The Outdoor Pressroom

Mont. wolfpack kills 11 sheep, injures 5 more

USDA Wildlife Services officials confirmed a wolfpack comprised of a male, female and four juveniles killed 11 sheep and injured five more Thursday south of Two Dot, Mont. "It's quite gruesome," said Tonya Martin, the sheep rancher whose stock was raided. In the Billings Gazette.

Campus cops question student who gave pro-CCW talk

John Wahlberg, a student at Central Connecticut State University, was called to campus police headquarters after a professor complained about his class presentation that, among other things, advocated concealed carry on campus. Authorities told Wahlberg that professor Paula Anderson said his presentation made students “scared and uncomfortable." In The Recorder.

Brit's cell phone still works after week in fish

British businessman Andrew Cheatle thought his Nokia cellphone was gone for good after he dropped it while walking his dog on the beach. Then his girlfriend received a call from a fisherman who said he discovered Cheatle's phone inside a 25-pound cod he'd netted. “I didn’t believe him but went to meet him and found it was my phone—a bit smelly and battered—but incredibly it still worked after I let it dry out,” said Cheatle. In The Sun.

BAM! update: Emeril to send woman new cookware

When famous chef Emeril (BAM!) Lagasse learned about the 70-year-old Ohio woman who used one of his namesake 5-quart saucepans to whack a home intruder over the head, he said he'd send Ellen Basinski a new set of cookware. "I mean, I feel terrible for her--not only about the situation she faced, but because she probably may not get that pan back (from police)," Lagasse said. In The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The 3 bears move into foreclosed Fla. home

A black bear sow and two cubs have been entering and ransacking a vacant, foreclosed home in Collier County, Fla. in recent days. Sheriff's deputies have since locked and secured the building, but neighbors say the bears continue to lurk around the area. No word on possible sightings of Goldilocks. WINK-TV and WTSP.

Lethal sea lion management to move forward in Oregon

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled Thursday it would not issue a stay sought by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to halt the lethal management of sea lions on the Columbia River as part of an effort to protect endangered salmon. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Record: Ohio deer hunters break quarter million mark

The Ohio Division of Wildlife reports that deer hunters in The Buckeye State took a record of 252,017 whitetails during all of the 2008 deer hunting seasons, marking the first time the total harvest has climbed above the 250,000 mark. Jeffrey Frischkorn in the News-Herald.

Half-cocked: Man shoots motorcycle parked in his spot

A 22-year-old Mesa, Ariz. man was arrested yesterday for allegedly firing a shotgun at a motorcycle that was parked in his apartment parking spot, and then pointing the gun at the bike's owner when he came to investigate the shooting. Ramone Eugene Flagg was charged with aggravated assault with a weapon, discharging a firearm in the city, criminal damage and lying to police. The Arizona Republic.

Ruger stock upgraded to 'strong buy'

An analyst with CL King & Assoc. yesterday upgraded shares of Sturm, Ruger & Co. to "strong buy" after the company's revenue soared 81 percent in the fourth quarter. "We are raising our rating, recognizing that sales are benefiting from what is clearly a one-time surge in gun sales due to the arrival of the new Democratic administration," said analyst Jim Barrett. Via AP.

200-pound buck breaks (into) bank, leaves deposit

A 200-pound whitetail buck crashed through a large reflective window at the Wapakoneta, Ohio Fifth Third Bank branch Monday, jumping on a table in a conference room, kicking hoof-sized holes in the walls and tearing down shelving inside a vault. The deer left fur, blood and a deposit of urine inside the vault before exiting the same way it had entered. In The Lima News.

Winter claims Minn. 'triple drop tine' buck

The triple-drop-tine buck of Yucatan Valley was something of a legend among hunters and residents in and around Houston County, Minn. for many years. Well, "TD" is no more, found dead of natural causes by Matt Semling on his farm Feb. 7. Greg Schieber writes in the Caledonia Argus that the massive buck, estimated to be 8 1/2 years old, scored 181 B&C. Click on photo for better look at the big boy and see my Slugs & Plugs blog.

No surprise: AG calls for 'assault weapons' ban

ABC News is reporting that Attorney General Eric Holder said the Obama Administration will seek to reinstate the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004, reasoning it would stem the flow of weapons into Mexico, where drug cartel-related violence continues to escalate. "I think it would have a positive impact in Mexico, at a minimum," Holder said during a news conference.

Yellowstone wolf tracked to Colorado

Using GPS tracking data, researchers say an 18-month old female wolf separated from its pack north of Yellowstone National Park in September and has since traveled at least 1,000 miles to its last known location near Eagle, Colorado. The Grand Junction Sentinel.

Bam! Woman, 70, uses saucepan to subdue intruder

Ellen Basinski refused to be intimidated by a man and three juveniles who forced their way into her Elyria, Ohio home and demanded money. Armed with her favorite Emeril Lagasse (the Bam! TV cook) 5-quart saucepan, Basinski went on the offensive. "I picked up the saucepan and smacked him right on the head," she said. "He looked at me and said, 'Lady, why did you do that?' And I hit him again." The four fled but were soon arrested by police. Story and video in The Plain Dealer.

Neighbor irate over backyard deer butchering

Avid hunter Santos Garcia has been skinning and processing deer and other game animals in his Lewisville, Tex. backyard for years. His neighbor, Frank Hlatky, thinks the practice is "uncivilized;" so much so that he complained to police. "I don't want to see it. I don't want to see it at all," Hlatky said. Our advice? Don't watch him, Frankie. CBS11 News.