Prison and over $1 Million in Fines for Man with ‘Longest Record of Fisheries Act Violations’ 🧑‍⚖️

The weekend might not be here just yet, but your favorite dispatch from the great outdoors is. 

So grab your coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and let's get caught up on the outdoor news and views from the past 24-or-so hours. 

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DUDE NEEDS TO BE DROPPED IN THE DESERT
6-YEARS IN PRISON AND OVER $1 MILLION IN FINES FOR CANADIAN MAN WITH ‘LONGEST RECORD OF FISHERIES ACT VIOLATIONS’

With a rap sheet longer than a deep-sea trawler’s haul, one Canadian man is setting records, but not the kind that anyone ought to be proud of. Scott Steer of Gabriola Island, British Columbia has earned himself the dubious distinction of holding the longest record of Fisheries Act violations in Canadian history. His illegal activities, spanning over a decade, involved persistent disregard for Canada’s fisheries regulations, culminating in a significant legal reckoning that took place last month. Steer’s violations primarily centered around the illegal harvesting and selling of marine resources, with a particular focus on sea cucumbers, crabs, halibut, and lingcod. 

Like many who believe themselves to be above the law, Steer’s history of non-compliance dates back to nearly two decades to when he received formal administrative warnings and ticket violations for breaches of the Fisheries Act. His first recorded convictions came in 2008, when he was fined $400 for fishing shellfish during a closed season and $3,500 for offering to sell halibut and lingcod not caught under a sales license…

🚜 Amphibious ATV Sparks Outrage After Driving Through Montana’s Blackfoot River Without Permit. An amphibious all-terrain vehicle was filmed driving through Montana’s Blackfoot River, stirring outrage among anglers and locals. The vehicle, identified as a SHERP, was part of a noxious weed spraying crew operating over an 8.5-mile stretch of the river, from the North Fork confluence to Scotty Brown Bridge. This occurred during a time when the river was under “hoot owl” fishing restrictions to protect heat-stressed trout, amplifying concerns about environmental damage. The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks determined that the operation lacked a required Montana Stream Protection Act 124 permit, which is necessary for activities that could impact stream beds or banks. The incident, particularly in an area where bull trout congregate, raised fears about habitat disruption for this federally protected species.

Public reaction was strong, with local fly shop owners and fishing guides expressing dismay over the potential harm to the river’s ecosystem, already strained by low flows and high temperatures. FWP is investigating, but it remains unclear if legal action will follow, as Powell County officials have not clarified whether the spraying occurred on public or private land.

“Simply put, operating a motor vehicle impacting Montana's stream bed should not happen without a permit,” the agency said. “We will work with Powell County to ensure weed control is done properly in the future to stress the importance of protecting Montana’s natural resources … We want to thank the public for drawing our attention to this important matter.”

🐺 Hunting Groups Appeal Montana Judge’s Ruling to Reinstate Gray Wolf Protections. As a follow-up to Tuesday’s ruling in Missoula, several hunting organizations, including the Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation, Safari Club International, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, have filed an appeal with the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The ruling, issued by Judge Donald W. Molloy of the US District Court for the District of Montana earlier this week, overturned the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2024 decision that gray wolves in the western US are not endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

The hunting groups argue that the decision, which sided with animal rights organizations like the Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club, sets an unrealistic standard requiring wolf recovery across their entire historical range in the Lower 48 states. They contend that wolves, declared recovered by Congress in 2011, have thrived and expanded into areas like California, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado, and that state management is sufficient. The appeal seeks to uphold the FWS’s rejection of petitions to combine recovered wolf populations with those in expanding regions, which the groups claim dilutes the wolves’ recovery status.

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Dove and goose hunting season countdown begins across Pennsylvania: With less than a month to go before dove and early goose seasons open, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is reminding hunters to get their licenses, stamps, and permits in order ahead of the migratory bird hunting kickoff.  Read the full story.

Mule Deer Hunting Season Dates Shift Later in Southeast Wyoming: The Wyoming Game and Fish Department wants to remind the public of later season dates for several deer hunt areas in southeast Wyoming. These date shifts are a result of multiple years of public feedback gathered through the season-setting process. Read the full story.

In Louisiana, you can now take your gun while frogging at night: It’s now legal to take your firearm while hunting frogs at night in Louisiana.  Act 109, by Sen. Eddie Lambert, R-Gonzales, repealed a prohibition on carrying a rifle, shotgun or firearm while frogging after the sun goes down. The law change went into effect Aug. 1. Read the full story.

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish to sell nearly 500 leftover deer licenses: A total of 499 deer licenses left over from the 2025-2026 big-game draw will now go on sale in New Mexico on Aug. 13 after technical difficulties led to the postponement of the original sale date. Read the full story.

Oklahoma's big bucks: Hunting & fishing license overhaul pays off with $4.8 million boost: Between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, $27.2 million in revenue was generated from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, representing a $4.8 million increase over the previous year (a 21.5% increase in revenue).  Read the full story.

When the weekend is here and you just need to SEND IT. Watch as these fellas pay no mind to a little bump in the road.

Beaver dam? Never heard of her…

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The pull of the weekend.

📸 : @frankiespontelli

Oh, and one more thing…