The Outdoor Pressroom

Ohio police trading old guns for new gear

Some police departments in Ohio are making arrangements to trade old firearms collected over the years to raise cash for new gear and equipment. Sandusky police had planned to give a 1920s-era Thompson submachine gun seized in the 1940s to a museum, until they discovered it was worth $22,500. In the Akron Beacon-Journal.

Colo. taxidermist sentenced for doing poacher's mounts

A Cortez, Colo. man was sentenced in US District Court yesterday to 3 years probation and 50 hours of community service for doing taxidermy work for a convicted poacher. Taxidermist Paul Weyand pleaded guilty in March to three misdemeanor counts of illegally labeling and transporting wildlife--two black bears and a mule deer buck. Weyland was also fined $2,000. Details in The Durango Herald.

Minn: Urban deer poaching on the rise

St. Paul Pioneer-Press outdoor writer Chris Niskaken reports today that the increase in the number of whitetail deer in urban areas of the Twin Cities has brought with it a growing incidence in poaching. Niskanen highlights a recent case in which a man with a crossbow shot a 15-point buck not far from a busy freeway during rush hour. A judge dismissed charges against the man last week, prompting an outcry from some in the hunting community.

CWD found in 5 W Va. hunter-killed deer

Test results indicate that chronic wasting disease was present in five Hampshire County, W.Va. hunter-killed deer during the 2008 firearms season. The CWD-positive deer included one 4.5 year-old doe, two 2.5 year-old bucks, one 4.5 year-old buck and one 1.5 year-old buck. In Ohio Farm & Dairy.

Elk: Thin ice in Colorado

The Colorado Division of Wildlife reports than at least a dozen elk have died since Sunday after breaking through the ice at Paonia Reservoir in Gunnison County. In The Aspen Times

15,000 NY teens take advantage of new hunting license

New York Conservation Dept. officials say more the 15,000 teens took advantage of the state's new law that allows 14- and 15-year-olds to hunt deer with firearms in the Empire State. In Newsday.

Spooked elk leap to their death

Utah wildlife authorities say 6 elk died after jumping off a 50-foot highway wall when they were spooked by a vehicle that failed to slow down for a herd of 13 animals on the Provo Canyon highway. “It was frightening to watch them jump.  But we were more scared one of them would land on a car and really hurt somebody,” eyewitness Marchelle Elmer said.

Brady Campaign sues Interior over parks gun ruling

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence has sued the Department of the Interior to block the implementation of its administrative rule allowing concealed firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges located in states allowing concealed carry. Reported in New West.

Dog enters Utah drugstore, shoplifts chew bone

A husky mix entered the Murray, Utah Smith's Food and Drug through the automatic doors, found his (or her) way to the pet foods section and pilfered a $3.19 rawhide chewbone. On its way out, the shoplifting canine was confornted by the store manager. “I looked at him. I said ‘Drop it!’” Roger Adamson said. “He looked at me, and I looked at him and he ran for the door and away he went.” The Deseret News.

Duck blinds painted with anti-hunting graffiti

At least four duck blinds located in Pennsylvania's Presque Island State Park were targeted by paint-toting vandals this weekend with the message: "Extend the circle of love to all creatures," rendered in bright blue letters. "They could have been nice and spray-painted it in black. That wouldn't have wrecked the camo pattern," suggested duck hunter Mark Parker. The Erie Times-News.

'Can I use a paintball gun to shoot hookers in my driveway?'

That was the crux of the question posed to "Seattle 911," a police blog appearing on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Web site. Part of the answer came from Seattle Police Sgt. Sean Whitcomb: "Citizens do have a right to protect their property interests. However, with the scenario described, it seems that the best way to do that is to call 911."

Enviros push no-lead ammo agenda in Utah

The Associated Press reports the environmental-based network that worked to ban the use of lead hunting ammunition in parts of California and promote a voluntary lead-ammo voucher program in Arizona are now targeting Utah for a similar effort. Groups like the Peregrine Fund say that remnants of lead ammo left in animal gutpiles threatens the recovery of the endangered California condors in the region.

Tenn. serial poacher receives lifetime hunting ban

A Waynesboro, Tenn. man convicted of repeated poaching offenses was fined $3,200, sentenced to 80 days in jail and was banned from hunting for life. Jimmy Daniel Prater's latest conviction came after authorities with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency used DNA evidence to link antlers found in the poacher's home to carcasses found abandoned in the field.

Bear 'documentary' ticks off Alaska wildlife pros

A Discovery Channel television program purportedly featuring Alaskan grizzly bears in actual wild conditions has raised the ire of many wildlife professionals in the state who say the show is misleading and contrived. Craig Medred in the Anchorage Daily News.

Michigan town bans annoying behavior

The Brighton, Mich. City Council approved an ordinance last week that makes it "unlawful for any person in the city to insult, accost, molest or otherwise annoy, either by word of mouth, sign or motions any person in any public place.” Police Chief Tom Wightman said it gives police a tool to settle neighbor disputes, unwanted phone messages or text messages from ex-spouses. "I wonder if the police can ticket my husband for leaving his socks all over everywhere?" queried resident Claudia Kowalski. The Detroit News.