Headless Deer "Breadcrumbs" Lead Michigan DNR to Serial Roadside Poacher

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:

DESPICABLE
HEADLESS DEER “BREADCRUMBS” LEAD MICHIGAN DNR TO SERIAL ROADSIDE POACHER

Like following a string of clues on a treasure map that eventually leads to a place where “X” marks the spot, a series of headless whitetail deer carcasses became an unwitting trail of evidence that led Michigan conservation officers straight to a prolific poacher.

The case kicked off in rural Lenawee County late last year when a local hunter reported finding a pair of headless deer near his hunting property. Conservation Officers Andrew Monnich and Joel Hill responded to the initial complaint and, before long, the same tipster called back. On that call the helpful hunter reported that a third headless deer had been discovered in the same area—about 50 yards from the road, still fresh, and clearly shot with a small-caliber rifle…

💀 Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Wildlife Trafficking, Forfeits Over 100 Protected Animal Parts Including Polar Bear Skull and Narwhal Tusk. 40-year-old Adam Bied of Reading, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States—specifically illegally imported wildlife parts—and two counts of violating the Lacey Act, which prohibits trafficking in wildlife taken in violation of laws.

Bied began buying, selling, and trading parts from threatened and endangered species in January 2018, knowingly importing them without proper declaration, often from suppliers in Cameroon and Indonesia. Items were sometimes falsely labeled (e.g., as “decorative masks” or “rodents”) and shipped to his home. In July 2021, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents seized over 100 such items from his residence, storage unit, and vehicle. As part of his plea agreement, he consented to their civil forfeiture. The forfeited wildlife parts include orangutan skulls, tiger skulls, leopard skin/skulls/claw, jaguar skin/skull, African lion skulls, a polar bear skull, a narwhal tusk, otter skeleton, harp seal skull, pangolin skull, South American fur seal skull, elephant seal skull, babirusa skulls, mandrillus skulls, a wallaby skull, a jackal skull, and others from protected species.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office recommended an 8-month prison sentence, with sentencing scheduled for April 2, 2026. Each count carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison and fines up to $250,000. The seized items will likely go to the National Wildlife Property Repository for educational, research, or training purposes.

📱 Michigan Approves Optional Electronic Kill Tags for Hunters Starting March 2026. The Michigan Natural Resources Commission has approved an amendment allowing hunters to use electronic kill tags via the state's Hunt Fish mobile app for deer, bobcat, bear, fisher, marten, and otter, effective March 1, 2026. This builds on a successful digital pilot for turkey hunting that began in fall 2024. The change is optional, as physical paper tags remain available through license agents or mail, but hunters who purchase licenses digitally can opt for the electronic version to simplify the process.

To use it, hunters download the Hunt Fish app, buy the tag directly in-app, and after a successful harvest, open the app to validate the kill by answering a few questions (e.g., species details). No cell service is required at the moment of validation—data can be entered offline and syncs later when connected. For enforcement checks, hunters show the validated tag in the app; if the phone dies or is unavailable (e.g., carcass left at a buck pole), a durable physical tag with the license number in permanent ink can be attached. The shift aims to cut printing and distribution costs for the Michigan DNR, reduce inconvenience, and make tracking easier—addressing issues like the 27,475 lost/replaced paper licenses in 2024. Many other states already use similar digital systems, and while some hunters worry about potential abuse, the DNR notes records can detect irregularities.

🐻 Wyoming Rep. Urges Grizzly Bear Delisting, Citing Mauling Risks to Hunters and Overpopulation. U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.), chair of the House Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries, pressed U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik during a January 14th congressional hearing to delist grizzly bears from federal Endangered Species Act protections. Hageman highlighted repeated incidents of grizzly maulings on hunters in Wyoming and surrounding states. She argued that grizzlies have fully occupied prime habitat in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, leading to increased human conflicts as bears disperse into unsuitable areas.

Nesvik, a former Wyoming Game and Fish director, agreed the population has recovered after nearly 50 years of protection since 1975, estimating roughly 1,000 bears in the GYE and another 1,000 in Montana's Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem. He noted that bears are now venturing into developed zones like cornfields, posing risks of serious injury or death to hunters, anglers, and recreators. Nesvik supports delisting to enable state management and hopes for a final decision within two years. If delisted, Wyoming Game and Fish would likely open limited hunting seasons for grizzlies, something Hageman has long advocated for, including reintroducing the Grizzly Bear State Management Act to return authority to states and reduce federal oversight.

Rifle deer hunting season may start week earlier in Pa. this year: The possibility of moving Pennsylvania’s hunting seasons is being considered, including one option that moves the start of rifle deer season up one week before Thanksgiving. Read the full story.

Michigan approves year-round coyote hunting and trapping again: The Michigan Natural Resources Commission unanimously approved a measure that allows people to hunt coyotes any time of the year. Previously, there was a "quiet period" from mid-April to mid-July when coyote hunting was not allowed. Read the full story.

Rare, mostly white 'piebald' elk spotted on National Elk Refuge: The calf in question has “piebaldism,” a genetic condition in which an animal has patches of white hair mixed into its typical coat, said Wyoming Game and Fish spokesperson Raegin Akhtar. Read the full story.

Utah DWR Dedicated Hunter volunteers complete over 1,100 projects in 2025 to benefit wildlife: Last year, the participants in this important program completed a total of 62,417 volunteer hours toward fish- and wildlife-related projects. They also provided the equivalent of $2.4 million in equipment, labor and materials for use in projects.  Read the full story.

Louisiana DWF agents arrest LaSalle Parish man for night hunting violations: According to LDWF, while on patrol duty on January 2, agents saw a vehicle stopping several times on a levee around 11 p.m. LDWF agents then stopped the vehicle and found a freshly harvested deer in the truck bed.  Read the full story.

🚶‍♀️ Talk about situational awareness. This hiker wanders right past a fairly large bull moose and enjoys the view of the river without knowing what’s standing damn near right behind her.

I think they were both surprised…

The pull of the weekend.

📸 by: @foundwildproject

Oh, and one more thing…