Is The Anti-Hunting Community Getting Too Cozy with State Wildlife Boards? ⚠️

Well, we’ve been working on this for far too long, but we’re finally making a bit of progress. We’re launching this Friday edition on a brand spankin’ new platform, so if you find a few things out of place, forgive us as we adjust to our new home.

I sure do appreciate y’all sticking it out with us and look forward to doing this for a long time to come. Other than a slightly different look and feel, nothing else has changed. I’m still here, working on keeping you informed and hopefully entertained for the foreseeable future.

On that note, let’s grab that coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and get caught up on the outdoor news and views from the past few days. 

Here's what's worth reading about so far this week:

• Are we getting too cozy? - State fish and game departments are inviting in animal rights groups ⚠️ 

• It’s good to be a deer hunter - In Pennsylvania at least 🦌

• Stubborn as a mule (deer) - New study reveals how stuck in their ways mulies are 🫏

• Poaching among the ghosts - PA poacher nabbed after shooting trophy buck in a cemetery 🪦

• Who’s driving - Game warden frees bear stuck in vehicle 🚗

  Thanks for following along. Don't forget to tell your friends.

-Ryan

OPINION
IS THE ANTI-HUNTING COMMUNITY GETTING TOO COZY WITH STATE WILDLIFE BOARDS?

I reside in the ‘you do you’ camp for most things in this world. I am of the belief that so long as you aren’t hurting anyone or breaking the law, you ought to do as you please. If, for example, you are vehemently against hunting, you have every right to that stance and I’d never force the undeniable benefits of grilled wild game on you.

Unless, of course, you asked.  Hell, I’d invite you to dinner.

The unfortunate reality is that not everyone shares this attitude as has been made clear over the last decade-or-so. The truth is, there are some out there who want to impose their views on others and do not take any days off in their pursuit. They’re right and anyone opposing them is wrong.

Without pointing to many fingers (ok, I’m pointing), animal rights groups tend to belong to this group. They historically have gone to great lengths to protect the animals they love (despite never having met them), and in the process, work towards removing an age-old pastime millions of us participate in - hunting.

The groups, and in some cases, individuals, have long been restricted by their impositions. Outside of a courtroom, there wasn’t much they could do to sway most decisions coming out of state-led wildlife and game agencies. 

Until now…

🦵 Kicking a** and taking names - If you deer hunted in the state of Pennsylvania this year, you were a part of recent history. And you likely got some meat out of it. According to the state’s Game Commission’s annual legislative report, PA hunters bagged over 400K deer last season. The state also broke records for annual license sales and say nearly 30,000 students get certified through hunter-trapper education classes.

🫏 Stubborn as a mule deer - According to a recent study out of Cody, Wyoming, mule deer are as set in their ways as my grandfather is (at 90, I don’t expect him to change). The study monitored the movements of elk, pronghorn and mule deer as they deal with housing and energy developments around their native range. While elk and pronghorn tend to be pretty agreeable, mule deer will stay put, refusing to change their migration patterns.

✂️ The third cut is the deepest - In addition to being stubborn, mule deer in Idaho are still on the rebound. After a few tough winters, this winter was a welcome reprieve and much milder in comparison. In an effort to nurse the herd back to health, officials announced that they would like to extend the alterations made last season, offering fewer mule deer tags for this season’s hunts.

🎉 Back in the NC - Grizzly bears are officially fu*king back in the NC - or North Cascades. In an effort to bring grizzlies back to where they once roamed, the National Park Service and US Fish & Wildlife Service made a statement yesterday indicating their support. Their only stipulation is that no bears can be imported from out of state - all test subjects must come from within Washington State. The agencies recommended a 10(j) rule, giving wildlife managers additional flexibility under the ESA to manage the bears.

PENALTY DOESN’T FIT THE CRIME, JACK
PENNSYLVANIA POACHER NABBED AFTER SHOOTING MASSIVE BUCK IN A CEMETERY

Nighttime in a cemetery can be a scary place to be. But for one Pennsylvania man, something sporting a fancy set of head gear lured him and resulted in charges and fines.

According to reports from the Pennsylvania Game Commission, an anonymous tip came in about a late night shooting inside a cemetery in Carbon County. Kicking off an investigation into the incident, the agency was able to place a suspect at the scene and bring him in for questioning. According to PGC game warden supervisor Lt. Aaron Morrow they were able to coax a confession from the suspect, finally revealing the details of the crime.

According to the post, the deer was standing in the middle of the cemetery when he was spotted by the shooter. Rolling up quietly in his truck, the suspect got to within 35 yards of the 151-point buck before pulling the trigger on his 9mm carbine pistol…

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

🐻 Too close?: Utah campers share video of incredibly close encounter with a young grizz.

🛞 Who’s driving?: A big old bear broke into a car and the Game Warden got tasked with letting him out.