The Outdoor Pressroom

Mass. woman severely injured in fox attack

A man who makes a living trapping and removing nuisance animals from homes and property is credited with saving a woman who was being viciously attacked by a fox in Worcester, Mass. this morning. “He was rabid for sure,” said Robert Ford, 44. “This animal was tearing her up. I just ran up and punted it off of her.” The fox then attacked Ford, even as he sought safety atop a car roof. In the Worcester Telegram.

Defense: Dog made her steal from ex's bank account

A Snohomish County (Wash.) woman is charged with identity theft and forgery for allegedly taking money from her ex-husband's bank account. Her defense? "Her dog got into her purse and ate all her personal checks," said police spokeswoman Kristin Banfield. She told the cops she had no choice but to take funds from her former husband's account. In The Everett Herald.

S. Dakota deer hunters have record 2008 season

Harvest surveys compiled by the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department indicate hunters killed about 74,000 whitetail deer and 18,000 mule deer in 2008, a record total of more than 91,000 deer--reflecting an increase of more than 4,000 from 2007 and nearly double the 46,000 deer killed in 1999. GFP News.

Idaho bear hunter attacked, tossed by female grizzly

An eastern Idaho black bear hunter was bitten and knocked down by a female grizzly bear Sunday after her cubs were pursued by his hounds. The bear retreated after the victim's brother fired one shot with his .44 Magnum handgun. Keith Klingler, 38 was treated for non-life threatening lacerations at a nearby hospital. More on my Slugs & Plugs blog.

Wisconsin woman bowled over by black bear

A woman sustained minor injuries when she was knocked down by a black bear as she walked outside her home near Siren, Wisconsin Sunday night. Authorities with the Wisconsin DNR believe the same bear had been on the home's porch several nights earlier. The Duluth News-Tribune.

Bid to politicize Louisiana hunting seasons fails

Controversial legislation aimed at allowing the Louisiana state legislature to review—and reject—hunting season dates, bag limits and restrictions set each year by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission passed out of committee but did not receive a full vote prior to the end of the session. Via AP.

Great Lakes wolves back under federal protection

A court-ordered settlement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the animal rights and anti-hunting organization Humane Society of the United States has returned the Great Lakes gray wolf management to the FWS and will make most shooting and trapping of the predator illegal. Duluth News Tribune.

82nd Airborne jumps at Little Bighorn

As part of a unique "new warfare meets old," re-enactment of Custer's Last Stand Sunday, 60 members of the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne jumped from C-130 transport planes and forded Montana's Little Bighorn River for the third and final day of this year's performance. Jump organizers said it was the largest gathering of U.S. Cavalry personnel on the site since the Battle of the Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876. The Billings Gazette.

Dog-chewed passport keeps student stateside

Just minutes before Jon Meier left for a trip to Peru with his high school Spanish class, his golden retriever Sunshine chewed a corner of his US passport. He breezed through Chicago's O'Hare, but US Customs in Miami wouldn't accept his "mutilated" document, or his "my dog ate it" defense. The Eau Claire Leader Telegram.

Urban bear takes fall on backyard trampoline

When representatives from the Colorado Division of Wildlife were called to a Highlands Ranch home to remove a treed black bear, they placed the family's trampoline beneath the tree prior to shooting the animal with a tranquilizer. "Kids aren't happy. It broke the trampoline when he fell, but he was about 30 feet into the air," said homeowner Rod Michotte. KMGH-TV.

Anglers lie to warden, kid tells truth

Two Santa Rosa County, Fla. anglers cited for fishing violations who gave false names to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers were outed by a child fishing with them and subsequently arrested for outstanding warrants, including failure to pay child support. Whoops. NW Florida Daily News reports.

Dog being chased by coyotes boards bus, escapes

While this story is several weeks old, it's new to us and we think worth sharing with Outdoor Pressroom faithful. An Australian cattle dog being stalked by two coyotes escaped harm by boarding a Calgary (Alberta) Transit bus operated by a sympathetic driver. “This puppy’s fate seemed obvious, he was breakfast for two hungry coyotes. So I opened the door...and he was in in a heartbeat,” said driver Dawn Hagel. The Calgary Herald.

Ohio DNR to extend bowhunt lottery for nature preserves

Based on the success of last year's effort in which 120 deer were taken, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will hold a lottery and allow a limited number of bowhunters to hunt deer at 23 state nature preserves in 2009. The application deadline is Aug. 15. The Columbus Dispatch.

Veteran writer Wootters at 81: 'I love deer'

Austin American-Statesman outdoors writer Mike Leggett interviews veteran gun writer John Wootters, who is mostly retired these days at 81. "I love deer," said Wootters. "I never loved their scores. I'm not a record-book hunter. I'm not sure I even approve of record books. I think they've resulted in a lot of abuse of the resource."

NJ one-gun-a-month bill goes to governor

Legislation limiting New Jersey residents to the purchase of one handgun a month received state Senate approval this morning and now goes to Gov. Jon Corzine for his signature. If enacted, New Jersey would join Virginia, Maryland, and California. PolitickerNJ reports.