Preliminary Findings Point to Discarded Fireworks in Alabama Hunt Camp Fire 🙏

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:

THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
PRELIMINARY FINDINGS POINT TO DISCARDED FIREWORKS IN FATAL ALABAMA HUNTING CAMP FIRE

Preliminary findings from the Alabama State Fire Marshal’s Office indicate the deadly blaze was accidental and caused by discarded fireworks. Investigators determined that the fireworks retained enough heat to ignite combustible materials on an ATV where they had been carried earlier, with flames then spreading from the parked vehicle to the hunting camp structure. Propane was ruled out as a factor, and the investigation by multiple agencies remains ongoing.

The victims were 21-year-old Mark “McNeil” Mostellar and 19-year-old James “Walter” Hensley II, both University of Alabama business majors and Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity brothers from Mobile. They were remembered by coaches and the community as promising young men and athletes with bright futures. The group of four friends had been on a hunting trip at the time of the incident.

The fire broke out around 1:30 a.m. on July 1, 2026, at a camp off Stowers Timberland Road west of Evergreen in Conecuh County. Two of the young men were unable to escape and were pronounced dead at the scene, while the other two made it out and were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Another severe winter hampers UP deer herd: This past winter, with its heavy snowfall, marks the third severe winter in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in the past five years and could significantly affect the peninsula’s white-tailed deer population. Wildlife biologists from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources conducted field necropsies of vehicle-killed deer in late winter and spring and documented widespread signs of starvation. Read the full story.

Nevada Department of Wildlife captures elk to collect health data, agency says: As part of an ongoing investigation into seasonal elk mortality syndrome, the Department of Wildlife biologists subdued elk in Elko, Nye, Lander, Lincoln, and White Pine counties to collect health data, according to an agency Facebook post. During the capture, biologists conducted liver biopsies and ultrasounds. Read the full story.

Alligator hunting permit applications now available in Arkansas: Applications for 2026 Arkansas alligator hunting permits are now available through the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission website.  Residents have until midnight on July 31 to apply for the permit, which is required to pursue alligators on public land.  Read the full story.

Casper Man Rescues Baby Pronghorn Stuck In Remote Cattle Guard: A Casper man says he felt fortunate to rescue a baby pronghorn who got stuck in a cattle guard on Tuesday. He said by posting the video, he hopes he can reduce the stigma around hunting and hunters. "The majority of us really care about wildlife," he said. Read the full story.

Bullet fired into Douglassville home leads to charges against raccoon hunter: Police say projectile traveled upward from nearby Amity Township field where officer encountered two men hunting after dark in early January. Read the full story.

Kenai woman seriously injured in bear mauling, troopers say: A Kenai woman was mauled after she encountered a brown bear with cubs early Thursday morning and fired several shotgun rounds at it, Alaska State Troopers say. The woman, who was not identified, let out her two dogs in the area of Karluk Avenue and Bore Tide Drive just before 5 a.m. Thursday, troopers said in an online statement. The brown bear, with two cubs, climbed over a fence into her front yard. Read the full story.

Action Needed: Attend SCDNR Public Meetings on Deer Hunting with Dogs: The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is hosting three public meetings in July and August to gather input on hunting deer with dogs. It is vital for our community to attend these meetings to ensure state officials hear from active hunters, not just anti-hunting individuals and groups. Read the full story.

🦈 Sometimes you’ve gotta help these sharks clean their teeth. Watch as this spearfisherman helps this mako with a quick floss of his teeth while totally keeping his cool.

My trigger finger would have been awfully twitchy...

The pull of the weekend.

📸 by @dirtlord

 Oh, and one more thing…