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:
Big things coming - Burgum was in Wisconsin yesterday where he announced a fall timeline for opening up National Wildlife Refuge System 📢
Restricted no more - Yellowstone lifts fishing restrictions 🎣
Silver bear cub - A rare silver-colored cub was spotted in Katmai (and no, it’s not a polar bear hybrid) 👨🦳
Acres added - A $3 million federal grant expands Michigan’s public lands by 20,000 acres 🙌
Deer spies - Maine is asking the public to keep a close eye on deer to help them allocate hunting permits 🦌
Just a snack - This Arctic Fox is one persistent little fella 🦊
BIG THINGS COMING
BURGUM FLAGS FALL TIMELINE FOR 111 NEW HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES
Yesterday in Wisconsin, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum visited Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge with Rep. Derrick Van Order by his side. It was there the two chatted up the largest proposed expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service history.
The historic numbers that were dropped back in May include 111 stations (107 refuges and four hatcheries) and nearly 1,500 opportunities spread across 32 states. Burgum and co. are also blazing a trail towards opening up about 95% of the National Wildlife Refuge System (give or take 92 million acres) to hunting, including a slew of new options across the Midwest.
What’s new, as of yesterday, is process. Announcing that the new rule is now entering White House OMB review, Burgum is making it clear that the administration fully expects to finalize it this fall.
“America’s hunters and anglers now have something significant to look forward to in the fall as we plan to open and expand hunting and fishing opportunities nationwide,” Burgum said.
This announcement serves as a concrete follow-through on the “open unless closed” direction set earlier this year. And while nothing new is live on the ground yet, the biggest single expansion of refuge access in decades is now one step closer to becoming a reality.
Stay tuned for this fall’s announcement for all the details about what opens where and for which species.
QUICK HITS // FROM AROUND THE WEB
Florida wildlife officials investigate deadly bear shooting in Marion County: Florida wildlife officials are investigating the fatal shooting of a black bear near Lake Kerr in Marion County that neighbors say left three cubs without their mother. Read the full story.
Yellowstone National Park lifts fishing restrictions: A release from the park says that the restrictions were implemented because low water flows and high water temperatures can be lethal to fish. Cooling weather and water temperatures in the forecast allow for these restrictions to be lifted. Anglers may now fish on most park rivers, streams and lakes daily from sunrise to sunset, as specified in the 2026 Fishing Regulations booklet. Read the full story.
Black Bear Attacks Woman Hiking With Dogs Near Jackson, Hiking Trail Closed: A woman was hospitalized Monday after a presumed black bear attacked her while hiking with her dogs near Teton Pass. Game and Fish officials, who closed the trail, described the incident as a "defensive encounter." Read the full story.
A Rare Silver Bear Cub Was Just Spotted on Alaska’s Famous National Park Bear Cam: Rangers say the silver coloring comes down to genetics. “We have seen silver-looking bear cubs in the past, and we attribute this to the bear’s genetics,” Katmai National Park and Preserve Ranger Sarah Bruce told the outlet. “The bears in Katmai have many different fur colors, and the park does have a large population of blonde bears.” Read the full story.
The rare silver cub | Explore.org
KY legislators legalized hunting bobcats at night, worrying some:The Kentucky legislature changed state law through Senate Bill 39 to allow for the nocturnal hunting of bobcats and beavers. That law also overrode efforts by the state wildlife management agency’s board to regulate wakeboats on local lakes and gave the Kentucky Senate future control on who leads the agency. Read the full story.
$3M federal grant adds 20,000 acres to Michigan’s wildlife habitat, hunting land: Michigan’s public lands will expand by 20,000 acres through federal funding. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources received $3 million through a competitive grant from the The U.S. Department of Agriculture. Read the full story.
Maine asks for "deer spies" to better understand behavior: The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries is asking Mainers to assist in data gathering, which will be used to determine the allowance of hunting permits. Read the full story.
VIDEO // SOME THINGS JUST HAVE TO BE SEEN
🦊 One hungry little Arctic Fox. Watch as this relentless little guy wants a taste of steak from these hunters' fresh muskox kill.
C’mon, break him off a piece…
WEEKEND MEME // TOUGH SLEDDING OUT THERE
WANDERINGS // A SFW GLIMPSE OF OUR BROWSER HISTORY
I grew up in Canada where they didn’t (and still don’t) have a national drinking age, and instead let each province set it’s own age. I just so happened to live very close to the border of Quebec where legal age is 18, which led to more than a few late night migrations in and around that age (sorry, mom). I had no idea that the US used to be the very same way from state-to-state. At the absolute other end of that spectrum, we’ve got the grandma who rallied to get a law passed that would allow her state’s assisted living facilities to serve alcohol. A diary from the psychic capital of the world. And the best movie sequels of all time.
EYE CANDY // PICTURES > WORDS
The pull of the weekend.
📸 by @zach_christiansen
Oh, and one more thing…
