Southern Illinois bowhunter Joe Graber's 25-point "deer of a lifetime" didn't come easy. Taking what he thought was a perfect lung shot, Graber's arrow was deflected, instead traveling straight into the buck's ear. The deer flipped in the air, skidded down an embankment and dropped off a 20-foot cliff into a creek, where it drowned.Rod Kloeckner in the Belleville News-Democrat.
After the Montana Supreme Court ruled a Bitterroot River tributary crossing property owned by musician Huey Lewis near Stevensville, MT was a legally accessible public waterway, the '80s rocker and other landowners are openly feeding waterfowl, effectively prohibiting legal duck hunting there. “Federal law says you can’t hunt a field that’s been baited,” said FW&P warden Jeff Darrah. “That’s his way of saying you can’t hunt here.” Via AP.
In 1943, Leon Wilson was informed he was too old to fight for his country in World War II. But this week, less than a month away from his 101st birthday, you'll find Leon in a northern Minnesota deerstand, enjoying his second favorite recreation. "Pinochle comes before hunting," he says. Brad Dokken in the Grand Forks Herald.
Pennsylvania State Police say an argument over trespassing apparently sparked a shoot-out in a rural area northeast of Pittsburgh yesterday, leaving a landowner dead and a member of a bear-hunting party with a gunshot wound. Charges are expected as the investigation proceeds. York Daily Record.
TJ Hauge of Prairie du Sac, Wisc. took careful aim at a whitetail buck on opening day of the state's 9-day gun season on Saturday, dropping the animal in its tracks--in addition to the buck standing behind it that he hadn't seen. Fortunately, Hauge, whose father is the state DNR wildlife management chief, had two buck tags. LA Times' Outposts reports.
With better deer-hunting fortune than his counterpart in Minnesota, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon killed a doe (and retrieved it) while hunting in Pulaski County this week. He donated the meat to Share The Harvest, a public-private charity he recently helped expand. The KC Star.
Minnesotan Scott Wundinich had just finished field-dressing a deer when a wolf pack came running out of the woods. "I was scared," said the 48-year-old. "I've been hunting since I was 12 and I've never seen anything like this." Wundinich remained in his treestand for 45 minutes, climbing down after dark and hurrying to his nearby ATV.Doug Smith in the Star-Tribune.
Opening day of Pennsylvania's 3-day black bear hunting season marked the second-highest first day on record, with a preliminary total of 1,897. The top ten bears processed Monday had estimated live weights exceeding 550 pounds, with the largest weighing 645 pounds. PA Game Commission.
Novelist, author and fly-fisherman Thomas McGuane, who turns 70 next month, has been honored by Fly Rod & Reel Magazine as its "Angler of the Year 2010." Nick Lyons writes: "Let this honor be a modest birthday present for someone who already has so many other honors, from the world of fly fishing—but the greater gift is his to us, the great presents he has given all fly fishers for all these years: his magical, defining words."
Charges have been filed against three men in connection with an Oct. 30 incident in which a shot was fired at Ohio wildlife officers on patrol in rural Champaign County. A bullet passed through the ODNR cruiser's windshield, but no one was injured. The Springfield News-Sun.
The American Kennel Club has announced that three new dog breeds--the bluetick coonhound, the Boykin spaniel and the redbone coonhound--will be eligible for its conformation competition beginning Dec. 30, bringing the total number of breeds recognized by the AKC to 164.
In an effort "to provide better equity between locals and international visitors," the National Park Service will implement an online system for issuing its limited permits for overnight backpacking trips in Grand Canyon National Park. Under the current system, applicants may use mail, fax or go to the park on the day permits become available. Via AP.
The current NCAA champions and number one-ranked West Virginia University rifle team shot a school-record aggregate score in its win over Great American Rifle Conference (GARC) rival Kentucky, 4691-4642 at the WVU Rifle Range Saturday. The Mountaineers’ team score is believed to be the highest collegiate aggregate total since the NCAA implemented a 60-shot course in 2004. WVU Mountaineers News.
A Casper, Wyoming man who admitted to illegally killing two mule deer during a closed season in 2008 has been ordered to pay $22,000 in fines, $8,000 in restitution and $30 in court costs. In addition, Timothy J. Alme lost all trapping and hunting privileges for 10 years and cannot accompany any individual on any hunting venture during that time. Casper Journal.
As the International Game Fish Association continues to evaluate the 22-pound, 4-ounce largemouth bass caught by Japanese angler Manabu Kurita July 2 as the potential new world record for the species, Whitefish Press has just released a book about the man and angler whose fish has held the record since 1932. Remembering George W. Perry is written by Bill Baab, former Augusta Chronicle outdoors editor and considered the premier authority on Perry's life--and his bass. Rob Pavey reports.
Producers of the popular reality TV series "Deadliest Catch" are filming a new show featuring California game wardens in their daily effort to protect the state's wildlife and habitat. Filmed as wardens pursue game thieves, pot growers and other ne'er-do-wells in Northern California, it's due to air late next year on the National Geographic Channel. The Sacramento Bee.
The Willows (Calif.) Unified School District board of trustees voted unanimously last week to expel a 16-year-old for having unloaded shotguns and shells in his pickup parked just off campus. Susan Parisio defended her son Gary, acknowledging he erred for not returning home to store his guns after a morning of bird hunting with a friend, but she questioned the district's ability to enforce its no-tolerance policies off school property. The Chico Enterprise Record.
The Australian government is considering new national standards affecting the possession and safe storage of replica, non-functioning firearms. New South Wales Police Minister Michael Daley said ministers are also pressing the Federal Government to regulate "unlawful trafficking of imitation firearms across Australian borders." The Daily Telegraph.
A biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife videotaped a pack comprised of at least 10 gray wolves last week on Forest Service land in Wallowa County east of Joseph, the largest pack to be confirmed in the state. The video may be viewed here. Reported in the Baker City Herald.
The possible new Nebraska state record buck killed by Texas firearm hunter Wes O'Brien on private land in Richardson County Saturday is the talk of the Cornhusker State. The 38-point buck green-scored 281, indicating it may nudge the 47-year state record, Del Austin's long-standing Pope and Young record 279 7/8 non-typical. O'Brien, who described himself to Joe Duggan of the Lincoln Journal-Star as a "broke white boy who likes to hunt," said he has obtained an agent and will consider selling the antlers when the deer is mounted. Click photo for enlarged view.
Writer Bob Kingsley of the Muskegon Chronicle presents the wild tale of the deer-hunting Holtrop family, who worked together to take a huge 14-point buck this week. The morning after Nick Holtrop hit the big deer with a non-fatal shot, brother Jeff tracked it into standing corn. There, the buck blindsided him, knocking him to the ground, causing him to discharge his muzzleloader. Hearing Jeff's screams for help as he fought with the wounded deer for 15-plus minutes, father Jim Holtrop came to his son's rescue and dispatched the bruiser.
As hunters prepare for the Wisconsin firearms deer opener, many are finding it difficult to acquire their preferred rifle ammo. The year-long spike in ammo sales, spurred by the election of Barack Obama and fears of new regulations, "was a stimulus package no one anticipated and few wanted, especially those in blaze orange preparing for the Wisconsin deer season Saturday," writes my friend Chris Niskanen in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission today agreed to extend wolf hunting seasons in all Idaho zones not already closed until March 31. Hunters planning to hunt after December 31 were reminded they will need a 2010 wolf tag, in addition to an Idaho 2010 hunting license. IFGD press release.
