USFWS Proposes Historic Expansion of Hunting and Fishing on Public Lands 🌄

I’m currently at the “it’s Thursday already?” phase of the workweek and am unsure as to whether or not that is a good thing as of yet.

With that in mind, let’s all take a minute to grab a coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and get this Thursday morning dispatch out the door.

Here's what's worth reading about today:

WIDE OPEN SPACES
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PROPOSES HISTORIC EXPANSION OF HUNTING AND FISHING ON PUBLIC LANDS

The U.S. Department of the Interior, in tandem with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have announced what looks to be the largest proposed expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities in the agency’s history.

The proposal would open or expand more than 1,450 hunting and sport fishing opportunities across 111 stations, including 107 National Wildlife Refuges and 4 National Fish Hatcheries, in 32 states. If the proposal ends up getting finalized, it would make more than 92 million acres, or over 95% of the National Wildlife Refuge System, available for hunting…

🔫 Michigan Renames Muzzleloader Season to “December Firearm Deer Season” as Rules Shift to “Anything Goes”. The state of Michigan has had enough of misleading labels and has decided to officially retire its traditional muzzleloader season name in most of the state. The Michigan Natural Resources Commission approved renaming the late-season hunt the December Firearm Deer Season, reflecting that hunters in the Lower Peninsula can now use any legal firearm — not just muzzleloaders. The season has been shortened from 10 days to just three days and will allow modern firearms, including bottleneck cartridges, throughout the Lower Peninsula after the elimination of the Limited Firearms Deer Zone.

The change formalizes a gradual shift that began in 2020 and expanded in 2024, leaving only the Upper Peninsula to continue to restrict the season primarily to muzzleloading firearms. Additional 2026–2027 regulation changes include opening the Late Antlerless Season earlier, eliminating certain antlerless drawings in the U.P., limiting buck harvest to one per hunter in 2027 in the Lower Peninsula, and ending all deer seasons after January 1.

🐻 Wyoming Game & Fish Director Says Agency Kills More Conflict Grizzlies Than a Hunting Season Would. Wyoming Game and Fish Department Director Angi Bruce told state legislators on Wednesday, that the agency removes an average of 21 grizzly bears per year due to human-bear encounters. This number is roughly equal to or higher than the approximately 20 grizzlies that would likely be killed annually under a conservative hunting season if the bears were delisted from Endangered Species Act protection.

Bruce, a strong advocate for delisting, argued that hunting would (obviously) serve as a valuable wildlife management tool to keep grizzlies more wary of humans and limit their expansion into human-occupied areas. Several legislators echoed frustration with current federal oversight, noting that the state already spends millions managing grizzlies but must still seek federal approval for many actions. They suggested regulated hunting could reduce overall bear mortality compared to agency removals.

The comments come amid ongoing state and federal efforts to delist Greater Yellowstone grizzlies, which have exceeded recovery goals now for over two decades.

🫎 Colorado Hiker Seriously Injured in Moose Attack Near Winter Park Over Memorial Day Weekend. A hiker was seriously injured Sunday while walking two dogs on leash along Little Vasquez Road near Winter Park, Colorado. The moose, believed to have been protecting her yearling calf, struck the victim in the chest and arms before turning its attention to the dogs after the victim released their leashes. The hiker was able to escape, call for help, and was transported by ambulance to a hospital with serious injuries.

This marks the first reported moose attack in Colorado so far thus year, prompting warnings from state officials indicating that attacks are more common in late spring during calving season, especially when dogs are present. Officials responded to the scene but were unable to locate the moose and her calf.

🐥 Mother duck to the rescue. Watch as this fish sets his sights on a few of these tasty ducklings.

Mom isn’t having any of it…

🌲 The Long Game - Planting Trees You’ll Never Sit Under: Most people think in seasons. Plant this spring. Hunt this fall. Fix what’s broken before winter.

That’s the rhythm most folks operate on, and there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s practical. It gets results. It keeps things moving.

But land doesn’t think in seasons.

Land thinks in decades. Read the full story.

🛻 Just Take the Trip: What would you do if your friend asked you if you would like to travel the world in a Land Rover with them? Being someone who regularly invites people on adventurous trips that are just three to 10 days long, the general answer is along the lines of, “That would be cool. Maybe someday.” 

I get it—money, relationships, family responsibilities, work—they are all things that must be considered, but tomorrow is never promised. Fortunately for Robert Bateman, when he was asked that very question by his friend, Bristol Foster, he agreed. Read the full story.

🦆 Bo Whoop Comes Home : The young specklebelly was gliding at treetop height, its second pass. I thought to myself, this bird is plenty close enough; you would have shot it already with your Benelli. But I hesitated. I was holding Nash Buckingham’s legendary shotgun, Bo Whoop, in a blind full of other hunters, and the whole situation had me uneasy. Lamar Boyd barked on his speck call. The bird banked our way again, but a little higher this time. 

Anybody could see that this pass would be my last chance. Read the full story.

Oh, and one more thing…