Is it time to delist gray wolves in Minnesota? 🐺

ven•a•tic: fond of or living by hunting.

The weekend might not be here 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 few days. 

Here's what caught our eye this week...

• DELIST!! - One Minnesota congressman wants wolves off the list 📋

• $2,000 elk tags - Will the price of anything ever stop rising? 💸

• Swamp puppy tags - Florida gator hunters get a new opportunity 🐊

• Bear parts and meth - and deer heads too! 💊

• Viva Nevada! - You can now hunt moose in the Silver State 🫎

THE ESL SHOULD BE USED AS INTENDED
IS IT TIME TO DELIST GRAY WOLVES IN MINNESOTA? ONE CONGRESSMAN THINKS SO...

Posting a gut-wrenching video to Twitter X, Minnesota congressman Pete Stauber continues his appeal to House leadership to reconsider delisting the gray wolf in 2024.

“A logger from northern St. Louis County just sent me this video of a wolf running through his job site and taking down a whitetail deer,” Stauber wrote in the post. “As you can see, wolves lost any fear of humans and are increasingly dangerous to livestock & pets and decimating our deer herd. Delist!”The call comes as the viral video shows how voracious and brazen gray wolves have become, even in the presence of humans. Gray wolves continue to be federally protected as a ‘threatened’ species under the Endangered Species Act, despite a healthy population. While gray wolves have spent some time off the list in the past, they were relisted in 2022 and have since bounced back in dramatic fashion...

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💸 $2K elk tags are a thing now: With new pricing changes now officially in effect, a nonresident special elk tag could cost close to $2,000 in Wyoming. Despite the initial sticker shock, officials are sticking to their guns. Applications have fallen, but given the amazing opportunities Wyoming offers, many expect them to bounce back. With fears of turning hunting into a rich man's game, we're all hopeful that, if nothing else, the increase and fees is good for the wildlife of the Cowboy State.

🚧 No road kill for you!: If you even think about picking up that deer you hit in Louisiana, you'll face fines and jail time. The state's department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement is reminding residents that no matter the circumstances, picking up road kill is illegal and could cost you $500 and up to 90 days behind bars.

🐊 Special tags for swamp puppies: A Florida's FWC has announced a new "special-use" alligator harvest opportunity. Aimed at complimenting the state-wide alligator hunt, the new special permit allows hunters the ability to hunt multiple alligator management units while enjoying a longer season. The new permit is similar to other big game opportunities where applicants pay for each application and can apply an unlimited number of times during the application period to increase their chances of being drawn.

✊ Legalized deer baiting: Amid a fury of doom and gloom news stories about recent CWD outbreaks, Tennessee is calling everyone's bluff with a new bill that would legalize deer baiting.

💊 We got bear parts and meth: A Louisiana man has been charged after a search warrant uncovered bear parts, deer heads and a sh*tload of meth. The 45-year-old later admitted to illegally taking four antlered deer, two antlerless deer, a bobcat and a bear. He's now facing over $18K in fines and restitution and could spend between 90 and 120 days in jail. 

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🧸 He's had just about enough of this sh*t: Watch as video displays the moment a bear attacks his handler at a Chinese circus.

🤝 Why can't we be friends: Why is a grizzly bear hanging out with a pack of wolves in Yellowstone?

BATTLE BORN
MOOSE HUNTING COMING TO NEVADA

When it comes to Nevada’s outdoor pursuits, for many of us, our thoughts immediately turn to gnarly mule deer, full-curl bighorn sheep, elk and even mountain goats. While all of the aforementioned species are likely to make up any avid outdoorsman’s bucket list, the state has recently added another to even further sweeten the deal.

Announced last month, Nevada’s Department of Wildlife confirmed the state’s first-ever moose hunt. Having tracked over 100 moose over the past number of years, the agency believes the population is sustainable and one that can support a limited hunting season.

The Silver State is now officially home to its own herd of Shiras moose, the smallest subspecies of moose here in North America. What were once believed to be a few wandering animals from neighboring Idaho, have since been confirmed as permanent residents.

The sightings of the first moose in Nevada date back to as early as the 1950s when residents in the northern town of Elko first reported sightings. Since then, the moose, which were never native to Nevada, have continued to move in. With new technology available to help hunters and those in the field report sightings, the DOW reported a 300% increase in moose sightings in 2023, thus prompting the discussion around a possible hunting season...

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How one Michigan town managed to bury itself in sand. Can you tell the difference between a hawk and a falcon? In search of the best Negroni?  This one's pretty good. Why George Foreman named every one of his five sons George. In my daydreams, I'm racing this 1969 Porsche from McQeen's Le Mans into the weekend.

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