Pennsylvania Hunters Fight for Property Rights in Supreme Court Showdown ✊

I’m currently at the “it’s Thursday already?” phase of the workweek and am unsure as to whether or not that is a good thing as of yet the good news is, the long weekend starts tomorrow for many of us.

With that in mind, let’s all take a minute to grab a coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and get this Thursday morning dispatch out the door.

Here's what's worth reading about today:

• Supreme Court showdown - Hunt clubs are bringing the heat for property rights in PA 👩‍⚖️

• Drive-by shooting - Speeding maniac arrested for shooting deer out of the window at over 100 MPH 🏎️

• Non-resident claiming residency - A New Mexico man is nailed in Alaska fraud case ⛰️

• Hunting in storm season - How long would you hang around your blind? 🌪️

IS THIS A PRIVACY CONCERN?
PENNSYLVANIA HUNTERS FIGHT FOR PROPERTY RIGHTS IN SUPREME COURT SHOWDOWN

For legal hunters and outdoorsmen across the country, the right to enjoy private land without unwarranted intrusion is a cornerstone of our way of life. And while the majority of us are doing nothing wrong, the thought of game wardens or other legal officials entering private property on a whim has suddenly become a bone of contention for a pair of Pennsylvania hunting clubs.

On April 9, 2025, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court heard a pivotal case that could redefine these rights, pitting two Clearfield County hunting clubs against the Pennsylvania Game Commission. At stake is whether game wardens can continue to enter private property without a warrant under the controversial Open Fields Doctrine, a practice that many hunters argue violates their privacy and undermines the sanctity of their land.

For members of the Punxsutawney and Pitch Pine hunting clubs, the two clubs named in the suit, the issue is personal…

🔫 Man Fires AR-15 at Deer from Speeding Mustang, Sparks High-Speed Chase in Oregon. On April 12th, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of shots fired from a black Mustang that was traveling at high speeds near Lebanon, Oregon. The situation began with a 911 call at 7:07 p.m., reporting that someone in the Mustang shot at a deer from the vehicle on Honey Sign Drive, followed by dangerous driving, including burnouts and racing through the area. Deputies, already responding to an unrelated call, clocked the Mustang at 117 mph all while passing vehicles in no-passing zones. The vehicle evaded pursuit, and additional reports included a hit-and-run where the Mustang allegedly sideswiped a Mercedes and fled the scene.

Law enforcement from multiple agencies joined the search, eventually locating the Mustang parked at a driveway on Goldfish Farm Road near Albany. Three suspects, including the driver Justin Franklin, 36, his son William Franklin, 19, both from Oklahoma, along with Mason Guidry, 20, from Louisiana fled from police but were later apprehended.

William and Mason surrendered peacefully, but Justin resisted, requiring a Lebanon Police K9 to step in and subdue him. The investigation later confirmed that Justin fired an AR-15 at the deer, with the rifle later found hidden in nearby blackberry bushes. Justin is now up against charges including Fleeing or Attempting to Elude, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangerment, and Hit-and-Run.

The deer’s fate remains unknown.

🚔 New Mexico Man Faces $360K in Fines, Jail Time for Alaska Hunting Fraud. William A. Miller of Artesia, New Mexico, is facing multiple charges in Alaska for illegally claiming state residency to obtain hunting licenses between 2021 and 2024. The investigation, initiated in the Homer area after a tip in October 2024, revealed that Miller allegedly used a false Alaska address and identification to secure resident hunting licenses, violating state residency requirements. During this period, he is accused of illegally harvesting three bears, four deer, and one moose, as well as committing other game law violations, such as hunting during closed seasons and failing to salvage required animal parts.

The charges against Miller include 13 counts of unlawful acts by non-residents, nine counts of false statements on license applications, and additional violations like illegal possession and transportation of game. If convicted, he could face fines up to $360,000 and up to seven years in jail, with potential revocation of his hunting privileges. The case, detailed in a criminal complaint filed on April 9, 2025, in Homer District Court, underscores Alaska’s strict enforcement of residency rules to protect its wildlife resources. The investigation remains ongoing in an effort to determine if others were involved.

🌪️ Well, this fella hung in there a lot longer than I would have. According to the post, this hunter in Arkansas attempted to flee the scene in his truck, but got stuck in the wet field.

No word on why ended up laying on the ground, but apparently he lived to tell the tale.

🙏 God’s Water: “Hold up, Mike. We gotta drink this whiskey.” The stranger and I raised glasses, knocked ‘em back.

I continued, describing how quiet times in the woods turned dark and that I knew this wasn’t good. The guilt compounded. My mind found a way to turn something I enjoy most in life, something that’s an absolute privilege to do, into a miserable experience.

Looking back, I can see how one might write off what happened next as a random thought, while another might call it divine intervention. 

“But the way things were going,” I explained, “I thought to myself, maybe this is why people embrace faith and religion. Maybe I should start praying, maybe-”

The stranger interrupted. 

“Mike, prayer is absolutely what you should do during the quiet times of a hunt.”

 Read the full story.

🦃 Eisenhower’s Turkeys: Eisenhower developed a love for the outdoors in his Kansas youth, fishing and hunting along Mud Creek near his home in Abilene. These were pursuits he enjoyed throughout his life and I imagine, the outdoors became one of the few places a man bearing such responsibility could go to find salve for his soul. As President, Eisenhower once quipped, "Give me a chance to go hunting, and I'm not going to fool around."

Many photos of Eisenhower on the south Georgia quail lands show him with a classic over/under propped on his shoulder or with the breech broken open in the crook of his arm as a brace of setters and pointers stand ready. But, in the photo I have seen most often, the President stands grinning under the longleaf pines in front of the cottage belonging to then-Coca-Cola Chairman, Robert W. Woodruff; a 12 gauge side by side in his right hand and a turkey in his left.  Read the full story.

🐏 Stone Mountain Delivers:  My plane landed in Fort St. John, British Columbia at about midnight. I collected all my baggage and looked for a cab to take me to my hotel. No cab but Uber did the trick.

The next morning I picked up a rental car and made my way through the Peace River Region, past the oil and gas fields on my way to Toad River, B.C. It was a six and a half hour drive along the Alaska Highway. I made sure to keep the gas tank full because there were few gas stations along the way. Most hunters flew into Fort Nelson, but I wanted the flexibility to bring home the cape and meat. Read the full story.

Oh, and one more thing…