Officials Seeking Answers After Four Elk Found Illegally Killed in Redwood National Park

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's worth reading about so far this week:

• Senseless killings - Four elk found dead and officials want answers 🚔

• One-two punch - No, it wasn’t an Olympic event, but a Canadian man did punch out a female grizzly  🥊

• Sick f*cks - Three Louisiana youths charged in bizarre abuse of duck dog 🐕‍🦺

• Pay to play - USFW is now willing to pay hunters to use non-lead ammo 💵

• On the ballot - Coloradoans are set to vote on lion hunting this fall 🙈

SENSELESS
OFFICIALS SEEKING ANSWERS AFTER FOUR ELK FOUND ILLEGALLY KILLED IN REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK

Rangers and California Fish and Wildlife wardens are asking the public for help in solving the senseless killing and waste of four Roosevelt elk found in Redwood National Park. 

The four animals were found earlier this month near Williams Ridge, located inland of the dense coastal forests that have made the park famous. Operating as protected land, hunting within the park is strictly prohibited and enforced by both state and federal law. According to reports, the four elk were found on July 21st left to waste with no apparent signs of an attempt to salvage any of the meat…

🥊 IN.THE. FACE. A Canadian man fends off a grizzly attack by delivering a staggering blow with his bare fists. According to Canadian conservation officers, the man was cycling in a remote area near Anderson Flats Provincial Park when he entered a clearing and startled a sow with her two cubs.

Wasting no time dealing with the threat, the sow charged the man, knocking him off his bicycle. He was able to get to his feet quickly, using the bike as a shield against the charging bear. As she continued to approach and swipe at the bike, he decided it was time to rear back and let her have it. Swinging as hard as he could, he caught the bear in the nose, causing her to retreat with enough time for the victim to hop on his bike and get back to the trailhead. He suffered only minor injuries during the incident and from the sounds of it, wounded the ego of one grizzled momma in the process.

👊 Speaking of punches, this a**hole needs a good one. A 15-year-old teen and his buddies have been arrested after a shocking video surfaces of him beating the sh*t out of his duck dog. After a disturbing video surfaced on social media, a Louisiana teen and his accomplices have all been charged after mercilessly beating on their Labrador retriever in an apparent training session. The video displays the teen continually shocking the dog while it swims around, unaware of the commands being asked of him. The teen eventually gets his hands on the dog and proceeds to batter him with his fists as the dog yelps in pain.

The main culprit was charged with one count of animal cruelty and his two heckling accomplices were charged with one count each of principal to animal cruelty.

💵 Rather than placing a ban on lead ammo, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is offering rebates to hunters willing to opt for non-toxic ammunition. In an effort to cut down on the amount of lead kicking around public land and waterways, the U.S.F.W. is trying a new approach in convincing hunters to switch their choice of ammunition. Yes,  similar to the way in which my mom attempted to get me to quit hacking lung darts, they’re offering to pay them to quit with a new incentive-based rebate program.

Because the cost of non-toxic ammo is higher than the lead-based alternative, the pilot program aims to reimburse hunters for making the switch. While the refuge-specific details are still being ironed out, the agency stated that hunters will be paid using prepaid debit cards for the reimbursement of the cost of lead-free ammo with proof of purchase.

QUICK HITS // ^{_{FROM AROUND THE WEB}}

Minnesota DNR schedules two online auctions for confiscated hunting equipment . The auctions, which will be held online Aug. 26 and Oct. 7, include equipment that was confiscated following serious game and fish violations. Read more at Brainerd Dispatch.

See the mother bear and her cubs that survived Jasper National Park's largest wildfire in 100 years by hiding: The park said that Grizzly Bear 222, who is often found around the park's lodge and is fitted with a GPS collar, found a way to save herself and her offspring "in the moments leading up to the most extreme wildfire activity" that unfolded on July 24. Read more at CBS News.

Michigan extends deer hunting windows: The Michigan Natural Resources Commission recently expanded regulations to allow for longer firearm, archery, and muzzleloading hunting seasons and encourage more antler-less hunting. Read more at Brownfield.

Feds propose opening 4 North Dakota refuges to elk hunting: The new opportunities will introduce or expand hunting and fishing on approximately 211,000 acres nationwide within the National Wildlife Refuge System. Read more at Grand Forks Herald.

Black bear attacks hiker in Big Cottonwood Canyon, bear euthanized: A black bear in Big Cottonwood Canyon was euthanized on Wednesday after attacking and biting a hiker, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources said. Read more at ABC4.

CONTROVERSY // ^{_{THIS WEEK’S SH*T DISTURBER}}

🐈 It’s officially official - Initiative 91 set to be on the ballot in Colorado this fall. Created in an effort to ban mountain lion hunting (among other wild feline species), Initiative 91 received enough petition signatures to get it on the ballot for this November’s election in the Centennial State.  Despite having a robust number of cats happily roaming the state, activists have gotten involved and, against the better and sound judgment of wildlife managers and biologists, are attempting to force their hand.

“Under the current science-based management, our mountain lion and bobcat populations are thriving,” says Dan Gates, Campaign Chairman for Colorado’s Wildlife Deserve Better, which he says is “exploring all options available under Colorado law” to challenge the signatures submitted before the ballot is finalized next month.

“This measure continues to be driven by out-of-state extremists who are seeking to threaten the balance of Colorado’s fragile ecosystem,” says Gates. “This ballot measure is dangerous, reckless, and based on absolutely zero scientific research.”

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

🐻 Rare trail cam footage of a black bear with no front legs, meandering around on just his hind legs. Honestly, the poor bastard doesn’t look like he’s having much fun, but I suppose he’s doing the best he can.

🦥 High-speed zip-lining kid runs right into a…sloth? Talk about a slow-moving traffic jam - watch as a young fella is having the time of his life on an exotic zip-line until he is stopped dead by a slow-moving sloth. The sloth seems to give the “what the f*ck, man??” look as he continues on his way down the line.

CAMP TALK // ^{_{BEFORE YOU GO}}

We get a lot of questions and comments on here, and we figure it’s time to repay the favor. As part of our new Camp Talk section, we’re going to ask you, the reader, your opinion on some serious (and not so serious) topics to close out each newsletter.

On Wednesday I asked, we just launched our podcast (and would love it if you subscribed) and wanted to know how often you listen to podcasts?

And for once, we had a variety of answers, in order below:

1. A few times a week

2. Every couple of weeks

3. I don’t listen to podcasts

I also want to thank all of you who subscribed and downloaded our first episode. I’ll continue to churn ‘em out, aiming to improve each episode along the way.

Here’s today’s question…

Oh, and one more thing…