Hunting and Fishing News & Blog Articles

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Mycoplasma ovipneumonia was recently found in Bighorn sheep in Montana’s Missouri River Breaks. This is the first time pneumonia has been detected in area 622 of Montana which led to a sizable winter dieoff and the closure for hunting in the Hunt District. There are herds in Montana that have this type of pneumonia bacteria that have been doing okay for quite some time, which would suggest that herds infected long ago developed herd immunity to this bacteria. 

However, this strain of M. Ovi bacteria has never been sequenced before in the labs. It’s just slightly different. So where did the bacteria come from? According to an FWP disease ecologist, domestic sheep and goats carry many variations that haven’t been documented in wild sheep. 

We do know that the Browns’ ranch in the Breaks began grazing 500 domestic sheep and goats beginning in 2019. What was once a disease-free, isolated, sheep stronghold, is now in peril. Populations have been declining since 2019 with lamb recruitment down to 33 lambs per 100 ewes in 2022 and 2023, which is half of what they were producing from 2016-2021. 

Another culprit adding to the decline of the sheep in the Breaks is the influx of mountain lions. Lions are occupying more of the Breaks now according to Region 6 Wildlife Manager Scott Thompson. 

https://www.dnews.com

Collared gray wolf activity recorded by CPW from April 22 – May 27, 2025

The May 2025 Collared Gray Wolf Activity Map is now available, showing the wolves’ movements around the state this month. For a watershed to indicate wolf activity, at least one GPS point from at least one wolf collar was recorded within the boundaries of the watershed within the last 30 days. 

Wolf Movement Updates:

This review features Browning’s X-Bolt 2 Speed rifles with the fluted or carbon barrel options. Hunter Brandon Mason breaks down all the features of each model at the rifle range and in the field. Both models feature the Vari-Tech composite stock finished with Browning OVIX camo. This stock allows for a personalized fit for any shooter with easy to adjust comb height, grip angle and length of pull. The ‪Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed Carbon Fiber SR boasts a Preferred Barrel and comes with the Recoil Hawg muzzle brake. Paired with Hornady‬ Precision Hunter ammo, both rifles were shooting tight groups in no time.

The post Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed Rifles Detailed Reviews appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Photo Courtesy of Eastmans’ Publishing

“Hunters flying in to a landlocked spot will have to wait 24 hours before they can legally hunt under the new bill.” 

Using a helicopter to access landlocked parcels of public land is becoming more popular in places like Montana, much to the chagrin of folks without the inclination or money to utilize the method of transportation. Nevermind that folks wanting to access the locked up ground via traditional methods of transportation wouldn’t be able to anyway because it’s landlocked in many instances. 

Nevertheless, Montana has passed SB 106 which places a 24-hour waiting period from time of travel to time of hunt and adds that helicopters must land within “100 feet of a two-track road.” 

Needless to say, there will be folks both applauding and decrying SB 104, as there is with any new legislation, but my take is that Montana could have just made flying a chopper into landlocked public land illegal across the board, but they didn’t. Montana sided with public-land hunters and issued a commonsense law that upholds fair chase hunting standards. 

That said, will I be chartering a chopper to access public-land elk or mulies anytime soon? Probably not, but it’s nice to know that I could if I wanted to. 

Photo Courtesy of Eastmans’ Publishing

Nice work to everyone who took the time to send your elected representatives a message, email or made a call to express your opposition to the proposed sale of 1.5 million acres of your public land in Nevada and Utah. That’s how “government of the people, by the people, for the people…,” is supposed to work and it appears that it has indeed done just that. I would also encourage you to send a thank you for listening message as well. 

The proposed sale of public land in Utah in particular was in reaction to growing frustration surrounding the bureaucratic red tape local communities in Washington and Beaver Counties have been tangled up in when trying to acquire usage of federal land for growth, government and infrastructure. I guess Utah Rep. Celeste Maloy, R-Utah, figured it would just be easier to work language into the budget bill that would pave the way for the sale of lands in question. 

However, co-chairman of the new Public Lands Caucus, Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., and his group stood up and were able to get the public land sale language removed from the budget bill. Zinke made this astoundingly common sense remark in response to the language being stricken… 

“There’s a lot of frustration down in the West. I understand that,” Zinke said in response to the amendment earlier this month. “But I prefer the management scheme. And I give an example as a hotel — if you don’t like the management of a hotel, don’t sell the hotel. Change the management. That’s where I sit on that position.”

Photo Courtesy of Eastmans’ Publishing

Modoc, Plumas, Sierra and Shasta county officials have recently declared that the wolves they’ve been forced to live in close proximity to are a threat to the well being of the people. In other words, those folks are afraid that the wolves, who have a penchant for killing livestock in and around homes and ranches, have grown complacent toward humans thanks to California laws prohibiting people from so much as hazing the predators away from homes and domestic animals. 

“These are wolves that have been in people’s back yards, including walking through children’s sandboxes,” Coe told Farm Press. “An elk was killed by wolves literally on the doorstep of a home that had a family in it during the night.” 

Shasta County in particular has declared an emergency on May 13th, as supervisors stated a, “significant threat to public safety from the presence and impact of gray wolves in close proximity to rural residents,” 

Others, including Amaroq Weiss, a “senior wolf advocate for the Center for Biological Diversity,” are downplaying the concern expressed… ‘“People’s enormous fears of wolves attacking and killing humans have no grounds,” she said.”

General Areas Inhabited by Gray Wolves in Colorado – April 2025 Update

The April 2025 Collared Gray Wolf Activity Map is now live, which shows where wolves moved around the state this month. For a watershed to indicate wolf activity, at least one GPS point from at least one wolf collar was recorded within the boundaries of the watershed within the last 30 days.
 

Wolf Movement Updates:

The post Colorado Wolf Update w/Mortality appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Photo Credit: Eastmans’ Publishing

Is it Time to Start Aerial Predator Culling in the Bob Marshall?

Ok, so we’ve recognized that elk herds are at historical lows in the Bob Marshall because of predators. Between wolves, black bears, grizzly bears, and mountain lions, elk numbers have been declining down to very little. Recently, according to studies FWP is counting less than 300 elk in a 50 mile winter range corridor of the South Fork of the Flathead River drainage. This is a 50 year low! I go over the specifics of these claims in the video link below. The same goes for moose and deer in the same locations. The answer is to kill predators. How do you manage such predators in such a remote location? Logistically it is very difficult so it’s going to cost money. There are no roads and it is wilderness. But there is an ANSWER! Alaska. Yep that’s right. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has been culling predators from helicopters for many, many years. 

You see, the predator and prey model is very simple. Do you want deer, elk or moose? Or do you want predators? You can’t have both. Deer, elk and moose populations aren’t declining because of climate change. They aren’t declining because of overhunting by humans. And they’re surely not declining because of less than ideal habitat in the Bob Marshall. The Bob has several burned areas from over the years that have created some of the best unused habitat you’ll ever see for elk and deer that just don’t have any animals.

Enter the Alaska model for predator management for the Mulchatna Caribou herd. According to Alaska Fish and Game, this herd consisted of nearly 200,000 animals in 1997. At that time, the herd provided more than 4,700 animals for 48 local communities. Now, there are only 13,000 animals left in the Mulchatna Caribou Herd which has been closed to hunting since 2021. Calf survival of this herd has declined by about 94% since 1997. Beginning in 2023, Alaska Fish and Game has become proactive on culling predators on critical calving grounds. That year, 94 brown bears, five black bears, and five wolves were killed from helicopters. Following the 2023 removals, staff documented an increase in calf survival through the fall with a caribou cow-to-calf ratio of 44 calves per 100 cows which is nearly double the 10 year average of 23 calves for every 100 cows. 

The numbers don’t lie. THIS IS SCIENCE. Culling predators is the answer. Just imagine what kind of herds we could grow if we implemented some of these same strategies on the calving ground in the Bob Marshall. Bring back the moose, elk, and deer! 

Bow hunter Dan Pickar, shares how to select a bow sight for hunting. This includes ergonomics, pin type, illumination, sight tape location, and more.

Sights included in this video:

Bow included in this video:

The post The Best Bow Sights for Hunting appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Spring is starting to show up across the West, which means one thing to this bowhunter—time to get after the bears! I absolutely love spot–and–stalk bear hunting in the spring. Black bears are apex predators, and hunting them requires that I am at the top of my game. My actions and decisions can have extreme consequences, and I have to be prepared for intense encounters. Bear hunting ratchets up the adrenalin and is something I crave each and every year. Black bears in the West are also extremely difficult to harvest with archery gear. They are a relatively low population density animal, so when I find a good one, success means dialing in my hunting strategy and tactics. When all these factors are stirred into the same pot, the results are an ultimate challenge. When it’s spring in the Rocky Mountain West, give me my bow, big mountains and pumpkin–headed boars, and I know I am in for one heck of an adventure.     

There is still opportunity to hunt spring bears out West. There are draw tags and even OTC opportunities in states like Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah. There are also multiple mountain ranges with robust bear populations. That doesn’t mean the hunting is easy, but there are a lot of good places to go on a spring bear adventure. That said, spring bear hunting is all about elevation. IT IS ALL ABOUT ELEVATION!   

I just wanted to make sure you got that, as it’s the key to finding bears consistently. The snow and new green growth condenses bears at certain elevations. As the snow melts, new green grass sprouts and begins to grow. This is where the bears will want to be. So, when you are studying up on maps or have boots on the ground in a mountain range, look for the green wave that works its way up the mountain. In Montana, it’s different year to year, but below are guidelines I’ve developed over years and years of chasing spring bruins.   

Bear Location by Elevation Guide

Join Wingmen for an unforgettable spring turkey hunt in Montana. Todd Helms and Scott Reekers team up with Circle S Outfitters to explore the quality of turkey hunting in northeast Montana. The hunt is timed just right and the aggressive toms put on one heck of a show, destroying decoys and displaying dominance. Federal Premium’s Heavyweight TSS absolutely demolishes three gobblers in one action-packed hunt day.

Learn more about Circle S Outfitters or book a hunt here: https://bit.ly/EastmansOutfitters

Thank You To Our Sponsors:

The post Gobbler DESTROYED by TSS! Turkey Hunting In Montana appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

How does killing deer save deer? The Wyoming Range mule deer population crash could have been even worse after the winter of 2022-2023. Learn how predators impact deer numbers and how deaths caused during the winters of 2016-2017 and 2018-2019 actually benefited the Wyoming Range herd. Ike Eastman sits down with Dr. Kevin Monteith of the University of Wyoming to talk about science and management of mule deer in the Wyoming Range and across the West.

Listen to Ike’s full discussion with Kevin here:    • Dr. Kevin Monteith | Mule Deer Manage…  

This episode of Eastmans’ Journal Podcast is brought to you by:

The post Predators, Mule Deer & Winter Kill (Eastmans’ Wildlife) appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Elk hunting in Montana feels more crowded than ever. What’s behind this shift? Eastmans’ Dan Pickar breaks down the factors that have impacted hunt quality in the Big Sky State. From wolves and bears to Covid, drought and loss of access have all contributed to changes in hunt opportunities. How has this affected you?

The post Too Many Non-Resident Hunters & Wolves In Montana!? Hunt Research with Dan Pickar appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Photo Credit: byrdyak_Envato

Most folks have strong feelings about grizzly bears and their ESA (Endangered Species Act) status. Myself included. 

I will spare you too much opinion and simply say that the bears are recovered and management should be handed to the States. Exactly like western wolves in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. 

That said, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has extended the public comment period for grizzly bear management to Friday, May 16, 2025. 

This is excellent news as it provides an extended opportunity for folks to weigh in on the grizzly bear debate, giving the public a louder and clearer voice. 

I applaud this decision as a refreshing move back to government of the people, by the people and it signals a shift in the Federal bureaucratic opposition to grizzly bear delisting. The tide may just be turning folks. 

Photo Credit: macropixel_Envato

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon has signed a bill allowing the shooting of certain non-game animals from a vehicle. 

The non-game animals in question include prairie dogs and ground squirrels but game animals may NOT be shot from a vehicle… “According to the statute, shooting from a public road or highway, including the area within 30 feet on either side of a roadway, is still prohibited.”

The new law allows people to shoot prairie dogs and ground squirrels from vehicles, which is largely done either on private land or on public land from unpaved, unmaintained “roadways”. 

To be clear, shooting these non-game animals from the shoulder of a State highway or County road while in a vehicle appears to still be illegal. The intent of this new law is for folks shooting prairie dogs and ground squirrels while bouncing around in a pasture. A common practice across the West. 

“Restrictions and requirements for animals defined in statute as “predatory animal” remain unchanged, according to the WGFD.” 

Photo Credit: YuriArcursPeopleimages_Envato

A pair of recent poaching cases have once again made me question whether the penalties for egregious and premeditated poaching are strict enough. I’ve held the opinion for a long time that suspended hunting privileges, slight monetary fines and gear confiscation don’t go far enough and these cases prove my point. 

First up is the case of serial poacher Travis Alexander Palmer of Oregon. Palmer received lifetime hunting bans in both 2015 and 2024 for his guilt in continuous poaching before being convicted, again, for a string of poaching offenses. 

“Palmer is a habitual offender who does not care what restrictions are placed on him,” DA Jim Carpenter told the RV Times. “He is going to trophy-hunt or fish as he wishes without regard for the law or other people.” (Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 2025)

That, folks, is the issue at hand… deterrents as they are, do not work for serial poachers like Palmer. The cost for poaching, especially premeditated, serial poaching is simply not high enough. There needs to be a bigger hammer applied to folks like Palmer. 

Lifetime hunting bans don’t work, these criminals have already displayed a complete and utter lack of regard for the law and as we see in a more recent case here in Wyoming involving Kenny Craig of Alabama, nonresident poachers simply duck out and only face punishment IF they return and are apprehended. 

Photo Credit: harrycollinsphotography_Envato

If you commented/voted on the 2025 elk proposals for the Brownlee and Weiser River Zones, you might have noticed something.  There were new/more tags being proposed in those zones.  This was a pleasing sight when I cast my vote for the proposal.  It came as no surprise to me when IDFG announced that they had conducted two elk surveys in that area and showed an increase in the elk population.  

Both the Brownlee and Weiser River Zones are covered in patchy public land surrounded by private land.  This can be challenging to manage the take in those zones because of the wildlife conflict with agriculture in that area.  Each zone has both migratory and local populations of elk.  Elk will also get pushed to the safety of private land during the hunting season.  This can cause issues with meeting the take requirements in these zones and keep conflicts at a minimum.  

During the recent survey, IDFG produced an estimated 1,852 cows and 608 bulls in the Brownlee zone.  The current objective for that zone is 550-850 cows and 150-200 bulls.  In the Weiser River zone, IDFG estimated nearly 7,900 cows and 1,835 bulls.  The objectives for the Weiser River zone are currently 3,300-5,000 cows and 670-1,000 bulls.  

This uptick in population is why we saw the recent proposals for additional tags in those zones.  Along with adding additional controlled hunts in those zones, IDFG proposed removing the cap on the tags for the Weiser River Zone.  This is a good thing for all hunters.  While some zones aren’t doing as well as these two, the fact that IDFG is increasing tags is a good sign for all.  The proposed increase to the tags (along with the other big game hunting proposals) are not final yet but should be soon.  

Along with the above-mentioned proposal, IDFG is also increasing the opportunity for hunters to take a mountain lion.  Currently in most units, mountain lion season ends just before Spring bear season.  For me this was always a point of contention because on two occasions, I could have taken a shot at a mountain lion while glassing for spring bears.  With a new proposal for mountain lions, the season would be open year round, Statewide.  This will undoubtedly increase the number of cats that are taken off the landscape.  With fewer cats we will help both the deer and elk populations.  

Photo Credit: Harrycollinsphotography_Envato

The Utah state legislature is eyeballing doubling all nonresident license costs in the state which will begin July 1st, 2025. This bill is expected to easily pass the House and Senate. The bill will effectively raise the price of all nonresident tags by 100% and would make Utah the most expensive state to hunt in. 

A limited-entry deer tag would go from $670 to $1,340. A limited-entry elk tag would go from $1,050 to $2,100. Talk about a massive increase! 

Moose, sheep, and goat tags will be $4,488! 

WOW!  

It’s getting crazy out there folks. The point to all of this? Go hunting while you can still afford it!

Photo Credit: Harrycollinsphotography_Envato

The Utah state legislature is eyeballing doubling all nonresident license costs in the state which will begin July 1st, 2025. This bill is expected to easily pass the House and Senate. The bill will effectively raise the price of all nonresident tags by 100% and would make Utah the most expensive state to hunt in. 

A limited-entry deer tag would go from $670 to $1,340. A limited-entry elk tag would go from $1,050 to $2,100. Talk about a massive increase! 

Moose, sheep, and goat tags will be $4,488! 

WOW!  

It’s getting crazy out there folks. The point to all of this? Go hunting while you can still afford it!

Photo courtesy of District Court of Wyoming

“A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Western U.S. today ruled that corner-crossing, or accessing public land at a common corner with private land, is legal and protected by federal law.” (Andrew McKean – Outdoor Life, 2025)

Sportsmen and landowners across the West have been standing on one foot waiting for Federal ruling on the much discussed “Corner-Crossing Case” from Wyoming to know where to place that other midair foot. That ended today when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Western U.S. (10th Circuit Court), decided that four Missouri hunters did not trespass on the land of the Iron Bar Ranch in 2020 and 2021 when they used a ladder to cross between sections of public land.  

“…any inclosure of public lands is prohibited, and no one may completely prevent or obstruct another from peacefully entering or freely passing over or through public lands.”

It’s nice to have an answer on this topic and although the decision was a long time coming, and can be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, at least folks on both sides of the fence know where they stand. . . for now. There is little argument that this topic is now closed and I’m sure we will see continued probing as folks test the ruling over the coming months.