Cause of Death Confirmed in Death of Two Missing Elk Hunters in Colorado 🙏

While we continue to slowly inch towards the weekend, let’s all take a minute to grab a coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and get into what this beautiful Tuesday has to offer.

Here's what's worth reading about so far this week:

THEY WERE KILLED INSTANTLY
CORONER CONFIRMS CAUSE OF DEATH FOR MISSING COLORADO HUNTERS

In a revelation that shows the raw power of nature, Conejos County, Colorado Coroner Richard Martin announced yesterday that both 25-year-old Andrew Porter and 25-year-old Ian Stasko died from a lightning strike. The incident is believed to have occurred on September 12, amid severe thunderstorms reported in the region. Weather data corroborated the timing, with storms bringing heavy rain, high winds, and lightning activity to the South San Juan area.

“It is OFFICIAL that a lightning strike to the ground took them in an instant,” Porter’s fiancé, Bridget Murphy wrote in a Facebook post about Porter on Monday. “They didn’t do anything wrong, they didn’t feel fear or pain. [Andrew] was just trying to get back to the car as storms rolled in…”

👍 Pennsylvania Teen Becomes Youngest Female Archer to Harvest Bull Elk. Samantha Bartlett, a 14-year-old freshman from Oil City, Pennsylvania, has become the youngest female archer to harvest a bull elk in the state. On September 16th, the young lady used a crossbow to take down an 850-pound bull elk from 40 yards in north-central Pennsylvania’s Zone 3, after winning one of only 16 archery bull elk tags in the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s lottery. The accomplishment followed three grueling days of hunting, covering 10 miles daily with guides from Trophy Rack Lodge Outfitters. Bartlett, who started archery hunting this year, demonstrated remarkable skill and composure, also harvesting a coyote during the trip.

Bartlett’s achievement is part of her broader goal to complete Pennsylvania’s rare “quadruple trophy” by harvesting an elk, whitetail buck, turkey, and black bear in the same year, potentially becoming the first to do so entirely with archery gear. Supported by her father, Noel, who has entered her in the elk tag lottery since she was 12 years old, the 7x6 was a big challenge to retrieve, taking four hours to move 700 yards. Samantha is planning to keep the animal’s head, preserving it as a European skull mount.

🦃 Oklahoma County Commissioner Among Six Charged in Illegal Turkey Hunting Scheme. In a case that has naturally stirred up a bit of local controversy, six individuals, including Alfalfa County Commissioner Michael Scott Roach, are facing charges for illegally hunting turkeys before the official season in Oklahoma. The investigation began in March when Game Warden Ben Bickerstaff noticed corn and milo grain scattered around feeders near a hunting blind, suspecting it was bait to attract turkeys unlawfully. To gather evidence, Bickerstaff set up a camera with permission in early April, capturing footage of the illegal activities.

On April 12, the camera recorded V.T. Roach and Cruz Greyson Roach, followed by Michael Scott Roach, who was seen carrying an illegally hunted turkey, according to court documents and the Cherokee Messenger. Three additional individuals were filmed between April 18 and May 3, with one standing over a dead turkey. The case took a dramatic turn on May 5 when Bickerstaff found his camera missing and its SD card wiped. Fortunately, he had uploaded the footage to the cloud, preserving the evidence. The camera was later found at a local defense attorney’s office, with the attorney citing “privileged information” when questioned. The investigation remains ongoing.

🐻 The Battle Rages on as Advocates Aim to Block Half of Florida’s Reduced Bear Hunt Permits. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has reduced the number of bear hunting permits for the upcoming Florida black bear hunt from 187 to 172, though the reason for the 15-permit reduction remains unclear. The hunt, set for December 6-28, is the first in a decade and has drawn significant attention, with over 100,000 applications already submitted for the $5 lottery-style permits.

And while hunters are typically thought to be the biggest buyers of bear tags, bear advocate Chuck O’Neil and environmental groups, including the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, are estimating that non-hunters could secure about half of the 172 permits to prevent bear deaths. O’Neill is boldly predicting that hunters may effectively pay $4,500 per bear due to multiple $5 application entries, with the FWC potentially collecting darn close to $800,000 in fees. Critics, citing polls showing 81-92% public opposition, argue the hunt lacks scientific justification regarding bear population and growth rates. O’Neil and many others continue to vow to intensify efforts for 2026, which could ultimately prove to be fruitless. The FWC stands staunch in their position, stating that they are planning to add any unharvested bears from this hunt to next year’s quota.

🍽️ POV: You’re hand-feeding the big boys in your front yard. Watch as this fella grabs a handful of deer feed and heads out on to the driveway to feed the local herd.

Only in Texas…

Oh, and one more thing…