New 3D Antler Scanning Tech Takes Aim at Tradition 🧑‍💻

I’m currently at the “it’s Thursday already?” phase of the workweek and am unsure as to whether or not that is a good thing as of yet.

With that in mind, let’s all take a minute to grab a coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and get this Thursday morning dispatch out the door.

Here's what's worth reading about today:

LET’S NOT FORGET OUR ROOTS
NEW 3D ANTLER SCANNING TECH TAKES AIM AT TRADITION

Hunters, fresh from the fields of Michigan with their hard-earned trophies, might soon be trading tape measures for high-tech scanners when it comes to antler scoring. Dynamic Metrology Services, a West Michigan firm, is rolling out its micron-precise 3D antler scanning service just in time for the 2025 firearm opener by offering scans for a mere $50 a pop. But this isn't just about bragging rights; it's a digital leap that could reshape how we measure, memorialize, and maybe even judge the whitetail giants of the wild.

At its core, 3D antler scanning uses advanced optical systems to capture a full, high-resolution digital model of a deer's rack. Nick Surman, a metrology applications engineer at Dynamic Metrology, describes the process as "game-changing simplicity." Hunters drop off their antlers at a partner facility, where a scanner that is capable of detecting details as fine as a single hair, zips through a non-contact sweep in under five minutes…

⛓️‍💥 Sheridan Buck’s Antler Hangs by a Thread After Rare Pedicle Break. In Sheridan, Wyoming, a young mule deer buck has become an unlikely local celebrity after suffering a dramatic and rare antler injury earlier this month. The buck's right antler snapped off at the base of the pedicle—the bony protrusion on the skull from which antlers grow—leaving it dangling precariously toward his face, held only by a flap of skin. Eyewitnesses like resident Clay Stoner and photographer Tim Doolin first spotted the anomaly in their backyards, initially thinking that perhaps the deer was prematurely shedding its antlers. The buck, part of Sheridan's urban deer herd that coexists with residents amid occasional antics like holiday light tangles, appears otherwise healthy and navigates the creek-adjacent areas without issue, though the loose antler bounces as he moves.

University of Wyoming biologist Kevin Monteith, also a taxidermist, explained the rarity of such a base break, which requires immense force he believed was most likely caused by either a vehicle strike or a rut-related fight with another buck. While the injury won't threaten the deer's overall survival, Monteith predicts a permanent deformity: once the current antler falls off, next year's regrowth will be severely misshapen due to the damaged pedicle. However, extreme complications like downward growth interfering with eating are "very, very rare" and unlikely in this case.

🚔 Ontario Hunters Socked with $8K Fine for Botched Party Moose Hunt. In northwestern Ontario, four hunters have been hit with a collective $8,000 in fines for violating moose hunting regulations during a hunt in Wildlife Management Unit 15B. Conservation officers inspected the group after they harvested a cow moose and discovered the kill didn't comply with party hunting rules, which require all participants to maintain immediate and reliable communication during the harvest to ensure ethical and coordinated efforts. The case, heard in the Ontario Court of Justice, underscores the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry's crackdown on such infractions, with no names released but the penalties aimed at deterring group miscommunications that could lead to over-harvesting.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of enforcement in the region, where moose populations are carefully managed through tag allotments and seasonal restrictions to promote sustainability. The MNRF emphasized that party hunting is permitted but strictly regulated to prevent waste and unfair advantages; violations like this can result in fines, license suspensions, and mandatory retraining.

🤑 Wyoming Moves to Let Ranchers Sell Hunting Tags. Wyoming lawmakers are advancing a contentious proposal to allow ranchers and large landowners to sell their special hunting tags for elk, deer, and pronghorn, potentially turning wildlife access into a pay-for-play market. The bill, which passed the Joint Agriculture Committee on a 7–5 vote, would make “landowner licenses”, which are currently issued free to qualifying owners of 160+ acres, transferable for profit. Supporters like Sen. Laura Pearson (R-Kemmerer) argue it creates a fair revenue stream to offset wildlife damage, such as the $60,000 in alfalfa one Cokeville farmer claims elk consume annually. Landowner Jason Thornock called existing compensation programs “a joke” and urged the change, saying, “Let me get something out of that $60,000 I’m putting into the wildlife.”

Opponents, including public hunters and Wyoming Game and Fish officials, warn it will shrink opportunities for everyday residents and fuel out-of-state trophy hunting. Currently, about 3,600 landowner tags are issued yearly but many of them go unused. Director Angi Bruce predicts demand will spike if they become sellable, further tightening the lottery pool for locals. Backcountry Hunters and Anglers lobbyist Sabrina King called it “a pay-for-play system that hurts the public hunter,” noting similar programs in Nevada and Colorado already feature tags marketed for $12,000 to $30,000. Despite 2,100+ public comments opposing transferable tags in past debates, the bill now heads to the full Legislature in February 2026, alongside two competing proposals to cap landowner licenses, which Game and Fish currently lacks authority to limit.

🫎 These guys are YUUGGE! I don’t give these massive beasts enough credit - truly magnificent animals.

Imagine this thing walking up on you…

🐕‍🦺 The History of The Grand National Grouse Championship: The first bird dog field trial in the United States was held in 1874 near Memphis, Tennessee, and over the last 150 years they’ve seen continuous transformation. My interest lies in the cover dogs, those that showcase themselves in the woods to judges. They’re the only group who, since inception and still today, run solely on wild birds. The first American grouse trial took place in 1913 at Indian Creek, Pennsylvania. Entries grew in ensuing years, and momentum gained as the trial location moved throughout Pennsylvania. It later took on the name of, “The National Grouse Championship,” and for decades was touted as the most prestigious Cover Dog event. Read the full story.

💍 Love At First Elk: Nuptials and Perseverance: It all started over a year ago. I invited my wife Dusty, my girlfriend at the time, to come with me for a couple days of my archery deer hunt in southern New Mexico. Surprisingly, she said she had a few days off from flying (Dusty is a flight nurse) and said she wanted to see what this hunting thing was all about! I knew I had a golden opportunity here and I needed to make this an awesome experience. Although camp was simple, the days were hot and there were no deer in sight. Despite this, we both had a great time. She was enthusiastic toward the prospect of future hunts and although I had already decided, I knew I had to marry her. I proposed and she said yes!

As the months and engagement went on, the New Mexico big game application deadline was fast approaching. After applying for every species, I asked Dusty if she wanted to apply for the draw.   Read the full story.

🦆 The Duck Hunters : Duck season was due to open the following morning. We were late getting out of work and slightly tired when we got to Home Base, the hunting camp in the backwaters of Merrymeeting Bay.

That something was wrong was easy to see, the door was open, the lock smashed. The old Jeep was hardly stopped before the driver’s door was open with such a swing that the canvas hinges were strained with a force that they weren’t designed for.

The Ole Man was inside in a flash. I was just through the door when He roared, “I knew it! I knew it! The blasted apes took my stove. I hope it blows up, or smokes every time they light a fire.” It was one of His favorite possessions, one that rivaled the Jeep or His L.C. Smith or His Leonard fly rod. Read the full story.

Oh, and one more thing…