YouTubers Plead Guilty to Multi-Year Deer Poaching in Ohio 🎬

In the event that the weekend wasn’t quite long enough for you, here’s to hoping that your favorite dispatch from the outdoor world can give you 5-or-so minutes to prep yourself for yet another week.

So, without further ado, let’s grab that coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and get caught up on the outdoor news and views from the past few days. 

Here's what's worth reading about today:

PENALTIES WERE A LITTLE LIGHT
CREEK KINGS OUTDOORS YOUTUBERS PLEAD GUILTY TO MULTI-YEAR DEER POACHING SCHEME IN OHIO

A pair of mid-tier Columbus-area YouTubers caught some additional attention from Ohio’s DNR by filming their not-so-legal “hunting adventures” over a five years period, and are now set to pay the price for it. 

Instead of YouTube plaques, William Bethel, 28, and Justin Booth, 23, who ran a channel called Creek Kings Outdoors, were handed a plethora of charges after a joint investigation by both the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife and Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks caught them filming their illegal exploits inside Three Creeks Metro Park.…

SCDNR seeks public input on deer hunting with dogs at upcoming meetings: The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is asking the public to share its views on hunting deer with dogs as the agency gathers information for its board. SCDNR officials said the agency has been asked by the SCDNR Board to collect public input on the practice, including areas of conflict and possible solutions. Read the full story.

North Dakota Sets 2026 Pronghorn Season; Applications Due August 5: North Dakota will offer 1,310 pronghorn licenses this fall, the same number as last year. Game and Fish says aerial surveys completed in June and July found the population up 12% from 2025. The department is holding license numbers steady as part of a conservative harvest plan intended to encourage further growth. Read the full story.

Oregon hunting and fishing ban fails to qualify for November ballot:  The controversial proposal to ban hunting and fishing in Oregon will not be on the November ballot after all.

The Oregon Secretary of State’s Elections Division completed its signature verification process on Friday and determined that the petition does not contain sufficient signatures to qualify for the ballot, according to an update on the initiative database. Read the full story.

Celebrating 25 years of elk in the Smokies: the long game that led to reintroduction: For Kim Delozier, seeing the first elk released into Cataloochee Valley in 2001 was the highlight of his 32-year career in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

“When we released the elk, it hit me. This is the fruit of our labor,” Delozier said. “All those meetings. All those phone calls. It’s worth it.”  Read the full story.

Black bears invade Lake Tahoe homes as break-ins surge and locals fortify defenses: Black bears are increasingly breaking into homes around Lake Tahoe, leaving residents to spend thousands of dollars protecting their properties from hungry wildlife.

So far this year, South Lake Tahoe police have received 174 bear-related calls, compared with 97 during the same period last year, according to The Wall Street Journal. Several incidents involved bears making their way into homes.  Read the full story.

🐟 This dude was willing to drown to land this fish. Watch as this fella hangs on for dear life, and nearly drowns in the process, to land his prize.

Thankfully he had a buddy with him…

Excellent group.

📸 by @fortheloveofmuir

Oh, and one more thing…