Idaho Hurls Criminal Complaints Against Influencer Ryan Lampers For Poaching Charges

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.

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:

D-BAG DOWN
IDAHO HURLS CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS AGAINST HUNTING INFLUENCER RYAN LAMPERS FOR A MYRIAD OF POACHING CHARGES

In addition to trying to sway your next gear purchase or get you to ingest the latest version of some chalked up supplement specially formulated for your specific type of hunting, hunting influencers seem to be expanding their horizons in an attempt to find another avenue to fame: breaking the law.

Yes, in the event that you thought hoped that we had weeded out all of the unethical folks out there slinging arrows and bullets for likes, another one has unfortunately bubbled up to the surface.  As my mother always says, the cream always rises to the top and in some cases, that can apply to those doing their absolute best to become their worst selves. Case in point is 51-year-old Ryan Lampers, a Montana-based, carnivore-diet-preaching, backcountry-hunting influencer known as “StHealthy Hunter” who has since found himself embroiled in some massive poaching allegations…

🕵️‍♀️ British Columbia Officials Looking for Information After Uncovering a Shot Bull Elk Without its Antlers. On August 30th, Conservation Officers received a report of a deceased bull elk in the Squamish Valley near the Ashlu River. Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered that the elk’s antlers had been sawed off and found evidence suggesting the animal had been shot. The incident took place close to a provincial Recreation Site and several informal camping areas.

Officers estimate the elk was shot between 10 p.m. on August 29th and 8 a.m. on August 30th, with the antlers likely removed later that afternoon. They suspect someone in the vicinity may have seen the shooting or the antler removal. Anyone with information is urged to contact the RAPP line, available 24/7, at 1-877-952-7277.

🙏 Tragic Freak Accident: Boy Killed by Deer Crashing Through Windshield After Being Hit By Another Car. On Tuesday of this week, a tragic and unusual accident occurred on Route 322 in West Bradford Township, Pennsylvania, claiming the life of a young student from Malvern Preparatory School. A vehicle traveling eastbound struck a deer, causing the animal to go airborne and crash through the windshield of a second car traveling in the opposite direction. The deer struck a juvenile passenger, identified as Kevin Donohue, a member of the class of 2027, who was seated in the front passenger seat. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, the boy succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the vehicle that initially hit the deer fled the scene, and authorities believe it may be a black Toyota Sienna with significant front-end damage.

The incident has deeply affected the local community, particularly Malvern Preparatory School, where Kevin was remembered as an exceptional student embodying the school’s values. Local residents noted that deer-related crashes are a recurring issue in the area, especially during darker months when animals are more active. The Pennsylvania State Police are investigating and seeking information about the fleeing vehicle, urging anyone with details to contact the Embreeville Barracks.

🚔 Officials Investigate Illegal Killing of Fawn Deer at Billings Rod and Gun Club Archery Range. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials are investigating the illegal killing of a mule deer fawn at the Billings Rod and Gun Club archery range, located about a mile west of the airport along Molt Road. The fawn was found dead with an arrow in its hindquarters, believed to have been shot out of season approximately a week before its discovery on September 2nd. Club staff noticed the smell of decomposition, which led them to the carcass, prompting the investigation.

Warden Courtney Tyree is leading the inquiry and is seeking public assistance to identify those responsible for the poaching incident. Authorities are encouraging anyone with information to contact Tyree at 406-860-7814 or via email at [email protected], or to submit tips through the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks tipmont website. A cash reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information leading to a conviction in the case.

😤 Anywhere, anytime. That’s the motto of these two beefy bruins who decide to get into it while tumbling down and over some sharp rocks.

No way anyone is getting in between those two…

🌕 Left for Dead Under a Comanche Moon : Rufe stepped off his horse and lit a cigarette, waving the smoke from his face. He turned to Kit Acklin, a fellow Texas Ranger preparing their campsite. “We need to set up camp up there. Them bluffs are high enough to keep us hidden, and there’s water in the river below.” He flicked the ashes toward the slow-moving Nueces. “Plus, we’ve got the high ground advantage.”

“Well, hell! We already cleared enough mesquite thorns and limestone chunks to set our bedrolls.” Kit replied.

Rufe shook his head and took a drag. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Captain Cicero Rufus “Rufe” Perry was born in Alabama in 1822, but his family moved to Mexican-occupied Texas in 1833. At 13, he enlisted as a Texas Ranger, fighting in the Siege of San Antonio. This battle ignited his appetite for adventure, leading to nearly eight years of service, chasing Comanches, Apaches, and cattle rustlers throughout the republic. His current mission was to drive out the Mexican Army illegally rounding up horses across the Rio. Read the full story.

🤕 A Banged-Up Bear Hunt: Bruins and Bruises: When the black dot in the distance moved, I realized I wasn’t looking at another stump. I pulled my pickup well off the highway and set up my spotting scope. My suspicions were confirmed when a black bear took shape in a big mountain meadow. It looked big. I didn’t hesitate to make the decision to try a stalk, though it wouldn’t be easy. I figured the bear was at least a 1/2 mile away and the country between us was rugged, steep and full of blowdowns.  Worse, I’d have to cross a stream to get within range of my quarry.

Some would say that road hunting is unfair and unethical. My answer to that is simple. You can see Venus from your pick-up too. Getting there is the issue. Though my preference is to spot and stalk while hiking, I wanted to cover as much country as possible. I had only one more day to hunt.

It was May. Though bears are largely nocturnal, they’ll commonly feed extensively throughout the day in the spring.  I hoped that was the case with this bruin. I donned my pack frame, slung my Winchester Model 70 .30-06 over my shoulder and headed out.  Read the full story.

🪶 A Lifelong Bird Hunter’s Farewell to Arms: When he was a boy, my father came very close to shooting his own father in the back with a shotgun while quail hunting in North Florida. The incident haunted him for years, and he did not handle a gun again until he was a middle-aged man. When he finally did return to bird shooting, he did so with a grave attention to detail, and one of the details to which he attended most carefully was me.

I was twelve years old when he and a group of other men leased a twenty-thousand-acre quail-hunting plantation in South Alabama called Midway. The place came with a columned antebellum house; a cabin on a bass lake; a dozen or so good English pointers and setters; two red hunting wagons and four pairs of mules to pull them; horses to ride after the wagons; a number of men to drive the wagons and to train and handle the dogs—and God only knows how many quail. Read the full story.

Oh, and one more thing…