Two Men Slapped with $86,000 in Fines for Illegal Deer Operation 🤑

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

NORTH AMERICA’S MOST-READ OUTDOOR NEWSLETTER

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:

MAYBE DON’T ADVERTISE ILLEGAL HUNTS ON FACEBOOK
TWO MEN SLAPPED WITH $86,000 IN FINES AND RESTITUTION FOR ILLEGAL DEER OPERATION IN WEST TENNESSEE

A federal judge came down hard on two men, ordering them to pay a combined $86,000 in fines and restitution for an illegal whitetail deer guiding and hunting operation in Fayette County during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, an investigation found that 30-year-old Austin Elrod was guiding whitetail deer hunts in Fayette County without any form of guiding license. Putting his apparent digital marketing skills to work, he went on to advertise the illegal hunts on Facebook and was found to have killed up to seven deer from those referrals.…

Moose hunting season ends as Vermont fights to limit ticks and protect the animals:When ticks have more hosts to feed on, it can take a serious toll on the animal’s health. Since 1993, the state has been allowing moose hunting to keep the population in check. This year, state officials approved 85 available permits to hunt moose, down from the 180 permits that have been allowed annually since 2023. Read the full story.

Young Missouri hunters harvested 11,878 deer last weekend: Young hunters harvested 11,878 deer during Missouri’s early youth portion of firearms deer season Oct. 24-25. The statewide harvest included 7,234 antlered bucks, 3,721 does and 923 button bucks. Youth hunters ages 6 through 15 participated in the early youth portion. Read the full story.

Wisconsin Bear Harvest Exceeds Statewide Target as DNR Releases 2026 Hunting Season Results: Wisconsin bear hunters harvested more than 4,200 black bears during the 2026 hunting season, exceeding the state’s overall harvest target, according to preliminary results released by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Read the full story.

Halloween Witch Hanging From Elk’s Antlers Highlights Hazards For Big Game In Fall: A bull elk in Estes Park wearing a witch on its antlers is getting laughs online, but wildlife experts say elk, deer and moose can get tangled in everything from fencing to hammocks during the fall mating season -- including Halloween decorations. Read the full story.

Gallatin county teams rescue injured hunter: On Sunday afternoon, 10/25/26, we received a request to assist Park County with an injured hunter who was over 10 miles from the Mill Creek Trailhead in the Absaroka Range," reads an Oct. 28 statement from the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office. "The report indicated the patient had a probable broken leg and ankle, and was with a group ensuring he was staying warm." Read the full story.

Two grizzlies killed near Kraft Creek misidentified by hunters: Local fish and game officers responded to a call on Oct. 15 in which two hunters self-reported the killing of two grizzly bears at Kraft Creek Road south of Condon. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks warden Jacob Pickens told the Pathfinder he responded to the call with a federal U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services officer to identify two grizzlies that hunters had "misidentified them as black bears." According to Pickens, the two hunters were not Montana residents. Read the full story.

😵 Sometimes you just gotta send it when heading out to the fishing hole. This fella took that statement literally out in Australia's outback.

Thankfully the old Cherokee held up and everyone was OK!

The pull of the weekend.

📸 by @moultrieproducts

 Oh, and one more thing…