Mo' money, same problem - Tennessee increases reward for information on elk poaching 💰

Well, we made it to Wednesday. Give yourself a pat on the back and buckle up for another edition of your favorite outdoors newsletter.

Grab your coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and let's get another Wednesday dispatch out the door.

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

• Mo' money, same problem - Tennessee is upping the ante on elk poacher 💰

• The kids are alright - Maine's youth season was a banger 👶

• Lost and found - NC hunter finds missing girl in the woods 🌳

• Tragic hunting accident - Iowa teen fighting for his life after being shot 🙏

• Lock 'em up- Tennessee man on the hook for over 60 illegal hunting charges🧑‍⚖️

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

UPPING THE ANTE
REWARD INCREASED to $5,000 FOR INFORMATION REGARDING POACHED ELK IN TENNESSEE

Officials with the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency went to the public earlier this month looking for tips after an illegally killed bull elk was found in Anderson County.

The bull was found on October 8th with the entire head and body left intact. Officers on the scene reported only a bolt wound present on the animal, puzzling investigators as they looked for clues. 

In many cases of poaching, the perpetrators will remove antlers or the entire head of the animal as a trophy. In some cases, easily accessible cuts of meat, such as backstraps, will also be salvaged by poachers. The remainder of the animal’s carcass is typically left to rot.

Scrambling for answers, officials took to social media after gathering an original $3,000 reward with help from CORA, The Tennessee Wildlife Federation, and the National Wild Turkey Federation Pine Mountain Longbeards Chapter. 

👶 The kids are alright: Maine's youth season a big success.

🏹 Successful szn: 30K deer already on the ground in Michigan's archery season.

🤬 Take a load off Annie: A small town deer named "Annie" was shot by Tribal Police in Michigan and people want justice.

🐈 Taking a stand: Animal rights groups are after Utah cat hunters.

🫎 Four year ban: Two men banned from hunting anywhere on the planet after poaching Alaska moose.

🙏 Lost child found: SC hunter finds lost child while deer hunting.

ANOTHER TRAGIC ACCIDENT
IOWA TEEN FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE AFTER BEING SHOT IN THE HEAD WHILE HUNTING

A brutal hunting accident has left a northwestern Iowa teen in a fight for his life. The victim, identified as Joseph Salmon by friends and family, was duck hunting with friends in the Spring Run Wildlife Management Area around 8:30 Saturday morning when he was shot in the head.

The victim was airlifted to Sioux Falls Hospital where he was immediately whisked into surgery. A GoFundMe page, set up by the victim’s aunt, indicates that Salmon was recently placed in a medically-induced coma, and is now “moving his legs a little bit more and squeezing hands.”

A football player at Okoboji High School, several benefits have been spun up to help with his medical expenses... 

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

🧑‍🌾 Sneaky, sneaky: Bear creeps up on man getting the gardening done.

🪄 The most magical bear on Earth: New video shows how officials caught the bear at the Magic Kingdom.

⛳️ Can we play through?: Video shows coyote and bear chasing each other around a golf course as golfers try to hit.