Alberta Introduces Permit Program to Address “Problem Elk” 🏷️

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. 

Here's what's worth reading about today:

• Got problem elk? - If so, ‘Berta’s got a new permit program for you 🏷️

• Cookie monster - Florida woman thwarts bear attack with bag of cookies 🍪

• Permitless - Oklahoma is looking to do away with hog hunt permits 🐗

• Shot in the face - Another turkey hunter shot in preventable accident 🤦

• Arkansas elk - Now is the time to apply for a Natty State Wapiti 🗓️

• Mossy Oak legend’s bird - The 94-year-old bags a beauty 🦃

• C’mon man - You just can’t help them all 🙈 

MO’ ELK, MO’ PROBLEMS
ALBERTA INTRODUCES PERMIT PROGRAM TO ADDRESS “PROBLEM ELK”

InIn the spring of 2025, the province of Alberta launched a new permit program allowing hunters to target "problem elk" that damage agricultural property and livestock feed, even after the recreational elk hunting season concludes in February. Giving farmers a leg up, the initiative aims to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts, particularly in southern Alberta, where agricultural operations face significant financial losses due to elk.

The large ungulates have become a growing concern for farmers, with cattle ranchers like Cole Barten reporting upwards of $20,000 in damages from elk consuming hay bales so far this year alone. Other farmers could face thousands more in losses and now have a program that permits eligible hunters to target these elk on private property or adjacent Crown land, in an effort to protect agricultural resources.

"We haven't had a problem with elk for the last three years, and then this year we had 150 [elk] getting into a stackyard (used for storing feed) every single day," Barten told CBC. "As soon as that February hunting season was over, all these elk came out of the provincial park and they show up and they've kind of wreaked havoc on us for the last three to four weeks."

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🍪 Florida Woman Saves Dog from Bear Attack with Quick-Thinking Cookie Toss. In Sanford, Florida, Kristen Savage and her Chihuahua mix, Ringo, narrowly escaped a terrifying black bear attack while walking in their Sylvan Lake Reserve neighborhood earlier this month. The bear, likely a mother protecting her cubs, charged at Ringo, biting at him and briefly grabbing him in its mouth. Savage, who fell during the encounter and sustained minor scrapes, instinctively lifted Ringo like a "piñata" to keep him safe. When waving her arms and screaming failed to deter the bear, she used a bag of cookies to distract the animal. By smacking the bear with the bag and throwing it, Savage diverted the bear’s attention, allowing her and Ringo to flee safely indoors.

Savage believes the bear perceived Ringo as a threat and holds no ill will, noting its frequent presence in the neighborhood. The incident, reported across multiple outlets, highlights the increasing bear encounters in Seminole County during spring, as mothers become protective and has since thrust Florida’s possible upcoming bear hunting season back into the headlines.

🐗 Oklahoma Bill Seeks to Scrap Permits for Feral Hog Hunting to Curb $50M in Damages. Senate Bill 449, introduced by Senator Dusty Deevers, aims to eliminate permit requirements for hunting feral hogs, addressing the significant damage these invasive animals cause to agriculture and ecosystems. Feral hogs, responsible for an estimated $30 to $50 million in annual damages in Oklahoma and $1.5 billion nationwide, destroy crops, fencing, and waterways while spreading diseases. The bill would allow landowners, lessees, or their designated agents to hunt hogs on private property without needing a depredating animals license, a Wildlife Conservation permit, or an agricultural exemption, simplifying the process to encourage more effective population control. The legislation, which was introduced back in February, has sparked debate, with supporters arguing it empowers property owners and critics warning it could increase poaching and complicate enforcement.

“This is a common-sense solution to a serious problem,” Deevers said. “By passing this bill, we are not only protecting Oklahoma’s agricultural heritage but also sending a clear message that we trust our citizens to manage their own land."

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🤦 This poor young fella got stuck in the fence, was freed and then went and got himself stuck again. Watching this, the only thing that comes to mind is: c’mon, man!

He might not be breeding stock…

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Apply for a chance to hunt an Arkansas Elk: Hunters interested in pursuing Arkansas’s largest big game animal can apply for a limited hunting permit draw from 8 a.m. May 1 through 11:59 p.m. June 1. Applications will be available at the AGFC’s licensing site under the “Special Hunt Applications” tab.  Read the full story.

Florida Alligator Harvest & Alligator Super Hunt applications open Friday: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be accepting applications for statewide harvest and hunting programs beginning on Friday, May 2.  Read the full story.

Hunter recovering after being shot in face during turkey hunt in New Hampshire: The man and his hunting partner were working opposite sides of a clearing when a turkey passed between them, and the man's partner fired a single shot that sent several shotgun pellets into his face and upper torso. Read the full story.

Person cited after allegedly illegally hunting turkeys in Kentucky: The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Division says Warden Brad Bowles located an individual hunting turkey over a baited area in Richardsville.  Read the full story.

DNR treasure map to help guide morel mushroom hunters in Northern Michigan: It's the season for morel mushroom hunting and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has released its latest treasure map to help navigate your search.  Read the full story.

🦃 Mossy Oak Legend Fox Haas Bags a Beautiful Gobbler. At 94 years old, Fox Haas, the legendary patriarch of Mossy Oak, achieved an extraordinary feat by harvesting a wild turkey last week, three years after his last hunt. Known as "Mr. Fox," Haas has a storied history of 75 consecutive successful turkey hunting seasons, dating all the way back to 1944. Due to age-related mobility issues and health challenges, he could no longer endure traditional hunts seated against a tree. In an effort to make grandpa more comfortable, his grandson Neill creatively adapted a golf cart into a camouflaged hunting blind, enabling Haas to hunt comfortably. According to the post, Mr. Fox sat there waiting, gun up, and heart thundering, and said to himself what he’s said on every single occasion: “I’m glad I lived to see it one more time.”

Haas’ story is deeply tied to conservation and the Mossy Oak brand, which he helped shape through his son Toxey’s vision. Growing up in Mississippi when wild turkeys were scarce, Haas played a pivotal role in re-establishing turkey populations in east-central Mississippi during the 1970s. His dedication to conservation earned him and Toxey the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Conservation Award in 2022. The 2023 release of the limited-edition Mr. Fox Turkey Vest, numbered to commemorate his first turkey kill in 1944, sold out quickly and raised $31,000 at auction for turkey conservation. This latest hunt symbolizes not only Haas’ personal triumph but also his lifelong commitment to preserving the wild turkey and the hunting traditions he passed down to his family and the broader outdoor community.

Filling up for the weekend.

📸 : @lawofthelandnsea

Oh, and one more thing…