Two illegally killed turkeys unravel years of poaching in Tennessee 🕵️‍♀️

ven•a•tic: fond of or living by hunting

NORTH AMERICA’S MOST-READ OUTDOOR NEWSLETTER

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:

IT’S TOO BAD THEY ONLY GOT HIM ON POSSESSION
TIPS ON TWO TURKEY KILLS LEAD TO LIFETIME HUNTING BAN FOR TENNESSEE POACHER

Like pulling on a yarn that soon unravels an entire piece of clothing, Tennessee officials did just that when a tip about a couple of dead birds came in earlier this year. That tip spawned an intense investigation that ended up costing a Tennessee man a complete ban on hunting for the rest of his life.

It was late March when a concerned citizen rang up the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, reporting a couple of dead turkeys down in the Alexandria area. The caller was even good enough to forward along a photo they took of the vehicle they believed to have been involved in the killings…

Illegal moose harvest leads to $5K fine, hunting ban for Ontario man: The accused presented a membership card from an organization to justify the harvest. However, authorities determined the documentation did not meet the legal standard for establishing treaty rights in Ontario for the purpose of hunting and harvesting wildlife. Read the full story. 

Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission takes middle ground on wolf hunting quotas: The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission this week adopted new wolf hunting and trapping regulations, with a 300-wolf limit for the upcoming season, reflecting the state’s lower population estimate for the species. Read the full story.

Delta Waterfowl Celebrates Record Fundraising Year, Impact for Ducks and Duck Hunters: Delta just wrapped up a record-breaking 2025-26 fiscal year on June 30, with total revenues topping $50 million. Impressive growth across major gifts fundraising and the chapter events system led to increases in support for Delta’s mission to conserve prairie wetlands, produce ducks and ensure the future of waterfowl hunting.  Read the full story.

Investigation Into Bull Moose Poaching Leads to Charges in Northeast Washington: An investigation into the illegal killing and waste of a bull moose in northeast Washington led to the recovery of the animal’s head, the seizure of firearms and the discovery of methamphetamine, according to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police. Read the full story.

Vermont bear hunting season begins with new reminders for hunters: Bear hunting season in Vermont begins next week, and wildlife officials are reminding hunters to follow regulations aimed at protecting the bear population and promoting ethical hunting practices. Read the full story.

1,260-pound Atlantic blue marlin was "a gift from the fish gods," Massachusetts angler says recalling 2-hour battle: It was a battle of will and skill when anglers off the coast of Massachusetts hauled in what is likely a record-breaking Atlantic blue marlin. The fish was so big, the group thought it was a shark when they first reeled it to the surface.  Read the full story.

🐻 You’re busy filleting the day’s catch and this guy shows up.

What do you do, hotshot?

It’s easy. Copy your link below and send it to your friends. If they sign up, you get free stuff.

Now, do it. (Please).

Oh, and one more thing…