Mushroom Hunters Shoot and Kill Charging Grizzly in Montana 🍄‍🟫

Welcome to the first day after the long weekend and the beginning of a short workweek. We trust each and every one of you had a fantastic Memorial Day weekend and are well rested and ready for yet another week.

So, while we continue to slowly inch back towards the weekend, let’s all take a minute to grab a coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and get into what this beautiful Tuesday has to offer.

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

• Another attack - A pair of mushroom hunters are safe after dispatching of an attacking grizz in Montana 🍄‍🟫

• The passing of a legend - The outdoor world mourns the loss of Phil Robertson 🙏

• Alabama auctions - The state is auctioning off hunting opportunities on private land 🦌

• CWD-free - Arizona deer and elk have a clean bill of health 🩺

• Wait for the shot - Watch as this fella holds a little too long for that perfect shot🏹 

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE
MUSHROOM HUNTERS SHOOT AND KILL CHARGING GRIZZLY IN MONTANA

Late last week a pair of men who were after some prized spring mushrooms, found themselves face to face with a charging grizzly bear and were forced to make a fatal decision. 

According to Montana’s Fish, Wildlife and Parks the two men, identified only by their first names, were picking mushrooms about a mile north of Choteau, roughly 40 miles west of Great Falls, when a female grizzly bear accompanied by a single cub charged them. Acting in self-defense, both men fired their weapons at close range, killing the sow. Fortunately, neither man was injured, though they were understandably shaken by the encounter. As landowners in the area, they were familiar with the landscape but unprepared for the sudden attack…

🙏 The outdoor world mourns the loss of the original Duck Commander, Phil Robertson. Phil Robertson, the founder of Duck Commander and star of Duck Dynasty, passed away this weekend, at age 79, as announced by his family. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in early 2024 and battling a worsening blood disorder, Robertson’s health had deteriorated rapidly, causing him significant pain and mobility issues. His family, including daughter-in-law Korie and son Jase, shared the news via social media, emphasizing his Christian faith and quoting biblical passages about hope in resurrection. They expressed gratitude for fan support and noted plans for a private funeral, with a public celebration of his life to follow.

“One of the last things he said to me was “full strength ahead!” Amen!”

Known for turning his duck call invention into a multimillion-dollar business, Robertson gained fame through Duck Dynasty, which aired from 2012 to 2017 and peaked at nearly 12 million viewers. A polarizing figure, he was admired in the hunting community but faced a wee bit of controversy for his sometimes outspoken conservative views. Survived by his wife, Miss Kay, four sons, a daughter, and many grandchildren, Robertson leaves a legacy as a faith-driven entrepreneur and reality TV icon.

💰 Alabama to Auction 140 Hunting Leases, Expanding Access to Public Land. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources State Lands Division is hosting a live auction on May 31, 2025, to lease 140 hunting tracts across 32 counties for a five-year cycle, offering Alabama hunters access to public land for hunting, particularly for white-tailed deer. The auction, held at the Grande Hall at Old Mill Square in Montgomery, allows bids from various groups, including hunting clubs and individuals, with tract sizes ranging from 34 acres in Walker County to 1,400 acres in Tuscaloosa County. ADCNR Commissioner Chris Blankenship highlighted that the program complements existing public hunting opportunities on Wildlife Management Areas and Forever Wild Land Trust tracts, providing a unique experience for hunters while generating revenue for the state.

To participate, bidders must carefully review the Auction Announcement for requirements and submit written absentee bids if unable to attend, with bidding starting at the minimum bid or the highest valid absentee bid. The process involves significant preparation, including appraisals to set minimum bids, and successful bidders must maintain general liability insurance and submit a list of proposed hunters. Patti McCurdy of the State Lands Division emphasized the program’s value, describing it as a “win-win” for both the state and hunters, as it expands access to quality hunting land while supporting state agencies.

🩺 Arizona’s Deer and Elk Populations Remain Free of Chronic Wasting Disease in 2024. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) announced last week, that the state’s deer and elk populations continue to be free of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a fatal neurological disease affecting cervids like deer and elk. No cases were detected in the 1,543 samples tested in 2024, including mule deer, white-tailed deer, and elk. The samples were collected from 711 hunter-harvested animals, 787 through partnerships with game processors and taxidermists, and 45 from high-priority animals involved in vehicle collisions or other fatalities. AZGFD has been monitoring for CWD since 1998, and despite its presence in neighboring states like Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, and California, Arizona remains CWD-free.

The department credits its success to vigilant surveillance and the cooperation of hunters, game processors, and taxidermists who submit samples for testing. AZGFD encourages hunters, especially in units near CWD-affected states (Units 1, 2, 3, 12, 13, 27, 28, and 31), to bring harvested deer and elk heads to any AZGFD office for testing. To prevent CWD introduction, Arizona enforces strict regulations on importing animal parts from out-of-state hunts, allowing only boneless meat, clean hides, antlers, or finished taxidermy.

1. I’m aiming to be such a beautiful middle-aged freak that the youngins can’t help but believe that everything will be ok.

2. Don’t scroll through the lives of others while sitting beside those whom you claim to be the most important to you.

3. Try not to think too much and do too little.

4. +30 seconds is the only button a microwave needs.

5.  He’s not bringing it to you, he’s bringing you to it. 🙏 

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🏹 Hold…hold…holllllllllld. OK, shoot! Watch as this hunter keeps his composure and waits for what turned out to be the worst shot possible.

No word on whether or not the arrow was released or the bull went down…

Oh, and one more thing…