Father and Son Duo Charged with Killing Family Dogs During Deer Hunt 🤦

Welcome to the Veteran’s Day edition of the newsletter. Before we get started, we’d simply like to offer a word of thanks to all of those that have served this great country. We wouldn’t be where we are without you and for that, we remain eternally grateful.

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Now, as 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 Veteran’s Day has to offer.

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

NO EXCUSE
FATHER-SON DUO CHARGED WITH KILLING FAMILY DOGS DURING INDIANA DEER HUNT

Heading out into the great outdoors is undoubtedly a great family pastime for many of us. Unfortunately for some, it can bring out the worst, and from the way things are sounding, such was the case in this story coming out of Indiana. 

A father and son are now facing felony charges after allegedly shooting and killing two beloved family dogs with a bow and arrow while deer hunting on private property. John Lowe, 58, and his 22-year-old son, Hayden Lowe, both of La Porte, were arrested following the October 21 incident that has shocked the local community and reignited debates over pet safety during hunting season.

The victims — Josie, a beagle, and Bear, a chocolate Labrador retriever — were out roaming near the hunting site when they were fatally struck by arrows raining down from 20-feet above…

🐏 Grand Forks Hunter Shatters North Dakota Bighorn Record with 197-Inch Monster Ram. It was Halloween morning and the opening day of North Dakota’s bighorn sheep season, when Grand Forks hunter Nick Schmitz shot a massive ram in the rugged Little Missouri National Grasslands that green-scored 197 6/8 inches, shattering the state record by roughly 10 inches. The 10-year-old, 264-pound ram, which state big game biologist Brett Wiedmann had tracked for years and called “arguably the greatest hunting trophy in North Dakota’s history,” was taken with a .270 rifle at 347 yards after a tense, weather-plagued stalk through snow and sleet. Schmitz, hunting with his father, brother-in-law, and friend David Suda (who held the previous record at 186 3/8 inches), missed once before connecting on the second and third shots, sending the ram tumbling down a steep ridge.

The group worked until nearly 10:30 p.m. to quarter and pack out the animal in the dark, meeting Wiedmann after midnight in Grassy Butte for scoring and registration. Suda, who was along to guide his friend, called the experience “once in a million lifetimes”. Joking that he’ll likely need a bigger house, Schmitz is planning a full-body mount for his new trophy. The ram’s size along with the irony of Suda watching his own record fall (literally) make this one of the most remarkable hunts in North Dakota history.

🐻 South Carolina Bear Harvest Hits Record Numbers Amid Looser Rules, Sparking Trophy Hunt Debate. Palmetto State hunters have set a new record this fall, killing 237 black bears amid loosened regulations that expanded hunting zones, extended dog-tracking seasons, and allowed baiting in coastal counties. Since 2011, the state has opened new areas in the Piedmont and coast, increased dog use from one to two weeks in the mountains, and seen the number of dog-assisted hunters rise from under 1,000 to over 1,600. DNR big game coordinator Charles Ruth says the rising kills signal a growing bear population, estimated at around 2,000 statewide, with no evidence of decline despite over 2,200 bears taken since 2000.

As many of us know, the news of a successful hunt is bound to stir up some controversy. Animal welfare groups like Humane World for Animals and Bear Defenders came out in force, condemning the practice as cruel trophy hunting, arguing baiting and dog packs undermine fair chase and that human-bear conflicts should be managed by securing trash and food sources, rather than lethal removal. Hunters defend it as tradition, population control, and a way of life in the mountains, where families like 24-year-old Dalton Hudson—whose 500-plus-pound bear was the season’s largest—have pursued bears with dogs for generations. A two-year Clemson University bear census is now underway to clarify population numbers and line up quota numbers for 2026 and beyond.

🙏 Boise Hunter Found Dead After Stranded Overnight in Remote Deadwood Area. A hunter was found dead in a remote area of Boise County, Idaho, on Saturday, after becoming stranded during a solo deer hunt in the Deadwood area. The Boise County Sheriff's Office identified the man as 52-year-old Eric Wayne Keller of Boise, who had set out alone on Friday, November 7th, for what was supposed to be a day hunt. When he failed to return by evening, family members reported him missing, prompting a search that began around 8 p.m. that night and involved deputies, search-and-rescue teams, and volunteers navigating steep, rugged terrain in cold, dark conditions.

Rescuers located Keller's truck first, then spotted him about a mile away near the rim of Deadwood Creek, but deteriorating weather— including snow and high winds—prevented immediate access. The search was suspended overnight, resuming Saturday morning with helicopters and ground teams. Keller was reached around noon and pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy is pending, but preliminary investigations suggest exposure to the elements as the likely cause, given the sub-freezing temperatures and his isolation without a cellphone signal. Sheriff David Klarkowski emphasized the dangers of solo hunting in such areas: "This is a tragic reminder to always hunt with a partner and carry emergency gear." Keller's family described him as an avid outdoorsman, and a GoFundMe has been set up for support.

😳 When your hunting interferes with the rut. Watch as this bow hunter is dialed into the doe action in front of him when suddenly to his right, a buck suddenly decides to get in on the chase.

Hell of an experience…

Oh, and one more thing…