Third Defendant Sentenced in Montana Trophy Poaching Ring 👨‍⚖️

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:

THEN THERE WAS ONE
THIRD DEFENDANT SENTENCED IN MONTANA MULTI-COUNTY TROPHY POACHING RING

A federal-level investigation into one of Montana’s more notable recent trophy poaching cases has resulted in a third defendant being sentenced. The case, which was centered around the unlawful killing and possession of at least 14 big-game trophy animals, resulted in over 30 charges spread across four suspects who put on a three-year clinic about how to defy Montana’s wildlife regulations.

Dylan Charles Boyer, who was identified as the primary shooter in several of the most serious incidents, was sentenced Wednesday in Lewis and Clark County District Court…

Changes proposed to Pennsylvania’s hunting season: While the focus this Easter weekend will be bunnies for many, the focus at the state capitol is on deer and when hunters should be able to start their season. The start of rifle deer season is the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which was changed in 2019. For decades prior, the start was the Monday after Thanksgiving.  Read the full story.

Vermont Board Approves 85 Moose Hunting Permits for 2026: The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board voted April 1 to make 65 either-sex moose hunting permits and 20 antlerless moose hunting permits available this year for a hunt limited to Wildlife Management Unit E (WMU-E) in the northeastern corner of the state. The hunt is expected to result in a harvest of 40 to 50 moose, or about 6 percent of the current moose population in WMU-E. Read the full story.

Bill adding hunting and fishing to Maine's "Right to Food" law gets Senate approval: State lawmakers have approved a bill aimed at enshring the right to harvest wildlife by hunting, fishing, and trapping into Maine law. The bill, introduced by state senator Craig Hickman (D-Winthrop), would define the word "harvest" in the state statute so that hunting and fishing are clearly protected constitutional rights. Read the full story.

Roundup wardens seek tips after mule deer fawn killed in town: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens are asking for the public’s help after a mule deer fawn was killed with a blow dart in Roundup, according to a Facebook post. Read the full story.

California officials voting on whether to allow hunters to kill more bears : Officials are weighing whether or not to allow hunters in California to kill two bears per hunting season, as opposed to one.  Read the full story.

Visitor spots first Grand Teton grizzly of the year, a few weeks after Yellowstone: The sow and her cubs were seen in the Cunningham Cabin area, a few miles south of Moran. The first bear of the season in Yellowstone National Park was reported on March 9. Read the full story.

NPS ‘may reduce’ deer population at Flight 93 memorial, other sites: The NPS stated that the plan aims to protect, recover, and restore native vegetation within parklands by managing deer overbrowsing. The park service has reported a dramatic increase in the white-tailed deer population over the past century, which has led to some ecological changes. As part of the plan, deer populations may be reduced but kept at a level that allows for forest regeneration, the NPS added. Read the full story.

🐊 Watch this sandhill crane back this gator up. She’s got a couple of colts behind her and there ain’t no way she’s letting this fella near them.

The power dynamics here are astonishing…

The pull of the weekend.

📸 by: @h.law13

Oh, and one more thing…