Catfish Trafficking Ring Bust Results in Over 180 Violations for Nine Suspects Across Three States

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:

• Catfishin’ crimes - Massive illegal fishing ring broken up down south 🚔

• 11-year-old cleans up - The youngest kid to down a bighorn ram in Wyoming 🏆

• New deer disease - We’ve got an ocular plague on our hands now 👁️

• Catching marlin on the fly - Yes, marlin on a fly road 🤯

• False accusations - Alberta hunter vindicated from social media accusations 👊

• Garage beers bears - Canadian dude gets surprise visitor in his garage 🐻

KDFW IS STILL INVESTIGATING
CATFISH TRAFFICKING RING BUST RESULTS IN OVER 180 VIOLATIONS FOR NINE SUSPECTS ACROSS THREE STATES

When it comes to catching catfish, one way to do it is by way of pay lakes, which are often private lakes that, as the name suggests, require outsiders to pay to play. In the case of these pay lakes, anglers from across the country will pay for the opportunity to hook into some massive fish. They provide great opportunities for both young and experienced anglers alike, offering a great way for youngsters to catch a pile of fish on their first time out.

While the concept of pay lakes is one that typically operates comfortably within the confines of the law, when it comes to stocking them, pay lake operators are required to keep detailed records regarding any fish that have been put into their lake and where they came from. 

Originally tipped off by a series of social media posts advertising anglers taking over their legal limit of catfish at pay lakes in Kentucky, the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife wasted no time investigating…

👦 11-Year-Old Becomes Youngest Hunter to Kill a Bighorn in Wyoming. We’ve all got bucket list hunts that we expect to fulfill…one day. Well, the same can be said for one 11-year-old Wyoming boy who wasted no time getting after his hunt of a lifetime and was successful in doing so.

After drawing a lottery tag the boy’s father, Bill Goolsbey, got in touch with a local outfitter and quickly arranged the father-son mountain hunt. Working as a rancher, Bill and his son Rhett are no strangers to hard work and proved they were up to the challenge as they headed into Wyoming’s Absaroka Range earlier this month.

It took until the last day of the hunt for the group to find a couple of rams and as the sun was just about to set on the day, Rhett got dialed in and took his ram at an elevation of about 9,000 feet. According to his father, Rhett placed the shot perfectly and now has one hell of a trophy that will undoubtedly last a lifetime.

👁️ Rare eye disease found in Idaho deer. In the event that we need yet another disease to plague our deer populations, researchers at Washington State University are warning against what they are calling an ocular plague. After a seemingly blind mule deer was spotted by a member of the public, Idaho Fish and Game officials euthanized the animal and sent tissue samples and the deer’s eyes to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL) in WSU for testing, and thus confirming the ocular plague.

“The disease doesn’t necessarily kill the deer on its own, but it causes blindness, likely making them vulnerable to predators and significantly reducing their chances of survival,” Pathology Resident at WADDL, Dr. Elis Fisk said.

Fisk and other officials are warning the public against coming into contact with affected deer, but also stated that there is likely very little concern for the public, hunters or deer populations regarding the ocular plague

1,231 deer checked during Arkansas' first early buck hunt: This kickstart to buck hunting comes after it was added during the biannual regulations-setting process that allows hunters to hunt bucks still "in velvet". Read more at ABC7.

Maryland’s Small Game and Wild Turkey Seasons Provide Abundant Fall Hunting Opportunities:  The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that squirrel, rabbit, fall turkey, and other small game seasons are either underway or set to open in the coming weeks. Some of these species offer generous seasons and bag limits and are abundant throughout Maryland. Read more at Maryland DNR.

When does deer hunting season start in NY? Dates and rules for 2024:  No matter the manner in which you hunt for white-tailed deer in the Empire State, you need to follow state guidelines regarding when and where hunting is permitted within certain zones of the state. See the property at lohud.

Three arrested for illegal bear hunting in Oklahoma wildlife areas: The Oklahoma Game Wardens have arrested three individuals who were illegally hunting bears in the Honobia and Three Rivers Wildlife Management Areas.  Read more at FOX25.

Fly Fisherman Lands Pending World-Record Marlin After 3-Hour Battle: Kona, Hawaii is one of the best places in the Pacific to target big blue marlin, so it was a logical destination for Ian Keinath. The 37-year-old fly fisherman from Montana has been chasing marlin for the past 16 years, with the ultimate goal of landing an IGFA world-record blue marlin on the fly. Read more at Yahoo Sports.

Idaho bird hunter wants answers after someone shot and killed his hunting dog: Henderson describes it as a typical day- he and his dog Ellie woke up Sunday morning to go bird hunting in the South Hills, but just a couple hours later, the unthinkable happened. Read more at KMVT 11.

Montana FWP Looking for Information on Illegally Killed Bull Elk: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is asking for help in finding the people responsible for killing a bull elk in Tizer Basin south of Helena. The bull elk was killed and the antlers removed. The rest of the animal was left and wasted. The elk was killed using a firearm during archery season. The crime happened during the nighttime hours of Sept. 14.  Read more at Montana FWP.

CONTROVERSY // ^{_{THIS WEEK’S SH*T DISTURBER}}

🐻 Alberta hunter vindicated after online trolls criticize the fact that he ‘let’ grizzlies feed on his elk carcass.  Apparently it was the first time someone saw an elk hoisted up by a front-end loader and, seemingly feeling a bit disturbed, decided to make a stink about it. After taking pictures of a sow grizzly bear pulling down meat from a harvested elk and feeding it to her cubs, the perpetrator put them on the internet and called the authorities hoping to get the man who shot the elk in some sort of trouble.

Well, Alberta’s Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services were quickly on the scene to assess the situation. It took them all but 20 minutes to have a look at what was left of the carcass and inspect tags, later saying in a statement that “the hunter involved had complied with all regulations.”

The communications advisor went on to reiterate that hunters are typically more well-versed in hunting regulations than the general public and should be treated as such.

“Hunters know that regulations must be followed and if they do not follow the regulations they will be charged,” said Laura Vilchis Sanchez, Alberta government communications advisor for Public Safety and Emergency Services.

“In this situation, all regulations were followed and the grizzly bears attending the carcass was an unfortunate event.”

VIDEO // ^{_{SOME THINGS JUST HAVE TO BE SEEN}}

🦅 “You’re okay, brother!” Watch as a friendly Canadian by-stander helps rescue a struggling bald eagle that looked like it was about to drown off the coast of BC.

🐻 Garage beers, not garage BEARS! Keeping it Canadian, another BC resident wanders into his garage only to come face-to-face with a big ol’ black bear. Fortunately, he was able to safely back away as the bear continued to approach him.

REWARDS // ^{_{SPREAD THE GOOD WORD, GET COOL SH*T}}

Sharing is caring and we always aim to build out this platform in the most organic way we know - through the people that already love it (that’s you).

Find your unique referral link below and get sharing to get your hands on some goods today.

⬇️

Oh, and one more thing…