Colorado officials are already toying with mountain lion tags 🏷️

We’re in catch-up mode over here as we’re sure many of you are. As the world begins to recover from the holiday hangover, our hopes and prayers are with those of you who might still be digging yourself out of the countless emails that have piled up over the past few weeks (but not this one, right?).

So, while we all deal with everything the month of January has to offer (which isn’t much), let’s grab that coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and get caught up on the outdoor news and views from the past few days. 

Here's what's worth reading about today:

• Off to a quick start - Colorado officials waste no time meddling with lion hunting 🐈

• A new world record? - Maybe, but either way this elk is YUGE 🏆

• No, you can’t hunt at night…with a light - How one Canadian indigenous man wants a pass 🔦

• Claustrophobia SZN - Watching these wolves in snow tunnels makes me uneasy 🐺

ALREADY?
COLORADO OFFICIALS CONSIDERING A REDUCTION IN MOUNTAIN LION LICENSES FOR NEXT SEASON

Despite voting down an outright ban on mountain lion and bobcat hunting last November, Colorado officials aren’t done toying with the big cats hunting regs as of yet. In a memo for this week’s meeting, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has said that they are leaning towards trimming down tags by nearly 10 percent for the next mountain lion hunting season.

With this season already under way, the new regs would not affect those currently those afield but would be in place in time for the 2025/26 season. 

As of right now, officials are recommending an adjustment from the currently available 674 tags to a reduced number of 610 tags for the following season. In an effort to keep lion numbers in balance, the reduction will come from both the northwest and eastern management units.

Parks and Wildlife staff is also tabling a recommendation that the state axe the additional April hunting season all together, despite it being a successful portion of the hunt since 2014.

Colorado is home to one of the healthiest populations of big cats with officials pegging the current population at somewhere between 3,800 and 4,400 lions, so why the sudden reduction?

QUICK HITS // ^{_{FROM AROUND THE WEB}}

Family of man killed while hunting in Tangipahoa Parish pleas for everyone to understand, follow hunting regulations: The Baton Rouge native was shot and killed while hunting just before the new year in Tangipahoa parish. His family described him as the life of the party, a family man, and the biggest jokester.  Read the full story.

Deer sharpshooters start yearly culling this week in Syracuse: The city announced that U.S. Department of Agriculture wildlife managers will be hunting from dusk to dawn through March.  Read the full story.

Possible new world record elk??: Casey Brooks arrowed the astounding bull on December 31. If it's green score holds up, the elk stands to top both the Pope & Young and Boone & Crockett Club record books for Rocky Mountain elk. See the post on Instagram.

Hunting for the hungry: DNR program brings meat to Michigan food pantries:  The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) sponsors the annual Hunters Feeding Michigan program, which takes place during antlerless deer hunting season.  Read the full story.

Man convicted of hunting at night calls for cultural consideration: In 2024, Prince was fined $3,000 and given nine months probation, with a requirement to give a school presentation on hunting after he pled guilty to a charge of hunting with an illumination device, a violation of the Wildlife Act.  Read the full story.

Man who claimed Indigenous hunting rights fined for illegal hunting: A Justice of the Peace in Thunder Bay has fined a Sault Ste. Marie man a total of $5,500 after finding him guilty of hunting offences. Read the full story.

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

⛄️ Drone footage captures a pack of wolves traversing through the deep snow. For starters, this give me insane anxiety. I’ve been trapped in snow like that before as a child, the feeling of claustrophobia is real. I’m assuming these guys got out ok, but you’ve got to think that every now and then the snow collapses on them…

The great snowy moose.

📸 : @kyleadamsphotographer

Oh, and one more thing…