Trails and Tails Act Sparks Hope for Elk Returning to Ohio 🤞

As we continue to slowly but surely inch back 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:

SO YOU’RE SAYING THERE’S A CHANCE
TRAILS AND TAILS ACT SPARKS HOPE FOR ELK RETURNING TO OHIO

In mid-January, Ohio State Representative Justin Pizzulli (R-Scioto County) introduced House Bill 641, dubbed the "Trails and Tails Act," sparking renewed interest in the possibility of reintroducing elk to the Buckeye State. This legislation doesn't guarantee the immediate release of these majestic animals but instead mandates a comprehensive study by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to evaluate the feasibility of bringing them back. As Ohio grapples with wildlife management challenges and seeks ways to boost rural economies, HB 641 could mark a turning point in restoring a piece of the state's natural heritage…

🤗 Firefighters' Hug Saves Deer Trapped on Frozen Lake. Firefighters from Stevens County Fire District No. 1 in Washington pulled off a heartwarming rescue on January 27th after a deer became trapped and struggled to stand on the frozen surface of Loon Lake. A local resident, Daniel Poleschook, spotted the distressed animal from his window and alerted the department. When crews arrived, firefighter Gavyn Gallagher ventured out onto the ice equipped with a gurney and rope. The frightened deer initially tried to escape but couldn't get traction, so Gallagher lassoed a rope around its body, laid down on the ice, hugged the deer tightly to secure it, as the team pulled both to safety on the shore.

The deer, which appeared exhausted and uncertain at first (even crying out during the early stages), calmed down during the ride and was released unharmed with help from Fish and Wildlife officers and nearby residents. The Stevens County Fire Department praised the teamwork and careful risk assessment that led to the successful outcome,.

🐻 697-Pound Giant Stands Out in Florida's Return to Black Bear Hunting. Florida's first black bear hunt in over a decade wrapped up in late December, marking a return to regulated hunting after a 10-year hiatus since the controversial 2015 season was cut short. Florida’s FWC issued 172 permits through a lottery system—drawing from nearly 15,000 applications—and allowed a three-week season from December 6 to 28. Hunters harvested a total of 52 black bears, achieving about a 30% success rate, with most taken by rifle. The harvest was split evenly between 28 males and 24 females (none lactating), and the Eastern Panhandle saw the highest numbers (28 bears), followed by counties like Collier (9) and Hendry (6). Officials reported strong compliance, with no citations for rule violations and only one warning for trespassing in a Wildlife Management Area.

The standout from the season was a massive 697-pound male black bear taken in Collier County—nearly double the typical male weight of 250–350 pounds and just shy of Florida's state record of 760 pounds. The FWC described the hunt as a successful, controlled effort to manage the state's rebounding black bear population (estimated over 4,000), with no major issues reported.

👮 Five Illegal Bucks Lead to Serious Charges for Louisiana Hunter. A Louisiana hunter from Geismar is facing steep fines and potential jail time after wildlife agents discovered five illegal antlered bucks in his possession during the 2025-26 deer season. According to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, 33-year-old Kyle D. Barksdale was cited late last month, following an investigation sparked by reports of unauthorized hunting on private land near Geismar. He had harvested three antlered bucks earlier in the season without properly tagging them immediately after the kill, validating the harvests, or recording them on required harvest cards. Two more—an eight-point buck and a 12-point buck—were taken on January 16 while trespassing, pushing him over both his daily and seasonal limits for antlered deer.

The violations include exceeding daily and seasonal deer limits, failing to tag deer, failing to validate harvests, and non-compliance with harvest card requirements. At this point, penalties could include $250–$500 fines (plus up to 90 days in jail) per count for the limit violations, up to $350 fines for each tagging/validation/harvest card infraction, and civil restitution of up to $2,400 for the illegally taken deer. The property owner declined to press trespassing charges, resulting in only a warning for that violation.

🤷 Plenty of debate out there about this old buck. The biggest question seems to be whether or not this buck is out looking for love or is suffering from something like EHD or CWD.

I tend to lean to the “he’s sick” side on this one…

Oh, and one more thing…