Record-setting buck might have been poached...👮

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...

• Hold on a second- Record-setting deer might just have been taken illegally  🚨

• Changes on the way - NC officials propse 36 regulatory changes for hunting 🧑‍⚖️

• Not quite albino- LA woman downs beautiful 9-point piebald buck 🦌

• Dairyland's elk - Wisconsin's elk populations at all-time high  ⬆️

• Four dead elk- Oregon officials searching for clues in poaching case 🚔

NOT SO FAST
THE ALLEGED RECORD BUCK TAKEN IN OHIO MIGHT JUST HAVE BEEN POACHED

A story of celebration has since taken a turn for the quite the opposite. A potential record buck was put on the ground in early November, and has since come under scrutiny from both record book scorers and wildlife law enforcement agencies.

The buck was shot while sporting an unbelievable rack that is reported to have scored somewhere in the neighborhood of 206 ⅞” (green score). Given the impressive score, Ohio’s Big Buck Club secretary Mike Rex and others believe the antlers to be the biggest typical ever to come out of Ohio and the third largest in North America.

Ohio hunter Christopher “CJ” Alexander pulled his bow string back and propelled himself into a world of uncertainty after the animal attracted a good deal of attention as rumors swirled around Wilmington, Ohio. While many were initially quick to congratulate the 28-year-old hunter, stories of foul play began to surface...

HEADLINES // ^{_{DIGESTIBLE SNIPPETS}}

🍽️ Cat nappin': Florida panther caught napping on homeowner's doorstep.

💊 Contra-fkin-band: Five men busted with copious amounts of drugs on hunting trip.

🧑‍⚖️ The rules they are a changin': NC proposes 36 changes to regulations for hunting.

🥶 Icy rescue: Police and firefighters rescued deer from frozen New Hampshire pond.

🦌 Rare buck: Louisiana woman downs 9-point piebald deer.

⬆️ Budding population: Wisconsin's elk populations are at all-time high and more hunting opportunities are on the horizon.

🐻 Bear necessities: PA has lowest bear harvest in 16 years.

SUSPECTS SOUGHT
FOUR ELK FOUND ILLEGALLY KILLED IN OREGON

Wasting no time disregarding any possible resolutions, poachers have illegally taken one bull elk and three cows. The suspects are now being sought in Oregon for what appears to be two separate cases of poaching to kick off the new year.The first incident was believed to have taken place on the night of January 7, 2024 in Lincoln County. A bull elk was recovered missing both his head and his front legs. Oregon State Police reported that the majority of the meat was left to waste.Moving east into Umatilla County, officials uncovered three cow elk that appear to have been shot on the night of January 5, 2024 and left to waste.Oregon State Police along with the state's wildlife division are actively pursuing tips and are asking the public to come forward with any information regarding the incidents that could lead to an arrest. 

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

🚨 Motion alert: Alberta family captures mountain lion feasting on deer on their Ring camera.

🎥 In Michigan too : A Michigan cat was caught finishing off a deer, this time on trail cam.

😤 FAFO: Mama elk 'body slams' car protecting her calf.

WEEKEND MEME // ^{_{AT BEST}}

WANDERINGS // ^{_{A SFW GLIMPSE OF OUR BROWSER HISTORY}}

Montana's downhill barstool ski races are the winter sport we don't deserve. The ultimate pocket knife glossary. A map of the US highlighting which states people want to move to, stay in or leave. This vintage ad of the Game-Hunters Hat.

EYE CANDY

Sunnier days in Glacier National Park
@chance_jackson