Illinois Hunting Club Shut Down for Illegal Baiting; Defendants Ordered to Pay $71K 🚔

Welcome to the Wednesday edition of the newsletter. If you’re still with us, that means you’ve made it to the middle of yet another week.

With that said, let’s all take a minute to grab a coffee or whiskey and get this mid-week dispatch out the door.

Here's what's worth reading about this morning:

• Master baiters - Illinois hunting club gets shut down for illegal baiting scheme 🌽

• BIG money - NM Special Hunt auction raises big time funds for conservation 🤑

• Alligators and elk - Yup. You can hunt ‘em both in Arkansas 🐊

• Sage grouse szn - Idaho is looking for public comment on possible seasons/limits 📢

• Maryland & CWD - Officials announce 62 new cases in the Old Line State 🤢

• Heck of a guard dog - This pooch did his best when this massive bear entered the home 😳 

DON’T BAIT THE DUCKS, BOYS
ILLINOIS HUNTING CLUB SHUT DOWN FOR ILLEGAL BAITING; DEFENDANTS ORDERED TO PAY $71K

With its strategic location near natural waterfowl habitats, Burns Hunting Club attracted both local hunters and out-of-state visitors, offering guided hunts and memberships that promised access to well-maintained blinds and abundant game. 

The club marketed itself as a premier destination, emphasizing ethical hunting practices and adherence to conservation principles. However, beneath this veneer of respectability, the club’s operations would eventually draw the scrutiny of federal and state authorities, leading to its dramatic downfall.

The unraveling of the Burns Hunting Club began with an investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement, in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Law Enforcement and the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office back in 2021. The probe revealed that the club had engaged in illegal baiting practices, a serious violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which protects migratory birds and regulates hunting practices to maintain sustainable populations…

Elk, pronghorn packages draw high bids in New Mexico special hunt auction: A few lucky hunters have already bagged their first big trophy for the season: a special hunt in the Land of Enchantment. More than $250,000 was raised for New Mexico Department of Game and Fish conservation projects as part of the New Mexico Governor’s Tag Auction. Read the full story. 

Georgia’s new migratory bird hunting regulations set for 2025–2026: “While the majority of waterfowl season lengths and bag limits will remain the same this year, one notable change is that early teal season has been shortened to 9 days,” said Kara Nitschke, migratory gamebird biologist. “This is due to a slight decline in teal numbers during the 2024 survey period. Though the season has been shortened, the bag limit will not change.”  Read the full story.

Arkansas hosts unique dual seasons for elk and alligator hunting: As the Elk Festival launches in Jasper, officials highlight Arkansas as the only state with both elk and alligator hunting seasons. Permit applications are now open. Read the full story.

Idaho’s sage-grouse hunting season proposals available for public comment through July 6: Fish and Game is seeking comments on the 2025-2026 sage-grouse harvest seasons and tag proposals. Staff are proposing an increase in sage-grouse tags offered for the 2025 hunting season. Statewide, total tags numbers slightly increased over 2024. Read the full story.

WVDNR releases hunting and trapping regulations summary for 2025-2026 seasons: “These changes reflect our ongoing commitment to responsible wildlife management while supporting West Virginia’s strong hunting traditions,” said WVDNR Director Brett McMillion. “With world-class opportunities across the state, we encourage all hunters to take time to review the new regulations before heading afield this fall.”  Read the full story.

62 Deer Detected in Maryland with Chronic Wasting Disease in 2024: The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has reported that 62 white-tailed deer tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in 2024. This neurological disease affects deer, elk, and moose. In Montgomery County, three deer were found to have the disease, contributing to the ongoing management and monitoring efforts in the region. Read the full story.

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

🦬 A security camera catches the moment that the dog of the house confronts an intruder. I’ll admit it, he stood his ground there for a second after this bear broke into a Southern California home. But once that big ol’ bear took a step forward, the pooch’s natural instincts kicked in.

I’ve long wondered how this seems to happen so often in California…

It’s easy. Copy your link below and send it to your friends. If they sign up, you get free stuff.

Now, do it. (Please).

Oh, and one more thing…