Tag: outdoors

Rescued deer has new look, hunters ask if buck can be shot

A mule deer rescued in mid-October after its head became ensnared in string has a new lease on life and a sporty new appearance.

A mule deer that was rescued in mid-October after its head and antlers became ensnared in string has a new lease on life and a sporty new appearance.

“Remember the mule deer that got tangled in some string a couple weeks ago? Well, look at him now with his all-new bling (GPS collar),” the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources wrote Friday on Facebook. “Check out this wildlife before and after!”

ALSO ON FTW OUTDOORS: Angler says breaking 41-year-old walleye record is bittersweet

The deer was tranquilized and fitted with a collar after residents of Parowan reported seeing a buck “with an unidentifiable mass of string caught in its antlers,” the UDWR stated on Oct. 13. “The buck was not able to see through what we suspect was a tangled hammock.”

Reaction to Friday’s post, showing a side-by-side, then-and-now image, might not be what some expected.

While some comments were congratulatory, others were from people wondering whether it’s OK to shoot the buck during hunting season.

“So if we do shoot a collared deer & report it, we won’t be harassed?” one person asked. “I mean you collar a big deer like that, that may be one in a lifetime for me. Ima shoot it!”

The UDWR responded with an answer that might surprise some of its followers, stating that the collared buck is fair game during hunting season.

“We encourage hunters not to shoot collared deer,” the agency wrote. “But if you do just make sure to report it so we can pick up the collar and reuse it.”

–Image courtesy of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

[listicle id=1226180]

Things go from bad to worse for man caught poaching salmon

It might have seemed as though things couldn’t get worse for a man who was cited by different wardens for catching salmon in different closed areas on the same day recently.

It might have seemed as though things couldn’t get worse for a man who was cited by different officers for catching salmon in different closed areas on the same day recently.

But as announced Friday by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police, after receiving his second citation the man wrecked his automobile on a nearby highway.

“After such a bad-luck day, the subject may reconsider poaching in Pierce and Mason County streams,” the WDFWP stated in a news release.

The man was one of three anglers “blatantly violating” regulations by fishing in a closed Minter Creek hatchery zone established to protect vulnerable salmon as they migrate toward spawning grounds and through narrow hatchery intake areas.

RELATED: Domestic violence call leads to multiple trophy deer-poaching charges

The man tried to flee but was caught by “Officer Summit” and cited along with the other individuals. Nine salmon were seized as evidence.

When Officer Summit submitted his report later that morning he discovered that the man had been cited for a similar violation near Hoodsport about 90 minutes after receiving his first citation.

Officer Jewitt, who issued the second citation, noticed that the man had marked his salmon catch record card with fish he caught from Minter Creek. These cards must be filled out by anglers to help biologists monitor fish populations.

RELATED: After shooting decoy, charges pile up for suspected deer poachers

According to the WDFWP, the man told Officer Jewitt that he had given those salmon away when, in fact, they had been seized by Officer Summit because they were caught illegally in a closed area.

The WDFWP stated: “After being contacted and cited by two fish and wildlife officers on two different closed waterbodies, the individual wrecked his vehicle on Hwy 101 near Potlatch.”

The agency did not mention whether the man had been injured in the crash.

–Image courtesy of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police

After shooting decoy, charges pile up for suspected deer poachers

Three individuals were arrested in Massachusetts recently after officers observed one of them shooting a deer decoy from inside a vehicle after legal hunting hours on private property.

Three individuals were arrested in Massachusetts after officers observed one of them shooting a deer decoy from inside a vehicle after legal hunting hours on private property.

The Massachusetts Environmental Police stated in a news release that officers on patrol in the Templeton/Phillipston area saw a vehicle spotlight illuminating the woods before one of the individuals shot the decoy with a crossbow.

ALSO ON FTW OUTDOORS: Two great white sharks tracked to ‘infamous’ California surfing beach 

“Realizing it was a decoy, the vehicle attempted to flee but was subsequently stopped by Officers,” MEP said of the Nov. 11 incident. “Officers then observed deer legs within the truck bed in plain view.

“Three individuals in the vehicle, including the operator, were arrested. Through the interview process, it was reported that additional deer had been taken illegally.”

Officers seized the crossbow as evidence and impounded the vehicle.

The individuals were arraigned Monday on charges that include firing of a crossbow within 150 feet of a road; illegal hunting with a crossbow; hunting with the aid of a vehicle; hunting with artificial light; hunting after hours; tagging violations, and hunting on public land without permits.

Massachusetts Environmental Police added that additional charges stemming from violations in another state “are forthcoming.”

–White-tailed deer image is generic

Watch: Dozens of elk flee Kruger Rock Fire in Colorado

The Kruger Rock Fire southeast of Estes Park in Colorado has prompted several residents to evacuate their homes. Wild animals, likewise, are fleeing the smoke and flames.

The Kruger Rock Fire southeast of Estes Park in Colorado has prompted several residents to evacuate. But wild animals also are fleeing the smoke and flames.

Eric Harrington, who lives in Estes Park, has tweeted several videos showing the fire from his home at Mary’s Lake. The accompanying video shows dozens of elk fleeing in a straight line, away from the blaze, across a nearby meadow.

“Seeing a herd of Elk running from the smoke/fire here in Estes Park at Mary’s Lake,” Harrington tweeted.

According to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, the fire had consumed 133 acres and was 15% contained as of 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Harrington, late Tuesday, also tweeted the above image of the blaze as dusk settled over the region.

Video shows whale breaching just feet from worried angler

For a group of kayak anglers off Panama recently, fishing became secondary as two humpback whales surfaced nearby and began to throw their weight around.

For a group of kayak anglers off Panama recently, fishing became secondary as humpback whales surfaced and began to throw their weight around.

While the astonishingly close encounter left them in awe, the angler closest to the activity told FTW Outdoors that he feared one of the 40-ton whales might land on him.

“It made me realize how small we are as people,” Byron Young said, adding that the breaching whale in the footage was only 25 feet away. “When they hit the water I could feel a rumble through my kayak into my body.”

The footage – a silent Facebook clip and a longer YouTube version in which the whales appear at 17:03 – was captured by Robert Field of Field Trips with Robert Field.

The encounter occurred in September but Field only recently published the footage as part of the YouTube episode.

ALSO ON FTW OUTDOORS: ‘Extremely rare’ battle between rhino and buffalo caught on video

The kayak anglers were guests at Los Buzos Resort, which is popular among fishermen and surfers.

Young, who is from Riverside, Ca., is said to be enjoying “a front-row seat” as the whales revealed their tail flukes and slapped at the surface with their pectoral fins.

But Young said he was peddling backwards even before one of the whales breached because he wasn’t sure the whales were aware of his presence.

“I was trying to get away from them because I thought one was going to land on me and I kept telling myself this is really going to hurt,” he recalled.

Young added that the fishing was equally “amazing” and sent FTW Outdoors the above image showing him posing with a large roosterfish that he caught and released.

Bittersweet moment as angler breaks 41-year-old walleye record

A Pennsylvania angler has been notified that his recent catch of an 18-pound, 1-ounce walleye replaces a state record that had stood since 1980.

A Pennsylvania angler has been notified that his recent catch of an 18-pound, 1-ounce walleye replaces a state record that had stood since 1980.

“I’m tickled about the fish. I’m glad it beat the record, but it’s a shame to beat an old record like that,” Richard Nicholson, 62, told Go Erie.

Nicholson hooked the 34-inch walleye Oct. 28 on the Youghiogheny River in Fayette County, while fishing with live creek chubs.

His first inclination was to fillet the fish, but his son, Richard Nicholson Jr., convinced him to have the fish weighed for record consideration.

ALSO ON FTW OUTDOORS: Great white sharks tracked to ‘infamous’ California surfing beach

The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, after a period of review, on Sunday presented a record certificate to Nicholson, who lives in Connellsville, describing his catch as an “outstanding angling achievement.”

The previous Pennsylvania record, held by Mike Holly of Bradford, was the 1980 catch of a 17-pound, 9-ounce walleye on the Allegheny River.

For the sake of comparison, the world record stands at 25 pounds. That fish was reeled from Tennessee’s Old Hickory Lake in 1960.

–Image showing Richard Nicholson with his record walleye is courtesy of Nicholson, via the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission

Watch: Buck seeks refuge in church on first day of deer season

Pastors at Grace Christian Fellowship Church were surprised to find a buck had broken into their church. The moment was captured in video.

On the first day of deer season for firearms in Michigan, a 10-point buck apparently sought to find refuge in Grace Christian Fellowship Church in Sturgis, breaking through a window and becoming a huge surprise to the pastors when they got to the church Monday morning.

“When Luke Eicher, Justin Wickey and Amanda Eicher arrived at the church this morning, they found signs of breaking and entering,” stated the church’s description on the video. “Little did they know that a 10-point buck had come for prayer in the auditorium on opening day of gun season.”

Pastor Amanda Eicher captured the discovery on video:

When the three walked into the church’s office Monday morning, they noticed light coming from a darkened window in the auditorium.

“When I peeked inside, I saw the window was broken and heard loud banging,” Amanda Eisher told Storyful. “My husband rushed in and found this 10-point buck. On the opening day of the gun season of all days!”

Also on FTW Outdoors: Charging elk sends Yellowstone tourist tumbling to ground  (video)

As you can see in the video, the buck eventually made its way out the same way he had come in.

“There was some damage to the building and our pastors are a little traumatized,” the church reported. “But the buck left strengthened in the Lord to go face his battles.”

Photo courtesy of Grace Christian Fellowship Church.

Watch: Bison herd surrounds ‘flipped out’ Yellowstone tourists

The Broyles of Tennessee were visiting Yellowstone National Park where they got an unexpected welcome on the park’s entrance road.

The Broyles of Tennessee were visiting Yellowstone National Park where they got an unexpected welcome on the park’s entrance road.

A herd of bison, estimated to number around 150, sauntered down the highway stopping traffic and engulfing the Broyles’ SUV, all captured on video.

The couple was amazed as they watched the bison pass, calling it a once-in-a-lifetime experience and continuously saying “This is crazy.”

Also on FTW Outdoors: Bison stampede in Yellowstone rocks bridge in ‘scary’ encounter (video)

“I wonder if [other] people are as flipped out as we are,” Mrs. Broyles commented in the video.

The encounter lasted three minutes, and equally impressed viewers of the video. Among the comments on YouTube:

“Such a beautiful sight to see.”

“Thanks for sharing…this was great.”

“I loved your commentary!”

Watch: Elk flips over fence in major fail as herd looks on

Rob Underwood noticed one particular elk standing out from the herd of 200—the one lacking grace as it attempted to jump over a fence.

As he was traveling on Highway 95 north of New Meadows, Idaho, Rob Underwood came across a herd of about 200 elk crossing between ranches. Watching for 45 minutes or so, he noticed one particular elk standing out from the herd—the one lacking grace as it attempted to jump over a fence.

The elk failed to get its feet clear of the fence and tumbled head over heels, landing upside down on the other side of the fence but quickly scrambling to its feet, as if to say, “Nothing to see here.”

Also on FTW Outdoors: Little girl’s precious reaction after expecting a bigger fish (video)

It then crossed the street as if nothing happened. Underwood captured the moment in video.

“The voice in the background was a ranch owner that lived nearby,” Underwood told USA Today/For The Win Outdoors. “I reacted similar to the voice. Never seen anything like that. Was crazy to see it for myself.”

Photo courtesy of ViralHog.

[listicle id=1197520]

Little girl’s precious reaction after expecting a bigger fish

Video shows the moment a 4-year-old angler is surprised by the size of her catch while fishing with her father.

A 4-year-old girl was fishing with her father at a pond at his school when she hooked a fish on her own and began reeling it in. Dallon Ray immediately started filming and captured the precious moment when little Annie discovered the fish wasn’t quite as big as she thought.

“This is a big one, this is a big one,” Annie exclaimed in the video. But her tune quickly changed after pulling the bluegill onto the bank.

“This is really tiny! Tiny!” she said, using hand gestures for emphasis. “This is so tiny!”

Also on FTW Outdoors: Fisherman’s ‘full-on tug of war’ results in fish of a lifetime

Ray told USA Today/For The Win Outdoors that Annie had caught fish before with assistance, her biggest being a 15-inch catfish.

“She has been fishing many times before, but this trip was one of the first she could cast and reel all on her own,” Ray explained to For The Win Outdoors. “When she said it was a big one, I knew it was probably just a bluegill because that is what we had been catching previously.

“I was surprised she called it tiny because it wasn’t super small, but we had recently caught one that was 12 inches long so I guess compared to that it was smaller.”

Either way, it was a catch of a lifetime…video-wise.

Photo courtesy of ViralHog.

Also on FTW Outdoors: Bison stampede in Yellowstone rocks bridge in ‘scary’ encounter (video)