Welcome to the Wednesday edition of the newsletter. If you’re still with us, that means you’ve made it to the middle of yet another week.
With that said, let’s all take a minute to grab a coffee or whiskey and get this mid-week dispatch out the door.
Here's what's worth reading about this morning:
Nailed - Washington poacher’s mental health “loophole” collapses ✊
Back to school - Pennsylvania is yet another state looking to bring hunter ed back to schools 🏫
VoterHunter ID - You’re going to need proof of residency to buy a license in the Lone Star State from now on 🪪Non-res changes - More changes coming for non-res waterfowlers in North Dakota 🦆
Bring your moose to work day - Reporting for duty, sir 🫎
JUSTICE IS SERVED
FELON WHO GUNNED DOWN ELK HERD FINALLY HEADS TO PRISON AFTER MENTAL HEALTH “LOOPHOLE” FALLS APART
Last November, a convicted felon named Richard Loren Pratt walked out of a Washington courtroom a free man after admitting he’d gunned down at least five cow elk on private land, left the carcasses to rot, and did it all while illegally packing heat. As confusing as that statement might be, it was all made possible by an enlightened justice system in Washington state that offered him the shiny new Mental Health Sentencing Alternative—a bureaucratic participation trophy designed to treat poaching as a cry for help rather than, you know, felony wildlife slaughter with a side of illegal possession of firearms.
Yes, despite Pratt pleading guilty to first-degree unlawful big game hunting (a spree-killing charge involving three or more animals), unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and wasting wildlife, Superior Court Judge John C. Skinder opted for three years of community custody, mandatory mental health treatment, a $10,000 fine, and a 10-year hunting suspension instead of the recommended prison time.
That soft sentence sent a wave of anger through the outdoors community and straight into the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife who worked tirelessly to secure a plea deal they hoped would result in actual prison time.
Thankfully, now four months down the road, reality has reasserted itself with the subtlety of the high-powered rifle Pratt used to carelessly blast those elk…
QUICK HITS // FROM AROUND THE WEB
Pennsylvania lawmakers propose hunter education course in schools: Members of the state House and Senate are looking to add Hunter-Trapper Education Course opportunities in schools across Pennsylvania. Rep. Anita Astorino Kulik, a Democrat from Allegheny County and chair of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, and Sen. James Malone, a Democrat from Lancaster County and minority chair of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee, are partnering on the legislation. Read the full story.
Missouri Bear Hunting Permits Increased; Elk & Bear Permits Available in May: The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds Missourians interested in hunting black bear and/or elk in the state this fall that they need to apply for a limited number of hunting permits for each in May. Read the full story.
Annual turkey report offers insight into 2026 Arkansas hunting season: With the opening days of Arkansas's turkey hunting season only a few weeks away, hunters may want to check out the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's recently released 2025 Annual Turkey Program Report to gain a little insight into trends in Arkansas's flock. Read the full story.
Proof of residency now required for Texas Hunting and Fishing Licenses: Starting Aug. 1, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will require proof of residency when purchasing a hunting or fishing license. The change comes just two weeks before annual hunting and fishing licenses go on sale. Read the full story.
Another Change To ND Waterfowl Hunting Affecting Non-Residents: Non-resident waterfowl hunters in North Dakota will notice another change intended to give resident hunters a little more time and space before the influx of out-of-staters. This has many non-resident hunters crying "fowl" play and are not happy with the regulation that will go into effect during the 2026 waterfowl season in North Dakota. Read the full story.
Wyoming Game and Fish tests more than 5,300 samples for CWD in 2025: The Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Wildlife Health Laboratory tested 5,370 samples from elk, deer and moose for chronic wasting disease in 2025, and CWD was detected in 842 of those samples. Read the full story.
VIDEO // SOME THINGS JUST HAVE TO BE SEEN
🫎 Bring your moose to work day is officially in session. Watch as a moose unknowingly shows up for another day on the job site.
The younger generation could learn a thing or two from this…
QUOTABLES // WORDS TO LIVE BY
The value of the wilderness to modern man is that it provides a background for his thoughts.”
— Calvin Rutstrum
HUMPDAY MEME // SHARING IS CARING, BRO
WANDERINGS // A SFW GLIMPSE OF OUR BROWSER HISTORY
There’s a lot of things coming ‘back’ into style these days. One piece of clothing that I would also like to see resurrected is the rugby shirt. I spent my high school years in those damn things. Speaking of things that are cozy, how about this new Relax Row that United just unveiled on some of their flights. Foot rests and a lie-flat seat? Now we’re talking. We all have that buddy who seems to be instantly likable by everyone he meets (we also have buddies that are the complete opposite). Here’s what it is that makes some dudes irresistible to everyone they come across. I chose what they call a knowledge work career, meaning I’ve been sitting at a desk for the majority of my adult life. Aside from gleaning plenty of joy by writing this newsletter, I’ve also been toying with the idea of actually physically building something beautiful one day. Like these Swedish boats that take about 10,000 hours to build.
EYE CANDY // PICTURES > WORDS
Love that 35mm look.
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