Look Up! Texas Looking Target Invasive Sheep with Helicopter Hunting 🚁

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:

• Not a ba-a-a-ad bill - New Texas bill takes to the skies to combat invasive sheep 🐏

• Getting her steps - Colorado wolf logs over 1,200 miles across the state 🐾

• RIP 1058 - Grizzly #1058 hit by a car in Grand Teton 🙏

• Doe harvest in, coyote hunt out - Michigan makes the call on new regs 👍👎

• NH lottery - Now is the time to apply for your dream moose hunt 🫎

• Wildlife infrastructure - New transpo bill offers opportunities for better infrastructure opps 🌉

• The goodest boy - This fella brings home the bacon 🥓 

Miss something this week?

“IT’S NOT A BAA-A-AD BILL”
TEXAS LOOKING TO THE SKIES TO TARGET INVASIVE AOUDAD SHEEP WITH HELICOPTER HUNTING

In a bold move to tackle the growing ecological threat posed by invasive aoudad sheep, the Texas House has passed HB 5398, a bill that would legalize hunting these animals from helicopters. Now awaiting approval from the Texas Senate, the legislation aims to curb the destructive impact of aoudads on native wildlife and commercial livestock in West Texas. If signed into law by the governor, HB 5398 could mark a significant step in invasive species management, following the precedent of Texas’ “porkchopper law” for feral hogs.

Aoudad sheep, native to North Africa’s Barbary Coast, were introduced to Texas after World War II. Since then, their population has exploded, with an estimated 30,000 now roaming the state, marking a staggering 1,800% increase since 1963. Contrast that with the fact that Texas is home to just 1,500 native bighorn sheep and suddenly you find yourself looking at every option possible to eliminate these invasives…

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🐺 Colorado Wolf Transplant Wanders over 1,200 Miles Across the State. A female wolf which was part of Colorado’s controversial wolf reintroduction program, has logged an impressive 1,230 miles across the state since her translocation from British Columbia, Canada, in January of this year. Her journey, tracked by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, has taken her through diverse terrains, from the rugged Rockies to sprawling plains, as she navigates forests, rivers, and human-dominated landscapes.

While wolves are known to wander, especially those who have been transplanted a long way from home, this particular wolf has sparked interest having traveled more south than most of the previously documented Colorado wolves. Her southbound trajectory poses unique challenges, as the Mexican gray wolf, a distinct subspecies, inhabits parts of southern New Mexico and Arizona, with a population of about 257 as of recent counts. Her southward movements have officials on edge regarding the risk of genetic mixing, which could complicate conservation efforts for the endangered Mexican gray wolf, whose recovery is tightly managed. 

Having literally walked a tightrope along the southern Colorado border from east to west, the female has yet to cross into New Mexico or Arizona, but her walkabout has captured the attention of researchers and biologists who continue to track her movements.

🐻 Grand Teton Mourns Loss of Grizzly No. 1058, Famous Quad Cub, in Highway Tragedy. In a tragic incident, a 5-year-old male grizzly bear, known as Grizzly No. 1058, was struck and killed by a vehicle in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park earlier this week. This bear was one of the famous quadruplet cubs born to Grizzly No. 399, often dubbed the world’s most famous grizzly, who herself was killed by a vehicle in October 2024. The loss of Grizzly No. 1058, reported by park officials, marks another blow to this beloved bear family, which has captivated tourists, biologists, and photographers for years. The collision occurred along Highway 26/287 near the Snake River.

Grand Teton National Park officials are investigating the collision, and the driver is cooperating, though no further details about the circumstances have been released.

👍 👎 Michigan Approves Doe Harvest Incentives, Delays Coyote Hunting Decision. In a significant move to address Michigan’s deer overpopulation crisis, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission has approved new regulations to encourage hunters to target does during the 2025 hunting season. With an estimated 2 million deer statewide—double the population of the 1940s—the state is grappling with ecological imbalances, increased car crashes, and crop damage, particularly in the Lower Peninsula. The approved measures include extending the late archery season, offering discounted antlerless licenses at $5, and expanding hunting opportunities on public and private lands. These changes aim to reverse Michigan’s buck-heavy harvest trend, where hunters kill 1.3 bucks for every doe, exacerbating population growth.

Meanwhile, the Commission deferred a decision on reinstating year-round coyote hunting, a proposal sparked by lawsuits from hunting groups challenging last year’s decision to shorten the season to nine months (July 15 to April 15). The 2024 restriction, designed to protect coyote pups during denning season, drew ire from groups like the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, who argue it lacks scientific backing. Animal rights advocates, however, contend that year-round hunting disrupts coyote pack dynamics and is inhumane. With legal challenges pending and concerns about regulatory consistency, the Commission has deemed the coyote proposal “postponed indefinitely.”

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🐕 Who’s a good boy???

Seriously. What a good boy.

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North Dakota deer hunting license applications are available: North Dakota deer hunting licenses are available for the 2025 season. The state’s deer hunting opener is set for November 7 and runs through the 23. Just over 42,000 applications are available, down 7,800 from 2024.  Read the full story.

Florida gator hunting rules: Permit applications are open, what to know about gator season: Summer doesn’t just bring alligator mating season – which often leads to gators popping up in unwanted places – but it also brings the application season for the yearly statewide alligator harvest. Read the full story.

Applications open for 2025 New Hampshire moose hunt lottery:Wildlife officials say 33 permits are expected to be awarded this year, continuing a long-standing tradition that draws thousands of hopeful applicants annually, according to a news release from  N.H. Fish and Game.  Read the full story.

Hunters and Anglers Unite to Push for Stronger Wildlife and Infrastructure Policies in Upcoming Transportation Bill: As Congress begins shaping the next Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill, the nation’s leading hunting, fishing, and conservation organizations, which represent millions of Americans, are proud to unveil a united platform: “Hunt and Fish Priorities for the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill.” Read the full story.

Department Of Interior Accepting Comments On Proposed Subsistence Hunting Regs For Upcoming Years: The Federal Subsistence Board today announced a public comment period on proposed changes to federal subsistence hunting and trapping regulations. These proposed changes would affect seasons, harvest limits, methods and means, and customary and traditional use determinations for the taking of wildlife for the 2026–2028 regulatory years (July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028). The Board will accept written comments through June 30, 2025.  Read the full story.

Miss something this week?

The pull of the weekend.

📸 : @arianstevens

Oh, and one more thing…