Vermont is one of the most rural states in the country, and Vermonters have a proud heritage of living close to the land. Hunting is highly regulated and provides a way to connect with the land, connect with nature and connect with a healthy, sustainable food source that is rooted in Vermont.

Making the most of the meals provided by deer taken in hunting seasons starts with processing them quickly and correctly which is why the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has three online videos demonstrating how to process deer. Finding the videos is easy on the Fish and Wildlife website. Click on “Hunt” and then “White-tailed Deer” and “Processing Your Deer.”

The educational videos are titled Field Dressing a Deer, Skinning a Deer and Butchering a Deer.

“Correctly processing game can make a big difference in the taste of the meat,” said Hunter Education Program Coordinator Nicole Meier with the department. “Taking the time to do it correctly assures that you and your family will have many enjoyable meals ahead.”

The point of this quick and dirty elk hunting forecast is to help guide hunters who may be picking up the rifle or muzzleloader later in the season.

Sure, some might argue that the peak of elk season spans the first and last days of September while you traipse around the woods with a compound bow in your hand, listening for bugles. I’m not going to dispute that; however, there are several opportunities throughout the fall to go after elk, and the point of this quick and dirty elk hunting forecast is to help guide hunters who may be picking up the rifle or muzzleloader later in the season.

For those looking for regional-specific elk info, head to the bottom of this article—but hold off just a second. While elk conditions and populations can vary from region to region, there are a few general truths to elk hunting I’d like to highlight before diving into more localized information.

First off, a little background for context. Read more

The hunter called the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office as soon as he was able to report the incident.

On the morning of Oct. 18, a big game hunter shot and killed a male grizzly bear in self-defense after it charged him from a short distance away while hunting in the North Antelope flats area of Island Park on the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.

The hunter was hiking through thick timber when the grizzly came out of the brush, charging directly toward him. The man used the hunting rifle he was carrying to shoot the bear, killing it before contact was made.

The hunter called the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office as soon as he was able to report the incident. Idaho Fish and Game was notified and immediately responded to the report. After conducting a thorough investigation, it was determined that the hunter acted in self-defense as he was being charged by a bear from a close distance. Read more

Rooster pheasants will be released on 13 state game/wildlife areas throughout southern Michigan this fall. Releases will take place today-Nov. 14 and Dec. 1-31, coinciding with pheasant hunting seasons.

Adam Bump, Department of Natural Resources upland game bird specialist, said, “For seasoned hunters and newcomers alike, this is a great opportunity to connect or reconnect with upland bird hunting in Michigan.”

Directions to parking lots at release sites are provided online.

Parking Lot Directions

Releases will take place during the regular pheasant season at locations below. Locations include: Read more

Pope and Young, America’s leading bowhunting organization, is proud to announce a new Pope and Young (P&Y) World Record Non-Typical American Elk. A special panel was convened by both the Pope and Young Club and Boone and Crockett Club consisting of experienced measurers from each organizations in Lacey, Washington, on October 13th to verify the scoring of this exceptional animal—and it has officially been confirmed as the new Pope and Young World Record. This was the first ever joint special panel with both Pope &Young Club and Boone & Crockett Club convened for a potential World Record for both organizations.

On December 31, 2024, Casey Brooks shot this record-breaking bull in Kittitas County, Washington. The bull has an official score of 478 2/8”, surpassing the previous Pope and Young World Record by an astounding 28 6/8”. This incredible bull is less than half an inch from the Boone & Crockett World Record, which would be the largest bull ever taken or found in North America, and Casey killed his bull with archery equipment, which an outstanding accomplishment.

Casey pursued this bull for two years before finally getting him within bow range. Undeterred, he dedicated himself to the chase, ultimately releasing a well-placed arrow on the final day of 2024—culminating a remarkable two-year pursuit. Read more

In this episode of the award-winning “Wildtalk” podcast, we talk about the Hunters Feeding Michigan program and habitat in northern Michigan’s bear country. Then, we fly away with a discussion about wood ducks and wrap things up with a chat about the striped skunk.

Don’t forget to participate in the wildlife quiz part of the show for a chance to win a “Wildtalk” podcast camp mug. The deadline for submission is October 15, so don’t delay. These mugs are exclusive and not available for purchase, so be sure to listen and submit your answer via email to DNR-Wildlife@Michigan.gov with the subject line “Mug me.” Keep an ear out for the November episode, when we will announce the lucky winners.

You can be on the show

If you have a general question about wildlife or hunting, record a voice memo on your phone and email it to DNR-Wildlife@Michigan.gov, and we might play it on the air. Don’t worry if you make a mistake recording your audio. We’ll be sure to edit your voice memo to help you be as concise and articulate as possible with your question. Submitted questions are not guaranteed to end up on the show, but we’ll do our best to work in as many as we can.

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Bears remain active during fall hunting seasons

Fortunately, three archery hunters are uninjured after two recent encounters with grizzly bears in the Taylor Fork south of Big Sky.

The first encounter involved two hunters on Sept. 29. They were hunting in the vicinity of a known elk carcass when they saw a grizzly bear. To make their presence known, the hunters yelled at the bear. The bear reportedly came toward the hunters, and they each fired once with handguns. Both the bear and the hunters left the site without further incident.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff learned of the encounter on Oct. 1, and after interviewing the hunters, determined it was unlikely the bear was injured.

On Oct. 3, a lone hunter reportedly encountered a grizzly bear at close range. The bear charged, and the hunter deployed bear spray, which stopped the charge. The hunter left the area and reported the incident to FWP. Read more

Whether you’re in the marsh, standing in flooded timber, creeping quietly through heavy brush or in any other hunting situation, wet hands quickly sap your dexterity, comfort and confidence. When the weather turns cold and wet, even the best hunters can lose focus fast. Cold, soaked hands don’t just make for a miserable morning—they can cost you a shot, a bird or a trophy. The right waterproof hunting glove does more than just block moisture: it must balance protection, warmth, grip and shooting precision.

Enter Hunt Monkey, the performance-driven hunting glove line built with next-level waterproofing, insulation and grip technologies to keep your hands dry, warm, and ready no matter what the conditions throw your way.

Rain, snow, sleet, and wet brush are the hunter’s constant adversaries. Once water penetrates your gloves, insulation loses efficiency, fingers go numb and trigger control becomes sloppy. That’s where Hunt Monkey’s advanced waterproof glove technology stands apart. Read more

Rooster pheasants will be released on 13 state game/wildlife areas throughout southern Michigan this fall. Releases will take place Oct. 20-Nov. 14 and Dec. 1-31, coinciding with pheasant hunting season.

Release locations:

• • Cass City (Tuscola County).
  • Cornish (Van Buren County).
  • Crane Pond (Cass County).
  • Crow Island (Bay and Saginaw counties).
  • Dansville (Ingham County).
  • Erie (Monroe County).
  • Lapeer (Lapeer County).
  • Leidy Lake (St. Joseph County).
  • Townline 16 (Bay County).
  • Pointe Mouillee (Monroe and Wayne counties).
  • Rose Lake (Clinton and Shiawassee counties).
  • Stanton (Montcalm County).
  • St. Johns Marsh (St. Clair County).

Read more