Nearly 300 Bears Hit the Ground in Colorado 🐻

ven•a•tic: fond of or living by hunting

NORTH AMERICA’S MOST-READ OUTDOOR NEWSLETTER

Welcome to the Wednesday edition of the newsletter. If you’re still with us, that means you’ve made it to the middle of yet another week.

With that said, let’s all take a minute to grab a coffee or whiskey and get this mid-week dispatch out the door.

Here's what's worth reading about this morning:

IS HIBERNATION HERE YET?
NEARLY 300 BEARS HIT THE GROUND IN COLORADO BEFORE HUNTING SEASON EVEN STARTED

With 294 black bears on the ground by the last day of August, Colorado Parks and Wildlife have had their hands full this year and now, even with hunting seasons now underway, are not expecting any kind of slow down. In addition to state-led euthanizations, officials have relocated 98 bears this year as well while sightings and incidents rise to near unprecedented numbers. 

In comparison with last year’s numbers, the state is killing bears at nearly four times the rate they did last year and sightings have spiked by over 130 percent. Despite the death toll, Colorado is still estimating a healthy population of bears, pegging current numbers between 17,000 and 20,000 animals. What state biologists are pointing to now is not a magically multiplied population, but one that is desperately in search of forage after a failed mast…

Great Bend man scouting hunting grounds is found dead: The body of a Great Bend man was found in Central Kansas. The Ellsworth County Sheriff reported first responders assisted in the search for a 62 year old Great Bend man who was out scouting hunting grounds in Ellsworth County on walk-in hunting areas southwest of the City of Kanopolis, Kansas. Read the full story. 

New York State is Warning Duck and Goose Hunters: According to a post on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s website, avian influenza has been detected in New York State. Although the risk to people is considered low, New York State is asking hunters to make sure they follow certain precautions when handling waterfowl. Read the full story.

IDFG continues working with landowners to reduce big game depredations in the Magic Valley: Idaho Fish and Game staff in the Magic Valley Region continue to work with landowners to reduce big game depredation on agricultural crops as the growing season progresses. Consistent use of prevention measures has helped reduce or prevent chronic depredation in some areas of the region. However, new and ongoing conflicts continue to occur as big game animals move onto agricultural lands in search of food and cover. Read the full story.

Hiker injured in incident with bull moose in Larimer County: An injured hiker was airlifted to a hospital Sunday afternoon after an incident with a bull moose in Larimer County, according to the Larimer County Sheriff's Office. Read the full story.

WDFW reminds eastern Washington hunters of mandatory CWD testing: The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is reminding eastern Washington hunters to plan ahead for mandatory chronic wasting disease testing as fall big game hunting seasons get underway. Read the full story.

Utah community rallies to help teen with Down syndrome achieve her dream bear hunt: Seventeen-year-old Izzy Jackson has spent years serving others, running a lemonade stand in the Uinta Basin, and donating all of her profits to a local food bank. Her selfless efforts caught the attention of a Utah hunter who decided to give back in an extraordinary way by donating his coveted black bear tag and offering to mentor Izzy on her dream hunt.  Read the full story.

💪 The boys of September. If this doesn’t get your blood pumping, you’d better check your damn pulse.

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