Florida Captain Gets $51K in Fines, Jail Time for Slaughtering Dolphins with Children Onboard 🐬

The weekend might not be here just 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 24-or-so hours. 

Here's what's worth reading about today:

• Dolphin disrespecter - FL fishing guide gets nailed for killing Flipper 🐬

• Crossbow kings - Could NY include crossbows in all archery seasons? 🏹

• Prescribed burn - Michigan sets elk habitat ablaze 🔥

• Mo’ wolves, mo’ dead calves - Colorado ranchers reeling after bloody Memorial Day weekend 🐺

• The end of elk hunting? - Experts warn that cow hunting could cease to exist in 6 Yellowstone herds ❌

• Albinos at the door - St. Louis ring cam captures rare deer ⚪️

• Bear coaster - Do you stay on the ride?? 🎢 

Miss something this week?

GET IT TOGETHER, GUYS
FLORIDA FISHING CAPTAIN GETS $51K IN FINES, JAIL TIME FOR SLAUGHTERING DOLPHINS WITH CHILDREN ONBOARD

Another “longtime charter and commercial fishing captain” from the great state of Florida has let his temper launch him overboard and into the hands of the law. With an inability to cope with competition, the 31-year-old captain has since been sentenced for his role in illegally poisoning and shooting bottlenosed dolphins out in the Gulf of America.

According to the Northern District of Florida, Zackery Brandon Barfield of Panama City Beach, was accused of killing upwards of 91 bottlenose dolphins. Working as a licensed charter and commercial fishing captain for his entire life, Barfield admitted to poisoning the dolphins by lacing baitfish with methomyl, a highly toxic pesticide restricted by the Environmental Protection Agency. 

On the occasions when the poison didn’t quite do the trick, it was reported that the captain would turn to his trusty 12-gauge shotgun (among other weapons) to dispatch of the fish-snatching sea mammals, often in the presence of clients, which included elementary-aged children…

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🏹 NY Crossbow Hunters Await Vote to Expand Archery Access: A bill that would allow crossbows to be used anywhere longbows are permitted for big game hunting is closer to a vote than ever before, having passed both the Senate and Assembly Environmental Conservation Committees. The bill, supported by the New York Crossbow Coalition, aims to modernize outdated regulations, making crossbows equal to other archery equipment, easing restrictions on size and draw weight, and requiring bowhunter education for users. Advocates argue that crossbows are easier to use, particularly for youth, women, and people with disabilities, and could boost hunter participation, supporting conservation efforts through increased license revenue under the Pittman-Robertson Act.

The bill’s progress, with a legislative session deadline of June 12th, has sparked hope among crossbow hunters, who have faced restrictive rules since 2014, such as limited use during the last two weeks of archery season and a muzzleloader privilege requirement. However, opposition from traditional bowhunters, concerned about safety and season exclusivity, has historically stalled such measures. If passed, the bill could enhance hunting accessibility, particularly in areas with high deer populations, and align New York with 26 other states that allow crossbows throughout archery seasons.

🔥 Michigan’s Prescribed Burns Boost Elk Habitat, Curbs Wildfire Risk: The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conducted a prescribed burn earlier this week in the Pigeon River Country State Forest near Vanderbilt, aiming to enhance elk habitat and reduce wildfire risks. Funded by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the burn targets the Green Timbers elk viewing area, maintaining open spaces to promote native grasses and healthier elk populations. These carefully planned burns, executed by trained DNR personnel under specific weather conditions, also serve as fuel breaks to limit the spread of potential wildfires, benefiting both wildlife and local communities.

Beyond elk, the burns support other species like deer and turkey by opening forests and controlling invasive species, as seen in similar burns in Otsego and Dickinson counties. That said, Michigan still lags behind other Great Lakes states in prescribed fire use, with only about 20,000 acres burned annually across its 20 million acres of forest and wildland.

🐺 Wolf Attacks Devastate Colorado Ranches Over Memorial Day Weekend. A series of wolf attacks across three western Colorado ranches has resulted in the deaths of two calves and injuries to others. At Lost Marbles Ranch, three wolves from the infamous Copper Creek pack mounted an attack in broad daylight within the calving grounds, separating and severely injuring a calf. Ranchers express the emotional and financial toll of these attacks, highlighting the heartbreak of finding their livestock killed and the feeling of being unsupported and uninformed by wildlife officials.

“CPW dispatched a range rider to the area but failed to provide essential information, including my contact information, specifics about the property or even a map of the terrain,” said Tom Harrington, Crystal River Ranch Manager and President of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. “I learned about the wolf activity and the range rider’s presence through our local brand inspector a day before I ever heard from wildlife officials.”

Ranchers across Western Colorado have continued to voice significant frustration with the CPW and the Department of Natural Resources, citing broken promises regarding communication, support, and the relocation of problem wolves. The Copper Creek pack, who is responsible for many previous depredations and relocated to Pitkin County earlier in the year, is again wreaking havoc on local ranches. The Colorado Cattlemen’s Association called these attacks a betrayal of public trust and is demanding the pack's removal. Ranchers are continuing to advocate for a pause in wolf reintroductions to properly implement and assess current programs, especially after substantial depredation claims, emphasizing that current efforts prioritize politics over the well-being of the state’s ranching community.

Miss something this week?

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Golden era of northwest Wyoming elk hunting slides toward expected but undesirable end: Cow hunting could soon cease in six Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem herds, experts predict. Meanwhile, nearly half of hunter-killed bulls could be headed for the dumpster if disease rates reach projected levels.  Read the full story.

Wisconsin DNR Seeking Landowners To Host Fall Gun Deer Hunt For Hunters With Disabilities: To be part of the Gun Deer Hunt For Hunters With Disabilities program, landowners must have at least 60 acres available, be able to host at least three hunters and complete an online application by July 1, 2025. Read the full story.

Rare albino deer seen enjoying midnight snack on doorbell cam in Midwest suburb: A rare albino deer was spotted enjoying a midnight snack from a bird feeder in a suburb of St Louis, Missouri. Albinism is observed in one in 30,000 deer, with albino deer referred to as "ghost deer," according to the Missouri Dept. of Conservation. Read the full story.

Fish and Game Commission approves drawing for 2026 nonresident deer/elk tags: Nonresident hunters will apply for a drawing for 2026 deer/elk tags, and they can submit their applications in early December, and results will be posted by early January.  Read the full story.

Woman bitten by black bear in Anmore, B.C. : A woman is recovering after being attacked by a black bear in Anmore on Tuesday. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service said the woman was walking home around noon when the bear came around the corner of her house. Read the full story.

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🫎 You’re on some sort of mini nature coaster and you see some hairy and black movement up ahead. Turns out there’s a couple of bears that happen to be passing by at the very same time as you but you can’t seem to get your mode of transportation to speed up at all.

The question is…are you getting off?

Miss something this week?

The pull of the weekend.

📸 : @walkerscaybahamas

Oh, and one more thing…