Police Warn of Door-to-Door Deer Poachers Posing as Texas A&M Experts👮‍♂️

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:

BOLD STRATEGY
HILL COUNTRY POLICE WARN OF FAKE TEXAS A&M RESEARCHERS TARGETING DEER ON PRIVATE LAND

Getting access to good, quality private hunting land is no easy feat. It often requires a whole lot of door knocking and rejection, which has apparently prompted some would-be scammers to take a slightly different approach. According to Kerrville police, residents in this quiet Texas Hill Country town are on high alert after a small group of imposters posing as Texas A&M University researchers started knocking on doors. Claiming to study chronic wasting disease in local deer populations, the apparent researchers then boldly ask for permission to shoot the animals on the landowners property.

The Kerrville Police Department issued an official public warning on Thursday, urging homeowners to be vigilant. “These individuals are not with Texas A&M University and have no authority to be in the area,” the department stated…

🦃 Georgia Teen Cleared of Felony for Shooting “Pet” Turkey on Family Land. A 17-year-old Georgia hunter was found not guilty of felony aggravated animal cruelty after a six-month legal battle stemming from shooting a turkey on his family’s 11-acre property this past spring. The teen, who was 16 at the time, harvested what he believed was his first ever wild gobbler, only to be accused days later by his former high-school teacher of killing her domesticated pet bird. The charge, filed in Harris County juvenile court, divided the small community of Waverly Hall and hinged on whether the turkey was the teacher’s pet and whether the teen knowingly shot a domestic animal.

On Tuesday, the juvenile court judge ruled in favor of the teen, finding insufficient evidence to prove malice or prior knowledge beyond a reasonable doubt. Georgia law distinguishes aggravated cruelty (a felony) from simple cruelty (a misdemeanor) based on intent. With juvenile records sealed and the family declining further comment beyond confirming the verdict, the case closed without public details of the trial. The teen’s defense successfully cast doubt on ownership and awareness, allowing the young hunter to walk free after a case that began with a routine hunt and escalated into a felony accusation.

🐻 Montana Hunters Survive Grizzly Charge, Kill Two Bears in Self-Defense Near Seeley Lake. Two Montana hunters escaped unharmed after a tense encounter with three charging grizzly bears on Wednesday while retrieving a harvested mule deer buck just east of Seeley Lake. The pair, about two miles from the trailhead, spotted the bears roughly 100 yards away running directly toward them. Despite yelling and waving their arms, the bears didn’t slow down. One hunter fired in self-defense, possibly killing two of the grizzlies, while the third retreated toward the deer carcass. The hunters immediately left the area and reported the incident to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks as a defensive action.

Authorities have since posted warning signs at the Pyramid Pass Trailhead, and FWP reminds hunters to stay bear-aware during fall hunting season. While no statement has been made, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is, in all likelihood, investigating the incident as we speak.

🦌 Tennessee Poacher Busted After Killing 15-point, Double Drop Tine Buck on Prison Grounds. When a buck of that caliber struts his stuff on forbidden hunting land, the temptation, for some, can be too much to bear. Such was the case for a 53-year-old man from Henning, Tennessee, who has recently pleaded guilty to poaching not one, but three trophy bucks on the grounds of the West Tennessee State Penitentiary, where hunting is strictly prohibited. Terry Sellers faced charges of two counts of illegal possession and one count of hunting without permission in Lauderdale County General Sessions Court, stemming from an incident reported in early January 2025. The investigation began when TWRA Lieutenant Tim Ward received tips about a distinctive 15-point, double drop-tine deer frequently spotted near the penitentiary. After the deer’s sudden disappearance, an investigation resulted in witness interviews and a court-issued ping warrant on Sellers' cell phone which later confirmed his presence and the unlawful kills on the property.

The three bucks, boasting a combined Boone and Crockett gross score of 491 5/8 inches, were declared contraband by Judge Scott Lovelace and will now serve as educational displays for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. In addition to the privilege revocation, Sellers must pay $17,500 in restitution to TWRA and $850 to a taxidermist.

2025 Vermont moose hunt results: The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department issued 180 moose hunting permits this year, resulting in 68 moose harvested between the October 1-7 archery season and the October 18-23 regular season.  Moose hunting was only allowed in Wildlife Management Unit E, in northeastern Vermont. Read the full story.

Hunting down in Southeast Ohio amid ongoing deer disease outbreak: Amid an ongoing outbreak of deer disease, the number of deer checked during the first six weekends of bowhunting season in Southeast Ohio this year was substantially lower than in years prior. Read the full story.

What Minnesota hunters can expect this season: More than 400,000 deer hunters are preparing for the firearms deer season, which opens on Saturday, November 8. The season offers opportunities to spend time outdoors with friends and family, find adventure and put venison in the freezer. Read the full story.

Maine hunter bags massive 252-pound buck called ‘Big Hoof’: Robbie Flint shot a massive 252-pound buck nicknamed “Big Hoof” at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday in Lincoln County. Read the full story.

Tennessee to Conduct CWD Sampling in White-Tailed Deer Across State on First Day of Muzzleloader Season: The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) will be operating chronic wasting disease (CWD) sampling stations across the state on the opening day of the 2025 muzzleloader season, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, to monitor the presence of CWD in white-tailed deer populations. Read the full story.

7 hunters share what it's like to successfully hunt Pennsylvania's elk with rare chances: With Pennsylvania’s general elk season underway, several hunters have shared their once in a lifetime hunt experiences pursuing bull and cow elk. Read the full story.

👅 When your truck gets an impromptu moose-wash. There must have been some salty residue on that GMC as these moose in Grand Teton certainly took a liking to it.

But can we talk about how close that fella is with the camera though…

The pull of the weekend.

📸 by: @fowlmindeddylan

Oh, and one more thing…