In the event that the weekend wasn’t quite long enough for you, here’s to hoping that your favorite dispatch from the outdoor world can give you 5-or-so minutes to prep yourself for yet another week.
So, without further ado, let’s grab that coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and get caught up on the outdoor news and views from the past few days.
Here's what's worth reading about today:
All I see is corruption - Idaho Fish and Game Commissioner caught taking a few extra elk last season 🚔
Survey says - It’s spring survey season for North Dakota’s mulies 🦌
On the decline - West Virginia’s deer numbers are down by about 17% 📉
GPS-aided hunts - Wyoming is toying with the idea of using GPS to help hunters target specific elk 📍
Record season - NY bear hunters had a heck of a year 🐻
Shake it off - Watch as this desperate elk wants nothing more than to be rid of his headgear 🫨
RULES FOR THEE
IDAHO FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER CHARGED WITH HUNTING VIOLATIONS IN ILLEGAL ELK HUNT
In what sounds like yet another headline we definitely didn’t want to see on the timeline, the guy Idaho’s governor tapped to help set the state’s hunting rules, bag limits, and wildlife policy, was charged earlier this month for allegedly turning a Saturday in December into his own bonus elk season.
That’s right, Brody Harshbarger, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game commissioner representing the Upper Snake Region, is now up against seven misdemeanor charges related to the alleged unlawful killing of a pair of bull elk in Fremont County back on December 20th of last year.
According to court records and a conservation officer’s deposition, the case began when a tip was received via the Citizens Against Poaching hotline reporting individuals shooting at elk near the Spring Hollow boat ramp. Responding officers later located a six-point bull on private property and an antlerless bull on adjacent Bureau of Reclamation land…
QUICK HITS // FROM AROUND THE WEB
There will soon be new requirements to get hunting and fishing licenses in Texas: For Texans and residents of most other states, the process stays relatively straightforward. You’ll just need to show a valid, unexpired driver license or personal ID when buying a license through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Read the full story.
Spring mule deer survey begins in North Dakota: The state Game and Fish Department’s annual spring aerial mule deer survey is scheduled for April 1–24 in western North Dakota and typically takes about two weeks to complete, weather permitting. Read the full story.
Wisconsin DNR seeks volunteers to teach next generation of hunters: The DNR provides all necessary training, materials and equipment for instructors, according to a community announcement. To remain certified, instructors are required to teach one class every three years, although many choose to teach more. Read the full story.
WV hunters harvest 92,553 deer during 2025-2026 seasons, down 17 percent from prior year: West Virginia hunters harvested 92,553 white-tailed deer during the 2025-2026 seasons, a 17 percent decrease from the 2024 harvest of 111,646 and 14 percent below the five-year average of 107,434, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) announced. Read the full story.
Wyoming Game and Fish may use GPS tracking to have hunters target certain National Elk Refuge wapiti: The proposal is part of a push to shift hunting pressure away from long-distance migrants, which migrate to Yellowstone National Park and the Teton Wilderness, and toward Snake River Bottom elk, which spend the entire year in Jackson Hole. Read the full story.
NY DEC announces record-breaking 2025 bear harvest estimates: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that hunters harvested an estimated 1,759 black bears during the 2025-26 hunting seasons. According to DEC’s tracking of the annual bear harvest since 1955, the 2025 statewide bear harvest was second only to the 2003 season and Southern Zone estimates set a new harvest record. Read the full story.
VIDEO // SOME THINGS JUST HAVE TO BE SEEN
🫨 Just shake it off, Sammy. Watch as this bull has just about enough of that last antler hanging on for deer life.
It must feel incredibly unbalanced…
MONDAY MEME // EXECUTIVE ORDER NEEDED
WANDERINGS // A SFW GLIMPSE OF OUR BROWSER HISTORY
When it comes to watches, I’m painfully simple. Personally, I don’t want a chronograph or moon phase and I can give or take the date. But for those of you that might like a little watch complication, here are the ones that truly matter. This marine snail that engulfs its prey with its blob-like body and uses acid to drill through their shells is a touch of nightmare fuel. I had no idea why pool tables are green. And a collection of images of sleep. That’s it. Sleeping men, women and children to provide a little rest for the weary.
EYE CANDY // PICTURES > WORDS
Wakey, wakey.
📸 by @nick.sulzer
Oh, and one more thing…
