Drunk man arrested for firing at fishermen too close to his dock 🔫

If you’re still with us, that means you’ve made it to the middle of yet another week.

With that in mind, let’s all take a minute to grab a coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and get another mid-week dispatch out the door.

Here's what's worth reading about so far this week:

• Drunk dock defender - Another person going crazy at their dock 🔫

• He’s not injured, just fat - Misdiagnosis as officials try to save bald eagle 🦅

• That’s wonderful but… - Man claims he didn’t need a hunting license because he’s American-born 🤔

• Charges laid - Former Utah Wildlife Board member slapped in illegal hunting case 🧑‍⚖️

• Playing golf with black bears- A Canadian kid tees off alongside a black bear ⛳️

ANOTHER BRAVE DOCK DEFENDER
DRUNK MISSOURI MAN ARRESTED AFTER FIRING AT ANGLERS FISHING ‘TOO CLOSE’ TO HIS DOCK

In a time where people everywhere seem to be freaking out the moment any anglers even get a little bit close to their docks, a Missouri man has been arrested after taking things a bit too far.

Enjoying an evening of fishing, a pair of anglers were working a small bay in an effort to pull in some catfish before the sun descended for the day when they were suddenly interrupted. Fishing on Lake of the Ozarks, the anglers stated that a man on shore had begun to harass the pair, belligerently threatening them for fishing a little too close to his dock.

As the man on shore brandished a rifle and went on to threaten the fishermen, they decided it was time to place a 911 call as they felt as though their lives might suddenly be in danger. While threatening to shoot the two men, a shot rang out as one of the men was connecting to the 911 operator, causing the two men in the boat to seek protection beneath the walls of the vessel…

🦅 He’s OK! Bald eagle that was once thought to have been injured was just ‘too fat to fly’. Last week the Missouri Department of Conservation captured a bald eagle that it believed to be injured along the boundary of the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield. After some examinations of the bird, the department later determined that the bird was not suffering from any existing injury, but from success.

As their team performed an examination on the bird, they discovered that the eagle had a belly full of racoon and was simply too engorged to fly when they happened upon it. The x-ray imagery later revealed the outline of a raccoon paw inside its stomach, something they believe the bird picked up dead along a roadway. So rather than trying to treat the bird, they gave him a bit of time to digest his meal and released him shortly thereafter.

“The bird, originally reported to be injured, was found to be healthy but engorged with (raccoon) --- in other words, too fat to fly,” the park said.

🤔 Poaching suspect placed under arrest, claiming he didn’t need a hunting license as an ‘American-born’ citizen. We sure are fortunate to have plenty of rights and freedoms in this country, but one of them isn’t shooting wildlife at will. In a case out of Wyoming, David L. Goetting has been charged with two counts of illegally taking a big game or trophy animal after a tip to a local game warden indicated he had taken multiple deer in the fall of last year. The investigation revealed that Goetting had used a pump-action shotgun to kill a mule deer buck and a pronghorn antelope.

According to the court affidavit, Goetting admitted to not having a license, stating he didn’t need one because he was an American-born citizen. Well, the officers found that reason to be unsatisfactory and seized the shotgun along with a  freezer full of game meat as evidence in the case.

According to Wyoming State Statutes, illegally taking a big game or trophy animal is classified as a high misdemeanor. Each count is punishable by a maximum of a year in prison, a $10,000 fine or both.

🧑‍⚖️ Former Utah Wildlife Board member and Kane County Commissioner charged in illegal hunting case.  When we first covered this case back in June, it sounded as though the details were still a bit unclear as to how it was all going to unfold. But following his sudden resignation earlier this year, Utah Wildlife Board Member and County Commissioner Wade Raymond Heaton, 51, of Alton, Kane County, has since been charged in the 6th District Court for crimes committed between 2021 and 2023 .  He is now facing a second-degree felony; six counts of wanton destruction of protected wildlife, ranging in severity from a third-degree felony to class A misdemeanor; three counts of conspiracy, a misdemeanor; and taking, transporting, selling or purchasing protected wildlife, a class B misdemeanor.

In addition to Heaton, six other Utah hunting guides that work for Heaton’s Color County Outfitters business have also been charged. The investigation was launched last year after a number of tips came in to Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources about possible big game baiting. After visiting the site, officers found corn spread across various areas and no sign of any cattle in the vicinity. This set off an investigation resulting in photographic evidence and former client testimonials that was then handed off to the Utah County Attorney's Office, which ultimately reviewed the report and filed charges against Heaton and six of the employees.

Pa. Game Commission announces Sunday hunting dates: The Pennsylvania Game Commission has announced the Sunday hunting dates for 2024. Read more at Penn Live.

What you need to know as fall hunting season arrives in Ohio:  The start of legal squirrel hunting at one-half before sunrise on Sept. 1 begins the annual turning that leads to the full array of fall game seasons shortly to come. Read more at Columbus Dispatch.

Louisiana Black Bear Hunting Lottery to Open Aug. 29:  The Louisiana Black Bear Hunting Lottery will open to state hunters beginning Aug. 29 and run through Sept. 25, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announced. Read more at LDWF.

2024 Wyoming hunt forecast now available: Whether you are after pronghorn along the plains, deer or elk in the mountains, bighorn sheep high in the mountains or birds along the flatlands and wetlands, check out the 2024 Wyoming Game and Fish Department hunting forecast from eight regions around the state.  Read more at WGFD.

Rare elk spotted in Wichita:  Elk aren’t typically seen in Kansas, especially in urban areas. There was no immediate word on where the elk came from. Read more at 12News.

Elk research: UM scientists, students study a changing population: A new management plan released by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks last year has accelerated matters concerning the antlered ungulate, and an investigative team consisting of University of Montana wildlife biology professors and students is helping FWP spearhead research to understand the many complex factors affecting the species. Read more at KPAX.

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Well, we’ve been at this for a month now and have a few weeks of episodes under our belts. In addition to our Week in Review episodes going out every Friday morning, y’all really took to our Stories from the Field episode about the legend of Trapper Nelson as well. We’ve got another one of those in the works for September.

Thanks again to all those who have subscribed and tuned in. If you haven’t had a chance yet, now’s as good a time as ever.

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🫎 Russian dude channels his inner Teddy Roosevelt and takes a bull moose for a ride. I know, I know. Teddy didn’t actually ride the moose in that famous picture, but this Russian fella did.

🐻 How am I supposed to hit with that going on?? Nothing screams Canada like a young lad teeing off with a black bear chilling next to him on the tee box.

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