Tragic Multi-Boat Accident Claims Three Lives During Major League Fishing Tournament in Alabama 🙏

It’s officially the Easter weekend and today is Good Friday and while we all relish at the idea of a long weekend, here’s to hoping none of us forget what this day and weekend is all about.

We’d like to thank each and every one of you for continuing to read along with us in our daily dispatches and wish you all a safe and happy Easter weekend.

So grab your coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and let's get caught up on the outdoor news and views from the past 24-or-so hours. 

Here's what's worth reading about today:

• Tragedy on the lake - 3 dead in horrific boat crash at MLF event 🙏

• Jail time for pig thieves - Maui men sentenced in pig contest fraud case 🐷

• “Thrill Kills” - Trio of men brought down in egregious poaching spree 🧑‍⚖️

• Going, going, back, back to Cali, Cali - New study suggests we ought to bring back grizzlies to the Golden State 🐻

• Deer feeder thieves brought down - JCSO brings home the bacon in bizzare feeder theft case 👮

• Mo’ does - PA flooding the market with antlerless tags for 2025 🏷️

• Weekend sunset - Something to chill you out on this beautiful Friday morning🌄 

A TERRIBLE DAY ON THE LAKE
TRAGIC MULTI-BOAT ACCIDENT CLAIMS THREE LIVES DURING MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING TOURNAMENT IN ALABAMA

A devastating multi-boat collision has resulted in the death of three men on Lewis Smith Lake in Alabama on Wednesday morning. The incident, which took place on the second day of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Tackle Warehouse Invitational also resulted in a number of other injuries and has cast a somber shadow over the competitive fishing community. 

According to early reports, the accident involved a Nitro Bass Boat colliding with a center console vessel near the lake’s Miller Flats area. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) identified the deceased as Joey M. Broom, 58, of Altoona, Alabama, pronounced dead at the scene, and John K. Clark, 44, of Cullman, Alabama, and Jeffrey C. Little, 62, of Brandon, Mississippi, who were thrown overboard and drowned. Broom, a respected Snead councilman, was remembered for his community dedication. 

Three others were injured, though specific details about their conditions were not disclosed…

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🐷 Maui Men Jailed for Killing Pet Pig to Cheat in Hunting Contest. A pair of Maui men have been sentenced for stealing and killing a beloved 250-lb pet pig by the name of Eddie in order to win a hunting contest. Jayden Jarnesky Magana, 18, and Krys-Ryan Saito Carino, 20, reportedly took Eddie from Kitty Charm Farm in Haiku, Hawaii, staged an Instagram video to falsely depict hunting him, and killed and gutted the domesticated pig to enter him in the contest. With their prized pig, the men were awarded the top $1,000 prize in the contest, but the condition of the pig soon raised suspicions from on-lookers and police. Noting the pig’s unusually heavy weight along with the fact that he was neutered, police immediately began suspecting foul play and eventually charged the two men last summer.

While in court earlier this month, both men pleaded no contest to charges of first-degree animal cruelty, theft of livestock, and criminal property damage, receiving a one-night jail sentence, with Jarnesky Magana also facing four years of probation despite a possible 10-year sentence.

Eddie, a therapy pet and mascot at Kitty Charm Farm, was known for his gentle nature and role in comforting visitors, making his loss deeply felt by owner Sarah Haynes and the community. Jarnesky Magana expressed remorse through a letter read by his attorney, requesting community service and offering apologies.

💰 Thousands in Fines for Three Pennsylvania Men for Illegal “Thrill of the Kill” Deer Poaching Incidents. Three Somerset County men have been sentenced for illegally killing at least 19 deer during a two-month poaching spree in 2020. Caleb Roland, 26, pleaded guilty to three counts of unlawful killing, receiving a $3,000 fine, $5,000 in replacement costs, a 30-year hunting and trapping ban, and forfeiture of all firearms used. Another individual, whose name was not disclosed, faced similar charges, resulting in a 50-year privilege suspension and firearm forfeiture. 

The third, a juvenile at the time, admitted to 14 felonies and six summary counts, including illegal use of lights, and was ordered to pay $15,000 in fines and $5,000 in replacement costs.

 🧸 New Study Says Cali Could Support a Healthy Grizzly Population. A recent study by the California Grizzly Alliance suggests that California could support a grizzly bear population of up to 1,700 in select regions, despite the species' extinction in the state since 1924. Led by University of Washington researcher Alex McInturff, the research identifies three prime habitats which include the Klamath Mountains and Trinity Alps, the southern Sierra Nevada, and the Transverse Ranges from San Bernardino to Santa Barbara Counties. According to their research, these areas could sustain an estimated 1,183 grizzlies, with 832 of those animals allocated in the Sierra Nevada, 236 in the northwest ranges, and 115 in the Transverse Ranges. Although California’s 60,000 black bears coexist with humans (kind of), reintroducing grizzlies would require careful planning to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts, as highlighted by a rare fatal black bear attack in the Sierra foothills that took place just one year ago this month.

The study goes on to emphasize that grizzly reintroduction depends on the support of California’s residents, policymakers, and officials. Historically, the state hosted 10,000 grizzlies before their rapid decline due to over hunting, with the last wild grizzly sighted over a century ago. The California Grizzly Alliance, backed by conservationists and tribal leaders, is advocating for recovery, declaring 2024 the “Year of the Grizzly” to mark the centennial of their extirpation. Challenges include public acceptance and managing conflicts in areas like the Lake Tahoe Basin, where 400 black bears already wreak havoc for local residents due to human attractants. A successful reintroduction would require a well-funded, long-term program and public backing to establish sustainable grizzly populations over a series of decades.

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🌄 I don’t care who you are, that’s one hell of a sunset. Oh, and the bison are cool too.

Have a great Easter weekend…

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Mississippi River flooding causes hunting closures on MS public lands, more expected: The Mississippi River is above flood stage on Mississippi's western border and floodwater has forced the closure of several popular public lands to hunting and more closures are expected as the water continues to rise.  Read the full story.

When's the best time to hunt morel mushrooms in Iowa? : Morel mushrooms are another mark of springtime and hunters are ready to take to Iowa's woods in hopes of finding these delectable fungi. A mild winter followed by a wet March could benefit mushroom hunters this season.  Read the full story.

JCSO three for three in deer feeder theft case arrests: The Jasper County Sheriff's Office has arrested a third and final suspect in the deer feeder theft case in south Jasper County. Read the full story.

Pa. Game Commission approves 1.3 million antlerless tags, extends firearms opportunities: The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners approved 126,000 more antlerless deer permits than last year bringing the total number across the state to 1,312,000 and there are new opportunities for rifle deer hunters.  Read the full story.

Ohio's youth turkey hunters record strong harvest before regular season : As of April 13, ODNR had issued 6,731 youth turkey permits, which may be used through the duration of the 2025 wild turkey hunting season.  Read the full story.

Staring down a long weekend like…

📸 :@ascwildlife

Oh, and one more thing…