Review): This review features the Just One Pack built by Eberlestock. With an updated, lightweight design, this backpack is built to be the one pack you’ll need for any hunt. The original Just One pack was designed by Eberlestock’s founder Glen Eberle in the early 2000s. This latest release features rip-stop material, compression straps, meat shelf webbing, center-aligned rifle scabbard and expandable cargo compartment making it easy to go in light and come out heavy. Read the full story.

🤠 Red Hill Renaissance: Quail Hunting in the South: As the sun crested the horizon, the sounds of leather being cinched and metal buckles being snapped quietly broke the silence of dawn. A team of horses stood calmly as they were saddled. The swish of a tail and jangle of bridles added to the ambiance of the peaceful morning. I rubbed the velvety soft nose of a beautiful bay as the sounds of creaking wood and the plodding of horseshoes on gravel reached my ears. For a moment, I was transported back in time as the wagon drawn by two large mules rolled past me. Their driver, reins held lightly between his hands, tipped his head to me in a silent “good morning.” Read the full story.

Oh, and one more thing…