Three Missouri Men Sentenced in High-Profile Elk Poaching Case 🧑‍⚖️

While we continue to slowly inch towards the weekend, let’s all take a minute to grab a coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and get into what this beautiful Tuesday has to offer.

Here's what's worth reading about so far this week:

AND BUSTED
THREE MISSOURI MEN SENTENCED IN HIGH-PROFILE ELK POACHING CASE

In yet another victory for wildlife conservation, a trio of Missouri men faced the music earlier this month for their roles in the illegal poaching of a mature bull elk in Shannon County during the November 2023 firearms season. The incident, which occurred near Klepzig Mill, was resolved through a meticulous nine-month investigation by the Missouri Department of Conservation, and resulted in big fines for the accused.

The case kicked off after a 14-year-old deer hunter discovered the carcass of a bull elk during the opening weekend of Missouri’s 2023 firearms deer season. Elk hunting in Missouri is tightly regulated, restricted to a lottery-based system with specific seasons, making the unique find all the more suspicious. Following the discovery, MDC conservation agents from the Ozark, Central, St. Louis, and Southeast regions launched a comprehensive investigation…

🫎 Hikers Stunned by Rare Moose Sighting at 13,000 Feet on Colorado’s Mount Sneffels. On September 6th, hikers on Mount Sneffels in southwest Colorado’s San Juan Mountains were astonished to see a cow moose trotting along a trail at 13,000 feet, a rare occurrence at such a high elevation. Captured on video by avid hiker Hunter Michaud of Colorado Springs, the moose was navigating a steep, rocky slope above the timberline, not far from the 14,153-foot peak. The hikers stepped off the trail to give the determined moose the right of way, speculating it was traveling between marshy areas on either side of the mountain. Biologists note that while moose typically inhabit swamps, marshes, or dense forests, they can undertake significant treks, occasionally venturing into high alpine terrain or even sagebrush plains in search of food or new territory.

Such high-altitude sightings are uncommon but not unprecedented, as moose are known to traverse alpine passes or vast open landscapes, according to Nick DeCesare, a research biologist with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. DeCesare’s research on radio-collared moose in Montana revealed instances of moose crossing high passes or wandering through prairies, far from their typical habitats. This particular moose’s journey may reflect learned travel routes passed down through generations or a search for less crowded areas, especially in Colorado, where the moose population is growing.

🤮 Michigan Issues "Do Not Eat" Advisory for Deer and Fish in Iosco County Due to PFAS Contamination. Following in the footsteps of nearby Wisconsin, Michigan health officials have issued a “Do Not Eat” advisory for deer, fish, and other wildlife due to contamination due to, you guessed it, forever chemicals. The advisory is set to within a three-mile radius of Clark’s Marsh in Oscoda Township, Iosco County, located in Northern Michigan. The advisory stems from elevated levels of per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS), particularly perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), found in the livers and muscle tissue of local wildlife. PFOS exposure is linked to health risks such as thyroid and liver dysfunction, immune response changes, increased cholesterol levels, and pregnancy complications.

The state has also expanded its fish consumption advisories due to PFOS contamination, with the number of water bodies under “Do Not Eat” advisories for at least one fish species rising from 33 to 98 as of June of this year, following a lowered PFOS screening value. A total of 782 fish advisories across multiple species and water bodies are now included in Michigan’s 2025 Eat Safe Fish guidebook, which provides anglers with region-specific guidance.

🐻 Wisconsin Bear Hunting Guide Hit with Fines and Hunting Ban After Baiting on Federal Property. An Oconto County bear hunting guide by the name of Timothy Collar has been banned from hunting for one year and fined $3,000 after pleading guilty to illegal bear baiting in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The conviction was finalized on August 15, 2025, in the Eastern District of Wisconsin federal court in Green Bay, following the 64-year-old’s actions during preparations for the 2023 hunting season. According to reports, Collar placed several oversized, uncapped plastic bait barrels near public roads in the forest, violating Wisconsin law, which prohibits using metal, paper, plastic, glass, or wood containers for bait.

The illegal baiting practices led to federal charges, as Collar’s actions contravened state regulations while hunting on federal land. His guilty plea resulted in a court order to pay the fine and adhere to the one-year hunting ban.

🍽️ “You want a snack??” Watch as this young lady offers up her catch to a pair of curious onlookers.

That smaller one looks seriously cracked out though…

Oh, and one more thing…