New Study Reveals Rubs and Scrapes Glow Like Neon Signs to Deer 🕶️

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:

TRIPPY
NEW STUDY REVEALS RUBS AND SCRAPES GLOW LIKE NEON SIGNS TO DEER

The University of Georgia’s Deer Lab latest study reveals something of a mind-bending revelation from the whitetail woods. According to their findings, as published by our friends over at the National Deer Association, whitetail bucks are cruising through the woods at twilight, guided by rubs and scrapes that glow under UV light like some kind of reflective highway marker. This new visual flex that we humans are unable to see is rewriting a little bit of what we thought we knew about the radiance of the whitetail rut.

Yes, as it turns out, deer aren’t simply sniffing their way through the woods—they’re seeing the world in wavelengths we can’t touch. Unlike humans, whose eye lenses block most UV light below 400 nanometers (nm), deer are about 20 times more sensitive to these wavelengths. Their dichromatic vision, tuned primarily to blue and green, makes them adept at spotting details during crepuscular hours (between dawn and dusk) when UV rays dominate…

📸 Photos Released of the Four Bulls Poached in Southern Colorado. Officials have released photos surrounding the shocking poaching case where four trophy-sized bull elk were illegally shot and left to rot in southern Colorado’s Las Animas County, a prized hunting region near the New Mexico border. Labeled as the worst in one official’s career, it’s been revealed that the elk that were illegally shot were of trophy-sized caliber. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is now stating that they suspect the killings occurred close to roads, indicating deliberate poaching rather than accidental shootings.

The perpetrators face severe consequences, including potential fines up to $45,000, charges like hunting without tags, trespassing, and wanton waste, and possible lifetime hunting bans across states via the Interstate Game Violators Compact. Additional charges may involve illegal night hunting or use of artificial lights. CPW is seeking public tips through Operation Game Thief, offering a $1,000 reward and hunting benefits for information leading to arrests or citations.

🙏 California Sheriff’s Lieutenant Killed in Tragic Idaho Hunting Accident. A hunting accident has claimed the life of 48-year-old Riverside County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Nathan Kaas. The incident occurred last weekend while Kaas was preparing to hunt mule deer with a friend in Southern Idaho’s Caribou-Targhee National Forest. A rifle accidentally discharged as it was removed from its case in their vehicle, striking Kaas in the thigh and causing severe blood loss. Despite efforts, Kaas, a 25-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, died before paramedics could reach him.

Kaas, who joined the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office in 2000 and rose to Lieutenant over the Emergency Response Team, was remembered by the Riverside Sheriff’s Association as a devoted husband, father of three, and a man of deep faith whose service to his community left a lasting impact. Support options for Kaas’ surviving partner and children are available through a designated link provided by the association.

🤞 13 Lucky Hunters Gear Up for Wisconsin’s 2025 Elk Season. Wisconsin’s eighth elk hunting season since the species’ 1995 reintroduction kicks off this weekend, with just 13 lucky hunters randomly selected from over 26,000 applicants. These hunters will pursue five antlerless and four bull elk in the Black River Elk Range, as announced by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

"Both elk herds experienced strong recruitment through the winter, and staff documented a successful spring calving period," said Christina Kizewski, DNR Central Elk Herd biologist. "With the introduction of antlerless harvest opportunities in the Black River Elk Range, the department is looking to strike a balance between a strong, robust elk population and managing human-elk conflicts."

Hunters interested in the 2026 season can apply starting March 1, 2026, for a $10 fee, with $7 of that ear-tagged for supporting elk management, habitat restoration, and research.

What you need to know about the 2025 deer hunting season in Illinois: The firearm deer hunting season in Illinois is a little more than a month away, while archery season continues through Nov. 20. Read the full story.

Millions of dollars pour into South Dakota for pheasant hunting season: Last year's season saw the most birds harvested in a decade, according to GFP's Upland Outlook. Other popular small game, like prairie grouse, had their highest numbers in 25 years. More birds were harvested in South Dakota over two weeks of October 2024 than in any other state’s entire season. Read the full story.

A quick and dirty guide to elk hunting in Idaho this year: Sure, some might argue that the peak of elk season spans the first and last days of September while you traipse around the woods with a compound bow in your hand, listening for bugles. I’m not going to dispute that; however, there are several opportunities throughout the fall to go after elk, and the point of this quick and dirty elk hunting forecast is to help guide hunters who may be picking up the rifle or muzzleloader later in the season. Read the full story.

Michigan hunting suffering from severe drought conditions impacting state: Michigan's worst drought in a decade is starting to impact more than water levels and the state's trees. According to the Department of Natural Resources, hunting conditions are now suffering due to the drop in rainfall.  Read the full story.

Another Wyoming elk-hunting area reports CWD: An adult female elk in Elk Hunt Area 116 tested positive for the fatal neurologic infection, marking the area's first case. Read the full story.

Idaho Fish and Game warns AI search results may get hunters in trouble: Fish and Game’s Roger Phillips said the department found instances where AI results presented outdated information, or pulled figures from proposal documents rather than final policies. It also found AI confused Idaho regulations with rules from other states, especially those with similarly named landmarks. Read the full story.

😲 When your buddy asks “HOW big?” This puts a lot of things into perspective.

Ain’t no way I’m taking him on…

The pull of the weekend.

📸 by: @ovrlndcampers

Oh, and one more thing…