The weekend might not be here just 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 24-or-so hours.
Here's what's worth reading about today:
Cooked - Wyoming’s infamous wolf killer is indicted 🧑⚖️
A win in NJ - A NJ court upholds state bear hunt ✊
Residents only - Wyoming shoots down discounted tags for non-resident relatives 👎
770-pounder - They are slaying them in Alabama 🐊
Lottery open - Louisiana opens up bear tag lotto 🐻
Idaho EHD - Officials confirm first case in Clearwater region 🤮
That Friday feeling - Watch this California raccoon living his best life 🦝
Miss something this week?
HE’S (RIGHTFULLY) COOKED
WYOMING MAN INDICTED ON FELONY ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGES IN WOLF TORMENT CASE
In a case that has ignited widespread public fury while highlighting contentious wildlife laws in Wyoming, Daniel resident Cody Roberts was indicted by a Sublette County grand jury on August 20th, for felony animal cruelty. The charges stem from a February 2024 incident where Roberts allegedly ran over a young female wolf with a snowmobile, taped its mouth shut, paraded the injured animal in a local bar, and later killed it.
The original incident took place on February 29, 2024, in Daniel, Wyoming when Roberts intentionally struck a juvenile wolf with his snowmobile. According to reports, he proceeded to restrain the still-alive animal by taping its muzzle, brought it into the Green River Bar where he posed for photos and videos while slugging cold ones, before eventually taking it outside and killing it. Circulated images showed the wolf lying on the bar floor, barely moving, with Roberts grinning beside it, beer in hand. Witnesses described the scene as disturbing, with the animal appearing in severe distress…
HEADLINES // DIGESTIBLE SNIPPETS
Stacking wins in NJ
✊ New Jersey Court Upholds Bear Hunting, Rejects Challenge to Wildlife Council's Authority. A New Jersey appeals court upheld the state’s authority to regulate black bear hunting, rejecting a constitutional challenge brought by former Senator Raymond Lesniak and his nonprofit, the Lesniak Institute for American Leadership. Lesniak argued that the New Jersey Fish and Game Council, which oversees wildlife management, is unconstitutionally influenced by the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, a private hunting group that nominates six of the council’s 11 members. He claimed this structure violates the separation of powers and non-delegation doctrine by giving a private entity excessive control over public policy. The court, however, ruled that the council is a legitimate state agency, subject to oversight by the governor, state Senate, and the Department of Environmental Protection, affirming its authority to regulate hunting, including the controversial bear hunt.
The decision dismisses Lesniak’s request to declare the council unconstitutional and block the 2022 Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy, allowing the bear hunt to continue. Supporters of the hunt argue it mitigates human-bear conflicts and maintains ecological balance, while Lesniak and animal rights advocates push for nonlethal management methods. The ruling does not impact a separate pending challenge to the 2022 policy by the Animal Protection League of New Jersey. Disappointed by the decision, Lesniak vowed to pursue legislative changes to reform what he calls an “antiquated” law, framing the issue as a moral fight for compassion and coexistence with wildlife.
👎 Wyoming Lawmakers Veto Bills to Reduce Hunting License Costs for Nonresidents with State Ties. Wyoming lawmakers rejected two bills on Tuesday that aimed to halve the cost of hunting licenses for nonresidents with family connections to the state. The proposed legislation, discussed by the Wyoming Legislature’s Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee between sessions, sought to make hunting more affordable for individuals with Wyoming roots, modeled after a similar system in Montana. The bills were intended to increase accessibility for nonresidents who have family still living in Wyoming but were ultimately vetoed, maintaining the current pricing structure for hunting licenses.
The decision reflects ongoing debates about balancing access to Wyoming’s hunting opportunities with the state’s wildlife management priorities. Though the bills failed as written, there was some interest in continuing the discussion in the future.
Miss something this week?
QUICK HITS // FROM AROUND THE WEB
Mississippi hunting seasons 2025: Here's what you can hunt in September: Mississippi is experiencing the dog days of August and temperatures are soaring in the afternoons, so hunting may not be on a lot of people's minds. But the reality is, some of the first seasons to open are only days away. Read the full story.
Key dates Texas hunters should know for 2025: Hunting seasons are set to open on Sept. 1, and there are a number of dates to keep track of for Texans interested in both big game hunters and waterfowl hunters between now and February 2026. Full hunting seasons can be found online at the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. Read the full story.
Bigger Than the Last: 770-pound alligator caught in Clarke County during Alabama’s hunting season: At 12 feet 8 inches long and a whopping 770 pounds, the gator could be a contender for one of the heaviest caught this year. Read the full story.
The 770-pounder
Lottery open for black bear hunting permits in Louisiana: Governor Jeff Landry announced a lottery for a chance to hunt black bears in Louisiana. The lottery is open now until August 28, with 26 permits available. Read the full story.
White-tailed deer in Idaho test positive for deadly EHD virus: The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has confirmed that a white-tailed deer has tested positive for epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD). Officials suspect that two more animals have died from EHD at the same location southeast of Lewiston. This marks the first confirmed outbreak of the season in the Clearwater region. Read the full story.
Utah DWR completes 115 habitat projects to benefit deer in Utah, releases new online deer resource. In fiscal year 2024, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources completed 115 habitat projects to help mule deer populations in Utah. The DWR also released a new online dashboard to provide additional resources and information about deer. Read the full story.
VIDEO // SOME THINGS JUST HAVE TO BE SEEN
🦝 When that Friday feeling gets deep down in your soul. Watch as this raccoon gets into an absolute vibe while cruising down a California freeway.
The weekend has arrived…
Miss something this week?
WEEKEND MEME // WHAT ABOUT CARIBOU??
WANDERINGS // A SFW GLIMPSE OF OUR BROWSER HISTORY
I’m thinking this is really, really over-simplifying this (as I’ve never tried it), but apparently this is how you catch a fish with your bare hands. An online magazine asked their readers to show them what the oldest car they had ever driven was. The results were wide ranging, and in some cases, awesome. It’s crazy how much money some folks make when their dead in comparison to when they were alive. Like in all likelihood, no one is going to pay me for my witty wanderings when I’m dead. But Elvis? Dude is still RAKING it in. And I’ve never personally smoked a brisket. But if I was going to, I suppose I’d start with this kind of wood.
EYE CANDY // PICTURES > WORDS
The pull of the weekend.
Oh, and one more thing…
