Colorado Halts All Gray Wolf Releases for 2026 ❌

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:

HITTING PAUSE
COLORADO PAUSED GRAY WOLF REINTRODUCTIONS AMID FEDERAL HURDLES AND LOSS OF SUPPLIERS

For the first time in three years, the state of Colorado will not be putting more paws on the ground through its voted-mandated and slightly scarred wolf reintroduction program. That’s right, state wildlife officials announced on Wednesday of this week that it was decided that no additional wolves will be released this winter, marking the first major pause in the program since its inception.

The decision stems from a combination of federal interventions, difficulties in sourcing wolves from other regions, and ongoing challenges like high mortality rates among the reintroduced animals. While the program has achieved some milestones, including confirmed reproduction in multiple packs, the halt raises questions about its long-term viability and the goal of establishing a self-sustaining population…

🙏 No Injuries Reported After Two Choppers Collide in Wyoming During Aerial Deer Capture. Two helicopters collided while attempting to land during a mule deer capture operation in northern Wyoming on Monday morning in the north Bighorn Mountains area. Both were Robinson R44 Raven II model choppers, contracted by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department from private companies based in Nevada. The helicopters were substantially damaged in the incident, but fortunately, no injuries were reported, and no Wyoming Game and Fish personnel were onboard.

The operation involved aerial netting of mule deer by professional crews to capture, draw blood samples, fit them with GPS tracking collars, and release them on-site as part of a research operation for the statewide Mule Deer Monitoring Project aimed at understanding recent population declines and potential solutions. Such low-level helicopter work is described by Game and Fish officials as "fairly dangerous" and highly specialized, which is why the agency hires expert contractors. The National Transportation Safety Board documented the collision, and the incident drew local attention but thankfully no emergency responder involvement.

💰 $2K Bounty for Info Leading to Arrest in Illegal Killing of Abandoned 10-Point Deer in New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is investigating the poaching of a impressive 10-point buck discovered dead near the edge of a field along Route 25C in Piermont, New Hampshire. The deer was reported on January 3rd, and evidence indicates it was illegally shot during the closed hunting season. Investigators found vehicle tracks and footprints in the snow at the scene, suggesting the shooter made little effort to retrieve the animal, which was simply left to waste after being killed.

A local resident has pledged $1,000 for information leading to the conviction of those responsible, with New Hampshire Operation Game Thief matching the amount to create a total $2,000 reward. No suspect descriptions or vehicle details beyond the tracks have been released publicly. Tips can be submitted confidentially to Conservation Officer Nicholas Masucci at [email protected] or New Hampshire State Police Troop F Dispatch at 603-846-3333.

🔫 Idaho to Move or Cull 100 Problem Elk Causing Over $1 Million in Farm Damage This Spring/Summer. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is addressing a growing problem with a non-migratory elk herd on private agricultural lands in Game Management Unit 32, west of Emmett in Payette County. Over the past five years, this herd has increased to around 350 elk, thriving on irrigated crops but causing chronic damage exceeding $1 million in 2025 alone across five landowners' properties. Despite extensive efforts—including general hunting seasons, landowner-permitted hunts, public access for hunting (with about 150 elk dropped last year), the population has continued to rise due to high reproduction rates and abundant food, outpacing reductions. State reimbursement for damages has fallen short, covering only about 35% of losses because of per-claim caps and an oversubscribed statewide depredation fund.

This week, IDFG presented a targeted plan to the Fish and Game Commission to reduce the damage by addressing about 100 of these resident elk specifically during spring and summer 2026. The approach includes trapping and translocating around 40 elk to public lands in other units where elk populations are below objectives. The remainder, estimated at around 60 elk, would be lethally removed via contract killers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services. The commission heard the proposal (with a presentation available online), and the project is planned to proceed in 2026.

Arkansas hunters surpass $1 million in donations to fight hunger: Donations to Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry from hunting and fishing license buyers officially topped the $1 million mark, thanks to more than $18,800 dollars collected in December. Read the full story.

Bipartisan bill seeks to enshrine hunters’ rights in Delaware constitution: A bipartisan group of state lawmakers has introduced a bill that would amend the state constitution to explicitly include Delawareans’ right to hunt, trap and fish. Read the full story.

Wild video shows Long Island cops respond to bank robbery only to find trapped deer thrashing inside: Suffolk County cops responding to a burglar alarm at a local bank got more than they could handle — a fully grown male deer trapped inside and trashing the place, with the whole thing caught on video. Read the full story.

Vermont hunters took more than 17,000 deer in 2025: The final number of deer taken in Vermont’s 2025 hunting seasons will not be available for a few more weeks, but the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says the final tally will be a little over 17,700 deer.  Read the full story.

Advocates say action needed to prevent wind projects from impeding moose in Nova Scotia: Earlier this month, the Moose Conservation Association of Nova Scotia (MCANS) sent letters to the chiefs of two First Nations in Pictou and Antigonish counties, as well as Antigonish MLA Michelle Thompson, regarding the proposed Eigg Mountain wind energy project.  Read the full story.

🐍 There are many reasons I don’t live in Australia. Firstly, it’s really far. Secondly, sh*t like this goes on over there.

And I thought we had a lot of snakes in Florida…

The pull of the weekend.

📸 by:@nick_marsillio

Oh, and one more thing…