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 adieu, 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:
A must read - Boone and Crockett’s latest report is a must read 💪
First Sunday in the books - PA hunters experienced their first Sunday hunt last weekend 🗓️
Youngins - Ohio lowers the age on senior hunting licenses 👴🏻
Something to drink to - Pheasant-themed beer released to support Pheasants Forever 🍺
Waiting on the boat - When the guards of the dock won’t let you off and the boat hasn’t arrived just yet 🐻
GREAT WORK BY B&C ON THIS
POACHERS ARE ROBBING US BLIND: NEW STUDY EXPOSES $1.4 BILLION IN ANNUAL COSTS
We write a lot of stories about poachers around here and as compelling as some of those stories might be, there’s a part of us that wishes they were, at times, harder to find. Heading up a team that sets out into the interwebs to uncover stories from the great outdoors on a daily basis, we find more poaching stories than I believe any of us would like to admit.
Whether it be those cases of mistaken identity, the fella busted for sneaking a backyard doe into the family freezer or the brazen influencer killing a trophy elk for social media clout, each and every one of those animals removed from the landscape illegally comes at a cost. And we as hunters are footing the bill.
In a groundbreaking effort to expose the shadowy underbelly of wildlife crime, the boys and girls at the Boone and Crockett Club, the venerable conservation organization founded by Teddy Rex himself, has released the results of its multi-year "Poach and Pay" Project. This comprehensive study, spanning five years of rigorous research, shines a light on the "dark figure" of poaching in the United States: which is the vast majority of illegal wildlife killings that evade detection…
QUICK HITS // FROM AROUND THE WEB
Pennsylvania hunters celebrate first legal Sunday hunting: This weekend marks a special occasion for hunters in Pennsylvania as the state officially allows hunting on Sundays for the first time, providing an extra day for enthusiasts to pursue their passion. Read the full story.
Minnesota archery hunters expected to have plenty of harvest opportunities this season: It’s the time of year when leaves turn color, the air gets crisp and hunters look forward to deer hunting opportunities as Minnesota’s archery deer season began on Sept. 13. Read the full story.
Ohio lowers the age for senior discounts on fishing and hunting licenses: Ohio is lowering the age to qualify for the senior discount on fishing and hunting licenses. Starting Sept. 30, the age for the discounted licenses will drop from 66 to 65. Read the full story.
Pheasant-themed beer hits the shelves in key hunting states: The American lager is a collaboration between Minnesota-based brewery Grain Belt Beer and Pheasants Forever. Sales of the beer will support wildlife conservation efforts from Pheasants Forever throughout the Midwest. Read the full story.
Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission approves changes to mule deer hunt areas starting in 2026: Oregon’s Fish and Wildlife Commission has approved a major change to the boundaries of some mule deer hunts in Eastern and Central Oregon starting in 2026, and to reduce the number of mule deer tags by about 9% compared with 2025. Read the full story.
VIDEO // SOME THINGS JUST HAVE TO BE SEEN
🙅 For those moments when all you can do is just wait for the boat. Watch as these gentlemen have no choice but to wait for their boat to (slowly) arrive and pick them up.
There’s no going back where they came from…
MONDAY MEME // OPPORTUNITIES ALL AROUND US
WANDERINGS // A SFW GLIMPSE OF OUR BROWSER HISTORY
Bugs, fire and disease wreak havoc on trees of all kinds. But redwoods? They are survivors, which is one of the reasons they are so big and tall, despite the fact that maybe they shouldn’t be. There is a retro car museum in Wyoming that doubles as a unique place to stay. I spend a lot of time sitting. More time sitting than I ever thought I would, honestly. Which begs the question, if sitting is the new smoking, how much exercise do we need to do to offset the damage done by desk jockeying all day long? And a few way octopuses use their arms just like we do.
EYE CANDY // PICTURES > WORDS
Good Monday morning.
📸 : @alvarovaliente
📍 Monument Valley
Oh, and one more thing…
