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:
Feisty - UMaine study finds woodcock will actively defend nests against deer 🥊
New hunting opps - Mississippi adds new public land for hunting in prime whitetail country 🦌
Missing fisherman found - A 70-year-old ex-Marine was found safe after disappearing during fishing excursion 🎣
Mo’ money - Virginia is toying with upping the prices of hunting and fishing licenses 💵
New elk zones - PA is set to finalize new elk zones and add an additional 1,700 acres to state game lands this week 👍
A bite to eat - I wouldn’t recommend interrupting this fella’s dinner 🐻
FEISTY LITTLE GUYS
UMAINE STUDY FINDS FEISTY WOODCOCKS CHARGING AT DEER TO DEFEND NESTS
In the world of ground-nesting birds, camouflage is usually the name of the game when it comes to defense. That was traditionally true, particularly for American woodcock hens, that is, until a recent study proved that these plump little shorebirds have got some serious attitude when it counts.
In a study coming out of the University of Maine, researchers captured some unique footage as part of the ongoing Eastern Woodcock Migration Research Cooperative. After planting a number of nest cameras in 2024, footage revealed that these small, yet apparently mighty, long-beaked birds will actively charge at whitetail deer that wander a bit too closely to their nests…
QUICK HITS // FROM AROUND THE WEB
NY needs to cull the deer population. These new hunting rules may help: Through a new statewide Earn-a-2nd-Buck system and changes to the use of its Deer Management Permits announced last month, the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is hoping to increase the harvest of antlerless deer and better manage the state's abundant deer population. Read the full story.
LDWF seeks volunteers for Hunter Education program courses: The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is looking for new volunteer instructors for the Hunter Education program. LDWF will host courses this summer and fall for those interested in teaching the next generation about hunting safety. Read the full story.
Mississippi has new public land to hunt and it's in prime deer country: Mississippi is moving into the Dog Days when the heat is oppressive and the humidity is higher than beef prices, but that doesn't stop many Mississippians from dreaming about cooler weather and deer season. This year, hunters will have even more to look forward to as there's a new state wildlife management area and it's located in prime deer country. Read the full story.
Veteran, 70, Rescued from Remote Wilderness Days After Disappearing on Fishing Trip: A Marine veteran who went missing for six days was found safe and alive in the California wilderness, much to the relief of his family. The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office earlier said that Rondy Packard, 70, of Pinedale, was last seen on the morning of June 28 when he went out fishing. His family reported him missing when he didn’t return home. Read the full story.
Rescuers found the missing fisherman about 500 yards from his truck
Hunters have days left to apply for Mass. deer permits as populations soar: Massachusetts hunters have just days remaining to apply for an Antlerless Deer Permit, a vital tool state officials rely on to manage the region’s booming deer populations. Read the full story.
Virginia considers increasing hunting and fishing license fees, new wildlife regulations: The Department is proposing fee increases to many of the hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, which the agency says have not increased since 2012. Fee increases to motorboat registrations are being proposed for the first time since 2019, according to DWR. Lastly, the Department is proposing to assess a fee of $10 to camp on Department-owned lands where a free permit is currently required. Read the full story.
Game Commission to finalize elk zones, add 1,700 acres to game lands: The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners (PGC) is expected on July 10 to finalize new elk zones, approve adding about 1,700 acres to state game lands in several parts of the state, and start a solar farm agreement. Read the full story.
VIDEO // SOME THINGS JUST HAVE TO BE SEEN
🐻 That look you get when you interrupt the big fella’s dinner. Watch as this couple cruises by this massive grizz in the middle of a feast on the side of the road.
I wouldn’t recommend stopping for pictures…
QUOTABLES // WORDS TO LIVE BY
You might as well learn that a man who catches fish or shoots game has got to make it fit to eat before he sleeps. Otherwise it’s all a waste and a sin to take it if you can’t use it.”
— Robert Ruark
HUMPDAY MEME // THE BUGS ARE RELENTLESS
WANDERINGS // A SFW GLIMPSE OF OUR BROWSER HISTORY
The first watch he’d ever owned is the only watch he needed to own. Roadtripping on the Pan-American Highway, the longest highway in the world that stretches 19,000 miles from the Arctic Circle in the north to just short of the Antarctic in the south. A dude writing advice to other dudes that reminds us all that it takes about two weeks for people to get over most things, including our death. And a middle-aged mother of three compares her role of coaching third graders to play soccer to a coach of a World Cup team.
EYE CANDY // PICTURES > WORDS
For the damn birds.
📸 by @jenlritchie
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