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:
Do not transport - Three men indicted on federal Lacey Act violations in West Virginia 🚚
OilCorn spill - Corn spill kills over 100 deer in Minnesota 🌽Sweetwater bill - Tennessee passes bill affirming that the state holds exclusive authority over the "manner and means" of taking wildlife 🧑⚖️
State of emergency - Louisiana sounds the alarm bells over CWD outbreak 🚨
Found pooch - Hunting guide rescues lost and injured dog while elk hunting 🐕
Mamma and her babies - Watch as a mamma Lynx and her kittens sprint across the ski hill in rare encounter 🐈⬛
DO NOT TRANSPORT
FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTS TRIO FOR CONSPIRACY TO ILLEGALLY MOVE LIVE DEER ACROSS STATE LINES
A federal grand jury has indicted three individuals, including the manager of a Preston County hunting reserve, for conspiring to violate the Lacey Act by illegally transporting live deer from West Virginia to Ohio without mandatory health documentation.
Brian Poling, 51, of Albright, West Virginia, who manages Dream Mountain Ranch, is accused alongside Levi S. Weaver, 74, of Fredericksburg, Ohio, and Leroy M. Miller, 40, of Millersburg, Ohio. The indictment, announced yesterday by U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey for the Northern District of West Virginia, charges the men with conspiracy to transport wildlife in interstate commerce in violation of federal law…
HEADLINES // DIGESTIBLE SNIPPETS
🌽 Train's 80-Mile Corn Spill Leads to ~100 Deer Fatalities in Minnesota. An accidental spill of corn from a train occurred along approximately 80 miles of railroad tracks in northwestern Minnesota stretching toward the Canadian border. This spilled corn attracted white-tailed deer, particularly during a harsh winter when food was scarce, drawing them onto the tracks to feed.
As a result, around 100 deer were found dead after being struck by trains. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources explained that the deer often tried to outrun the approaching trains rather than fleeing into deep snow, leading to the collisions. Authorities also euthanized a number of injured deer as a result of multiple collisions. The DNR stated that train-related deer deaths are common in the area and that this winter's numbers were not noticeably higher than in previous years, calling it a not-unusual situation despite public interest and concern for the deer population.
🦆 Sweetwater Duck Case Sparks Legislation to Shield Lawful Hunting from Local Restrictions. The Tennessee Senate passed a bill earlier this week to clarify hunting regulations, affirming that the state—through the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Fish and Wildlife Commission—holds exclusive authority over the "manner and means" of taking wildlife, including the discharge of firearms during lawful hunting. This preempts local governments from imposing conflicting restrictions via ordinances.
The legislation was directly inspired by the "Sweetwater duck case," where six duck hunters were cited and convicted for discharging firearms inside Sweetwater city limits while legally hunting ducks on private property. Despite a 2013 Tennessee Attorney General opinion stating that local firearm rules cannot conflict with state hunting regulations, lower courts upheld the citations under the city's ordinance. The case is now on appeal to the East Tennessee Court of Appeals, with hunters arguing it undermines statewide uniformity in wildlife management.
The bill passed the Senate by a strong majority and now awaits House consideration. If enacted, it would reinforce state preemption, aid wildlife population control (even in urban-adjacent areas), and provide clearer legal protections for hunters.
QUICK HITS // FROM AROUND THE WEB
IDNR releases number of bobcats harvested during 2025-2026 hunting season: The 2025-2026 Illinois bobcat season ended Feb. 15 with 627 bobcats harvested. A total of 405 (62%) bobcats were taken by hunting, while trapping accounted for 222 (34%) of the harvest. 27 (4%) were salvaged by permit holders from circumstances such as roadkill. Read the full story.
What to know before the start of Alaska’s bear season: The department requires hunters to ensure their permits and licenses are up to date before the season begins. Hunters are also required to bring back parts of their bear to Fish and Game for sealing. The process helps officials track the harvest and verify the species. Read the full story.
LDWF issues declaration of emergency as another CWD case is confirmed: he Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced they have issued a Declaration of Emergency throughout Ouachita Parish and its surrounding areas. Read the full story.
Injured, abandoned dog recovering after being found by hunting guide: Payton Wright and his partner, Weston Smith, were guiding clients during an elk hunt Feb. 28 outside of Pilot Rock when Smith spotted a dog lying in a field. Read the full story.
Gus is now recovering from his original condition (inset)
Minnesota hunters donate record venison to local food banks in 2025: Minnesota hunters donated nearly 14,000 pounds of venison to food banks and feeding programs in 2025. This amount surpassed 2024 donations by more than 50%, according to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Read the full story.
Yellowstone’s ravens may memorize wolf hunting hotspots—to feast : Field biologists have long assumed that the birds simply follow wolves as they track and take down their prey. However, a study published today in the journal Science provides evidence that ravens may be remembering hunting hotspots and scavenging for food, rather than chasing wolves. Read the full story.
VIDEO // SOME THINGS JUST HAVE TO BE SEEN
🐈⬛ That moment when a mother Lynx and her kittens spring across your next ski run. Filmed out at Lake Louise, Alberta, this is a truly unique encounter.
I’d have went and bought my ass a lottery ticket…
WEEKEND MEME // DAD OF THE YEAR
WANDERINGS // A SFW GLIMPSE OF OUR BROWSER HISTORY
My wife always says she never worries about me eavesdropping because I can’t hear a damn thing anyway, especially in a noisy environment. And while the act of eavesdropping gets a bad rap (hence why I don’t do it), it’s actually good for you. Female bumblebees are absolute beasts and can survive underwater for days on end during flood-like conditions. Once they emerge, it’s not like they take a break or anything either, they dry themselves off and get right back to rebuilding what was damaged. If you know me, you know I never have and I never will do an ice bath or cold plunge or whatever. I don’t think they’re all that good for you and more importantly, I hate the cold and I don’t want to do it. That said, this trend of Viking-style fitness is having a moment. Back in my home province of Ontario, I once found a beer that had a big old buck on it (I think it was called 10-point), which I purchased solely for that reason alone. It’s kind of like this old-school midwestern beer that’s become awfully hard to find.
EYE CANDY // PICTURES > WORDS
The pull of the weekend.
📸 by: @mckennahulslander
Oh, and one more thing…
