As we continue to slowly but surely inch back towards the weekend, let’s all take a minute to grab a green beer or whiskey (no judgement) and get into what this beautiful St. Patrick’s Day has to offer. ☘️
Here's what's worth reading about so far this week:
Got their man - Missouri officials announce charges in brazen Peck Ranch elk killing 🚔
Cameo appearance - Bear photobombs live broadcast about recent bear attack in southern Cali 🎥
Mild winter - Idaho’s mule deer and elk are flourishing after a very mild western winter ❄️
Let ‘em grow - That’s the philosophy in Tennessee and it seems to be working 🦌
And for my next trick - This coyote disappears 🪄
HOPEFULLY THEY STICK
CHARGES FILES IN PECK RANCH BULL ELK POACHING CASE
Nearly four months after Missouri’s Operation Game Thief offered a $15,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for the shameless killing of a mature bull elk at Peck Ranch Conservation Area, the Missouri Department of Conservation announced Monday that they believe they have found the perpetrator.
According to a release from the agency, a man from Summersville, Missouri, has been summoned to Carter County Associate Circuit Court on four violations of the Wildlife Code of Missouri. The currently unnamed man is now facing a quartet of serious charges including taking elk inconsistent with the rules governing season and permits, taking elk inside a state wildlife refuge, taking elk with the aid of artificial light and wanton waste of the elk…
HEADLINES // DIGESTIBLE SNIPPETS
KTLA reporter is joined by a bear during a live segment
🎥 Bear Wanders Into KTLA Reporter’s Live Shot While Covering Earlier Bear Attack in Monrovia. KTLA reporter Erin Myers was conducting a live report Sunday morning in a Monrovia, California, neighborhood when a black bear wandered into the background of the shot. Myers was covering an earlier incident in which a woman walking her dog was attacked by a bear that swiped her behind the knee. As she teased the story another black bear casually strolled right into the background of her shot like it was auditioning for its own segment.
The bear casually walked through the frame behind Myers, sniffing a trap set by CDFW, remaining visible for several seconds before continuing on. No one was injured during the live interruption, during which Myers dutifully powered through her interrupted segment.
❄️ Idaho Deer and Elk See Record-High Winter Survival Rates After Mildest Season in Decades. Idaho's deer and elk populations are entering spring in excellent condition following one of the mildest winters in decades. According to data from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 89% of collared mule deer fawns and 99% of collared elk calves have survived through February across 14 different management units. These rates are significantly higher than the previous winter (78% for fawns and 95% for calves) and well above the long-term average for mule deer fawns, which typically hovers around 60%.
The mild conditions, complete with low snowpack and relatively warm temperatures, reduced stress on young animals and allowed them to conserve energy more effectively than in harsh winters. Biologists are optimistic that these strong survival numbers will translate into healthier herds and improved hunting opportunities in the coming years.
🦌 More Tennessee Hunters Passing on Young Bucks, Leading to Higher Percentage of Mature Bucks Taken. New research from our friends at the National Deer Association is showing that more Tennessee deer hunters are choosing to pass on young bucks and let them grow. According to the report, during the 2024-25 hunting season, 37% of the bucks harvested in Tennessee were 3.5 years old or older. That’s up from 32% in 2021 and 28% in both 2022 and 2023, reflecting a shift among hunters toward prioritizing quality over quantity.
The increase is attributed to a growing “let them grow” philosophy among hunters, along with Tennessee’s harvest regulations that limit hunters to a maximum of two bucks per season. This approach encourages passing smaller or younger bucks to allow them to reach older age classes. Nationally, the percentage of yearling bucks in the harvest dropped to a record low of 23%, while mature bucks reached a new high. Tennessee ranked 13th out of 21 reporting states for mature buck harvest percentage in the NDA’s 2026 Deer Report.
THOUGHTS FROM THE STAND // FROM OUR NOTEPAD
Here’s the thing about GLP1s, at least for me. Has anyone ever asked what else these injections are suppressing? Love? You’re will for life perhaps?
Put the needle(s) down.
Do burglars still put pantyhose on their head?
Synchronicities are signs that you’re on the right track.
Watches are not meant to receive emails or texts.
Blessings often come with a limp. 🙏
VIDEO // SOME THINGS JUST HAVE TO BE SEEN
🪄 How do you make a coyote disappear? Leave a full bison carcass laying around.
Stay tuned for my next magic trick...
WANDERINGS // A SFW GLIMPSE OF OUR BROWSER HISTORY
It’s St. Pat’s Day and everyone with an Irish ancestor (and many without) are out carrying on, decked out in green. But did you know that there’s actually a color called St. Patrick’s blue? But if green or blue aren’t your colors, a lot of people support wearing orange on St. Patrick’s Day as well. And does Guinness actually taste better in Ireland?
EYE CANDY // PICTURES > WORDS
Ready to eat?
Oh, and one more thing…
