The Outdoor Pressroom

Worcester, Mass. authorities kill 900-pound moose

A young antlered bull moose estimated to weigh 900 pounds was shot and killed by state environmental police this morning after it galloped toward the city center during rush hour, avoiding attempts by authorities to turn it back. Reported in The Boston Globe.

Judge orders EPA re-listing for Great Lakes wolves

Reversing the US Fish and Wildlife Service 2007 delisting of the gray wolf in the Upper Great Lakes region, a federal judge yesterday ruled that the predator must receive renewed protection under the Endangered Species Act. Among the groups filing the lawsuit that sought the re-listing was the Humane Society of the United States. The Mnpls Star-Tribune reports.

Bear shot after clawing at Minnesota home's door

A sheriff's deputy called to a rural western Minnesota home over the weekend shot and killed a 100-pound black bear after it climbed onto the family's deck and clawed at the home’s door and windows on two separate occasions. When the bruin showed aggressive behavior, the deputy contacted a MDNR officer by phone and was instructed to shoot the animal. The Duluth News-Tribune.

Odds favor teen: PA boy draws elk, bobcat tags

The odds definitely favored 15-year-old Pennsylvania hunter Andrew D. Bowers of Belle Vernon this year. Bowers was fortunate to be awarded one of 1,435 state bobcat permits for the 2008-2009 season and one of only 45 elk-hunting licenses for the state's Nov. 3-8 hunt. In The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Miller's 'camo cans' hit stores this week

Based on the success of last year's limited edition blaze orange cans of Miller High Life, the Milwaukee-based brewer will begin selling its flagship adult beverage packaged in camouflage-patterned cans beginning October 1. The camo-can 24- and 30-packs continue the brand's affiliations with Whitetails Unlimited and Pheasants Forever. Just don't set one down while you're in the woods, or you might never find it. CNBC reports. (Click photo for larger image.)

NY's handgun database hasn't led to one prosecution

New York's 7-year-old database of so-called handgun "fingerprints"--which costs taxpayers $1 million annually--has yet to lead to a single criminal prosecution. Since March 2001, ballistics information has been recorded from more than 209,000 new pistols and revolvers and entered into the Combined Ballistic Identification System database maintained by state police. Via AP.

NJ court strikes down one-gun-per-month law

A New Jersey state appeals court panel today ruled unanimously that Jersey City exceeded its authority and does not have a right to enact a local law limiting the number of handguns a person may purchase since state law already regulates the sale of all firearms. In The Star-Ledger.

Unlucky AK hunter finds moose in his swingset

Alaska hunter Bob Besch battled bad weather, poor visibility and grizzly bears during his two-week Kenai Peninsula trophy moose hunt before returning to his Anchorage-area home empty-handed. The next morning he awoke to find a fork-horn moose hopelessly entangled in his child's outdoor gym. "I couldn't have eaten that little guy,'' he said. "I couldn't have eaten him in good conscience." Anchorage Daily News outdoors editor Craig Medred reports.

NJ Gov. Corzine: Bears? What bears?

Asked about the record number of bear/human conflicts in New Jersey (double 2007 levels) as well as the upward spike in the number of bears that have entered homes in recent months, Gov. Corzine said Friday that, "a lot of the problem is perception," and that he sees no need to change the state policy that prohibits a black bear hunt in The Garden State. In The News Jersey Herald.

One in 35 Floridians has carry permit

The Palm Beach Post reported last week that the number of citizens holding concealed carry permits has increased 50 percent since 2005 and that about one in every 35 Floridians--347,350--are currently licensed to carry. In addition, Florida permit reciprocity now extends to 33 states.

Bear spray discharge leads to Juneau airport closure

Juneau International Airport was evacuated and closed for about 90 minutes Friday afternoon after a canister of bear spray was accidentally discharged, with the pepper fumes spreading through the building's ventilation system. AP reports.

NM man claims mountain lion attacked him

A Taos man told authorities with the New Mexico Game and Fish Dept. that a mountain lion pounced on him, knocking him to the ground as he hiked near Taos Ski Valley on Friday. Adam Wheat, 29, who was treated for scratches on his chest, told investigators he saw a partially buried deer carcass just prior to the encounter. In The New Mexican.

Mich. hunter directs authorities to 4,000 pot plants

A tip from a Michigan deer hunter led to the discovery of 4,011 marijuana plants located on state land in Gladwin County and to the arrest of seven involved in growing the crop, which had an estimated street value of $4 million. At the camp, authorities also found tents, 100 pounds of flour, cooking oil and a tortilla press. A tortilla press? Guess that rules out radical Islamic extremists, eh?

Mich. Senate approves wolf-killing measure

The Michigan Senate voted unanimously Thursday to allow farmers to kill gray wolves attacking their livestock and let the owners of hunting dogs kill wolves that attack their dogs. The measure would become effective only if and when the DNR removes the wolf from its threatened species list. Via AP.

Bear strolls through Tahoe hospital's auto doors

A surveillance camera at Barton Memorial Hospital in South Lake Tahoe photographed a young black bear entering the first set of automatic doors of the facility's main entrance last week, before it turned around and retreated after it reached the lobby. Ironically, a 6-foot fiberglass "Dr. Bear" statue stands in front of the hospital. In The Tahoe Daily Tribune.