California squirrels buck the trend, go full carnivore 🥩

I’m currently at the “it’s Thursday already?” phase of the workweek and am unsure as to whether or not that is a good thing as of yet. For those of you who have also made it through, a pat on the back is deserved.

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

Here's what's worth reading about today:

• Going carnivore - Squirrels documented hunting mammals for first time 🥩

• Crushing blow - How sportsmen toppled the mountain lion ban in Colorado 👊

• A beauty 157” - Mississippi hunter nails a beauty 🦌

• Killer season - Illinois hunters putting in the work 💪

I WONDER HOW ROGAN GOT TO THEM
NEW STUDY SHOWS THAT CALIFORNIA GROUND SQUIRRELS HAVE GONE FULL CARNIVORE

Whether or not California ground squirrels have been watching a few of the top influencers on the ‘Gram or are simply gearing up for RFK Jr. to head up the Department of Health and Human Services remains unclear.

What we do know is that they’ve gone full-blown carnivore with their new diet.

According to a study in the Journal of Ethology, these bushy-tailed predators have since been observed hunting, killing and eating other animals - including mammals such as California voles for the first time ever.

Traditionally omnivores by nature, squirrel species have been known to dine on insects, frogs and bird eggs in addition to their traditional fare of nuts, seeds and other grains. But this is the first time in history that we’ve ever seen them actively pursue another mammal in search of their next meal…

FWP News: Chronic wasting disease detected in deer for first time in two south-central Montana hunting districts: Chronic wasting disease (CWD) was detected this season in a mule deer buck from hunting district (HD) 515 and a whitetail buck from HD 525, both harvested by hunters. This is the first time CWD has been detected in these HDs. Read the full story.

How Sportsmen Defeated A Colorado Ballot Measure To Ban Mountain Lion Hunting:  “A coalition of ranchers, sportsmen and supporters of science-based wildlife management was not going to let another measure pass that would usurp the authority of the agency responsible for managing the state’s wildlife,” says Prenzlow, a thought-leader in the effort to defeat the proposition. Read the full story.

'I thought it was a dream at first.' Mississippi deer hunter harvests big, 157-inch buck: A buck that appeared to have the potential to become a trophy had done just that. He'd blossomed into a 150-class giant, but trail camera photos of him only came at night. Read the full story.

Idaho F&G seeks information regarding elk shot out of season and left to waste:On Friday, Dec. 6, Fish and Game received a report from a hunter that they had found a mature, trophy class bull elk carcass on National Forest land behind the Whitewater Wilderness Ranch, and near the White Bird Ridge Road in Unit 23.   Read the full story.

Illinois hunters harvest over 82,000 deer during firearm season: Hunters took a preliminary total of 82,496 during the seven-day Illinois firearm deer season that concluded on Sunday, December 8. Read the full story.

23-year-old man dies after being shot while hunting in Manning: The Clarendon County Coroner’s Office said 23-year-old Skylar Anthony Julian Mckenzie died after being shot near Jul Net Road shortly after 7 a.m. Wednesday.  Read the full story.

🤜 Of Gun Dogs, Little Girls & Loss: Spend enough time around gun dog folks, and they’ll explain it to you. There are dogs and then there are those once-in-a-lifetime dogs. Each dog is special, but once in a while there’s a dog that enters our lives and becomes more than simply a four-legged part of our family. It’s as if their sole purpose on this earth is for us. To work with us. To hunt with us. To love on us and our families. That was Beckham. Read the full story.

🌵 Carmen Mountain Whitetail: A Texas Secret No More: Last November with a bunch of good friends, I trekked deep into the heart of a 36,000-acre ranch south of Marfa, Texas. From the hill above the old cowboy camp where we stayed, you could see into Mexico. You didn’t have to walk that far—just sit on the porch of the barn where we slept—to see mule deer, aoudad, and javelinas working their way across distant hillsides through the brushy draws. Occasionally, the stunted oaks gave up their most precious secret, a deer that has all but escaped the attention of hunters, a deer science has barely touched. Read the full story.

🎤 Bing Crosby: A Man for All Seasons:  Crosby singing “White Christmas” remains the best-selling record of all time and how he is best remembered—just one of many unparalleled achievements this modest, affable, outwardly easy-going man realized in his lifetime (see sidebar). To temper the intensity of his professional—and an oftentimes conflicted personal—life, Bing frequently headed for the woods and water. Hunting and fishing were lifelong passions for Crosby, with the crooner shouldering a gun and casting a line as he grew up. Read the full story.

Oh, and one more thing…