Alaska Man Gets 3 Years in Prison for Scamming Hunters Out of Almost $60,000 🧑‍⚖️

In the event that the weekend wasn’t quite long enough for you, here’s to hoping that your favorite dispatch from the outdoor world can give you 5-or-so minutes to prep yourself for yet another week.

So, without further ado, let’s grab that coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and get caught up on the outdoor news and views from the past few days. 

Here's what's worth reading about today:

WHAT A DANDY GUY
ALASKA MAN SENTENCED TO 3 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR SCAMMING HUNTERS OUT OF ALMOST $60,000

Well, if you thought the biggest problems you’d face after booking your dream Alaskan hunt would be something like big bears and bad weather, you might want to think again. For a few unlucky hunters, they learned the hard way that, in some cases, the scariest animals roaming the Alaskan wilderness do so on two feet with a cell phone in hand, and zero regard to licensing requirements.

A man by the name of Michael Beans, who fits the aforementioned description, is set to spend the next three years behind bars after being sentenced by federal prosecutors last week. After posing as a licensed big game guide and transporter, this master of low-effort larceny scammed nearly 37 hunters out of nearly $60 grand. He did so by pumping up make-believe bull moose hunts in remote Alaskan locales, collecting fat deposits months in advance (often with “discounts” for the eager marks), and then, acting just like my 10th grade crush, he completely ghosted them.

That is until some of them tracked him down…

Arkansas elk hunting permit application period now open: Hunters seeking a chance to pursue elk in Arkansas will have a limited window to apply for permits, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Applications for the state’s public land elk hunting permits are accepted through 11:59 p.m. June 1 through the agency’s online licensing system. Read the full story.

Ohio is encouraging hunting in the state's Deer Surveillance Area: Left unexplained, except for a vague inference, was the decision to authorize a six-deer limit inside the so-named Deer Surveillance Area (DSA) that comprises all of four counties northwest of Columbus and parts of five others, including Union and Delaware. Read the full story.

WVDNR announces updates to dove hunting at two wildlife management areas: “The change at South Branch WMA gives hunters more flexibility while allowing us to manage the area based on current wildlife populations and participation levels,” WVDNR Director Brett McMillion said. Read the full story.

Got bear poop? CNC Research Forest asks public to help monitor urban bears: For the second year in a row, community members are invited to help collect bear feces samples to support ongoing research into urban bear activity. New this year, the project is expanding through a partnership with the Calgary Zoo, adding a valuable scientific comparison to better understand bear behaviour and stress levels.  Read the full story.

Maryland Detects 69 CWD Cases in Deer; No New Counties Affected: The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reported that 69 white-tailed deer sampled in 2025 tested positive for chronic wasting disease, a neurological disease found in deer, elk and moose that the department monitors annually.  Read the full story.

🐊 No fishing allowed. Watch as the new head of the HOA makes an absolute ruling on fishing in the backyard pond.

He is the Captain now…

May.

📸 by @thetelluridelens

Oh, and one more thing…