Oklahoma AG Dismisses Tribal Hunting Case, Halts Prosecutions 👨‍⚖️

The weekend might not be here just yet, but your favorite dispatch from the great outdoors is. 

So grab your jack-o-lantern, 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:

CASE DISMISSED
OKLAHOMA AG DISMISSES TRIBAL HUNTING CASE, HALTS PROSECUTIONS ON RESERVATION LANDS

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has dismissed a high-profile criminal case against a Choctaw Nation member charged with hunting without a state license, effectively ending state prosecutions of tribal citizens exercising hunting rights on reservation lands using tribal permits.

The decision, announced Thursday, applies to Choctaw citizen Shawn Robertson, who was arrested last week in Pushmataha County for allegedly hunting without a state-issued license. Drummond declared that his office will now take over and immediately dismiss all similar cases against tribal members hunting or fishing on Indian Country under tribal authority…

🚔 Missouri Men Charged in Poaching Case After Headless Deer Dumped, Social Media Photos Lead to Bust. Three Missouri men are now facing misdemeanor charges after conservation agents uncovered a poaching operation in Shannon County that left three headless deer carcasses dumped along County Road 651 on September 1st. Blaine T. Lawson, 29, led agents to a shed containing 12 deer heads, including the three matching social media photos, along with a .308 rifle, turkey beard, and deer tenderloins. He admitted, “I can’t change what I have done,” and faces charges for illegal possession, waste of wildlife, and taking deer in closed season.

Stanley Stricklin and Austin Duncan, who posed in the photos, were also charged with illegal possession of deer parts. The case broke open when an informant tipped off the Missouri Department of Conservation with screenshots from social media. Lawson and Duncan are scheduled for court on November 18; while Stricklin’s date is still pending.

🐺 Wisconsin Enacts Stricter Wolf Hunting Rules Effective Nov. 1 After 2021 Overharvest Backlash. Wisconsin's new gray wolf hunting and trapping rules take effect November 1st and introduce stricter controls following the controversial 2021 season that saw hunters kill 218 wolves, which ended up being roughly 83% over the state quota of 119. The updated regulations, approved by the Natural Resources Board in 2023 but delayed two years by Republican-led legislative review, require kills to be reported within 8 hours, limit tags to specific management zones, protect wolf dens, restrict dog training on wolves, and ban telemetry gear for tracking. The rules aim to give the DNR better oversight of harvest numbers and locations in future seasons, should wolves lose federal Endangered Species Act protection.

The rules apply only if wolves are delisted and returned to state management, as required by a 2012 Wisconsin law. A recent state Supreme Court ruling cleared the final legislative hurdle by affirming committees can review but not indefinitely block administrative rules. Despite requests from Sen. Rob Stafsholt to loosen reporting times and allow statewide tags, the DNR declined changes. With an estimated 1,226 wolves in Wisconsin and ongoing federal appeals over ESA listing, wolf management remains a divisive issue while attempting to balance over $300K in livestock depredation claims against calls for broader species recovery.

🐟 Chinook Salmon Reach Upper Klamath Lake Tributaries for First Time in Over a Century After Dam Removal. Chinook salmon are making their way towards some historic milestones in the Klamath River Basin, with tagged fish detected in the Williamson and Sprague Rivers, as well as tributaries on the west side of Upper Klamath Lake, marking their return to spawning grounds blocked for over 100 years. Following the 2024 removal of four dams, a salmon was first recorded passing Keno Dam on September 24th of this year, followed by sightings at the Link River fish ladder earlier this month.

The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife and The Klamath Tribes are expanding real-time monitoring with cameras and radio tags to track the salmon’s progress. “It is incredible to be a part of this historic return,” said ODFW project leader Mark Hereford. All salmon fishing remains closed in the Oregon Klamath Basin to support recovery, with additional protections like early closures in Spencer Creek and seasonal angling bans in key tributaries from November 1 to May 21.

Michigan lawmakers propose starting deer hunting season early due to SNAP pause: A group of five Democratic lawmakers in the State House is calling for firearm deer season to be extended this year to help feed Michigan families in need. Read the full story.

Hunters bagging Minnesota grouse at a good clip despite signs of a waning population: Minnesota’s ruffed grouse hunting — widely considered the best in the nation — appears to be holding up this fall despite signs of natural population decline for the state’s most popular game bird. Read the full story.

Wisconsin hunters harvested more than 3K bears this hunting season: Hunters in Wisconsin killed 3,724 bears during the 2025 bear season, roughly on par with the state’s annual five-year average. That’s according to preliminary data from the state Department of Natural Resources. Read the full story.

Bull elk illegally killed, left to waste: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens are seeking information on an unlawfully killed six-by-six bull elk left to waste on private property south of Musselshell. The incident occurred on private land off Hawk Creek Road. Read the full story.

Tennessee law to allow drones for deer recovery, sparking debate over hunting ethics: A new Tennessee law allows the Tennessee Federal Wildlife Commission (TFWC) to create a set of rules for using drones to recover wounded deer. While some say it will lead to more efficient hunting practices, others argue it could be a problem for nearby property owners.  Read the full story.

Hunter mauled by grizzly bear west of Calgary: "The bear involved in the attack was shot by the survivor's hunting partner and is believed to be deceased," said provincial spokesperson Sheena Campbell in a statement. "A second bear, age unknown, fled the scene after the encounter." Read the full story.

🎃 Having a not-so spook-tacular time. Halloween’s not for everyone, even 1,000-lb bull moose.

Happy Halloween!

The pull of the weekend.

📸 by: @stevendrakephoto

Oh, and one more thing…