The Outdoor Pressroom

Kansan who poached possible state record is sentenced

A Topeka, Kansas man who admitted poaching a whitetail deer earlier this year that, if taken legally, could have been the new state record, has been sentenced to serve 30 days in jail and ordered to pay $9,500 in fines and resititution. David Kent pleaded guilty to four of eight original charges, including criminal hunting, hunting outside of legal hours, illegal hunting during a closed season and using an illegal caliber while hunting big game. Michael Pearce at the Wichita Eagle.

Fly-fishing hooked economic symposium for Jackson Hole

In 1982, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City began hosting its annual conference in Jackson Hole, Wyo. as an effort to lure then-Federal Reserve Chairman (and avid fly angler) Paul Volcker to what is now known as the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium. Yesterday, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernacke spoke before an international audience at the Jackson Hole Lodge. AP.

Montana game warden reassigned after death threats

A longtime Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks game warden who investigated allegations of poaching by Lake County law enforcement officers has been assigned to another agency after alleged threats were made to his life. Frank Bowen was transferred to the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation effective Aug. 14, where his reassignment will be reviewed in six months, according to Warden Capt. Lee Anderson. The Missoulian.

Revolver from 1974 NY burglary recovered in Indiana

A High Standard Double Nine .22 cal. revolver recovered by Putnam County (Ind.) Sheriff’s deputies investigating a reckless discarge call Monday was found to have been stolen in a 1974 burglary of the Stafford Trading Post in Genssee County, NY, some 600 miles distant.  Greencastle Banner-Graphic.

Hammock untangled from raghorn's headgear

A young bull elk that found itself hopelessly entangled in someone's hammock was rescued by personnel from Colorado Parks and Wildlife this week near Aspen, when it was tranquilized so the rope and fabric could be removed. "Cutting it off was tough," said Snowmass police Sgt. Brian Olson. "It was extremely entangled and wrapped pretty tight." Aspen Daily News.

Montanans have low tolerance for wolves, support hunt

The results of surveys presented to the members of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission at its regular meeting Thursday indicate that Montanans generally have a low tolerance for gray wolves and a general acceptance of hunting them. Brett French in The Billings Gazette.

2nd Amendment Tax Holiday coming to Louisiana

After the past couple of days, here's something for the residents of Louisiana to look forward to. The state’s annual Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday, which features three days that all types of firearms, ammunition and hunting gear sold in The Bayou State are exempt from state and local taxes, happens next weekend, Sept. 7-9. My NRA/Shooting Illustrated Weekly Slug" blog has the details.

Animal activists take Kansas State Fair to court

Hearings are scheduled to begin September 4 in a lawsuit filed by the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in which the Kansas State Fair is accused of violating the groups' right of free speech. At issue is a video PETA wants to show at its State Fair booth that depicts animal slaughterhouse scenes that the State Fair Board says violates its standards. U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Marten, a Clinton appointee said to be a staunch defender of the First Amendment, will preside. Pork Network.

Mont. & Idaho squeezed with fewer nonresident hunters

Weather, wolves, politics and the economy are slamming a quadruple whammy on the budgets of fish and game agencies in Idaho and Montana, writes the Spokane Spokesman-Review outdoor writer Rich Landers. Idaho’s sale of nonresident deer and elk tags have steadily declined each year since 2008. And for the second time in 30 years, Montana has a surplus of nonresident big-game combo licenses—tags that used to sell out by March 15.

Show Me State's biggest gum tree is storm victim

The Missouri state champion black gum tree, located in Caney Mountain Wildlife Refuge north of Gainesville and estimated to be at least 150 years old, fell victim to an Aug. 13 windstorm. The tree, which most recently was measured at 109 feet tall, had a circumference of 10 feet, 9 inches and a crown spread of 46 feet. It was officially titled the state champion black gum on Sept. 14, 1982. Ozark County Times.

Bear spray in backpack fails to thwart grizzly attack

A 20-year-old geological engineering student gathering mineral samples for a mining company is recovering in a Fairbanks, Alaska hospital after she was attacked and bitten by a grizzly bear about 20 miles north of the Denali Highway on Sunday. Julia Stafford said she was carrying bear spray inside a backpack. "I was wearing gloves and they were wet and it was confusing," Stafford said. "There was just not enough time to get the bear spray out." Tim Mowry in The Fairbanks News-Miner.

Can a tick bite make you a vegetarian? Maybe.

New scientific evidence indicates that lone star tick bites may trigger an allergy to meat in some adults, resulting in an outbreak of hives or potentially fatal anaphylactic shock. Virginia Commonwealth University researcher Dr. Susan Wolver writes in the Journal of Internal Medicine: "Where ticks are endemic...clinicians should be aware of this new syndrome when presented with a case of anaphylaxis. Current guidance is to counsel patients to avoid all mammalian meat—beef, pork, lamb and venison." Discover Magazine, ABC and DoctorsLounge.com.

Montana rancher shoots, kills bear in house

A Choteau, Mont. rancher returned home after dark Monday to find a black bear had raided his pantry. "It was dark out. I was headed for the light switch when it ran across ahead of me," Lane Yeager said. "That's when I knew I had an issue." Yeager, who was alone in the home, used his .45-70 rifle to shoot the bear. "I killed it so someone else wouldn't have to," he said. "We’re fat with grizzlies but the black bear was off the beaten path." Great Falls Tribune.

Alaska guide-outfitter fined $125K on 16 counts

A 76-year-old master Alaska hunting guide who pleaded guilty to 16 counts of illegal guiding in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge between 2007 and 2009 was fined $125,000 and sentenced to five years probation in U.S. District Court in Fairbanks on Friday. Under terms of his probation, Joe Norbert Hendricks, owner of Fair Chase Hunts and a registered Alaska guide-outfitter since 1974, may not hunt, guide or accompany anyone doing so for five years. Fairbanks News-Miner.

One of two mountain lions killed in Boulder, Colo.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife personnel shot and killed one mountain lion that showed no fear of humans and hazed a secord cat away from buidlings after the two young adult felines wandered into Boulder Monday night. Boulder Daily Camera.