Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

Slingshot, a grand old mule deer, and the most famous of the big bucks at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge near Denver was found dead last Sunday.

One photographer who saw him on November 15, the day before he was found dead, said he was limping and seemed unhealthy. He was probably already suffering from the puncture wound that ultimately cost him his life.

Epic Battle Kills Old Warrior

As reported by Mark Heinz in the Cowboy State Daily, Slingshot was discovered dead, Sunday at the National Wildlife Refuge. His carcass was inspected by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service game wardens who’s necropsy revealed Slingshot died from a puncture wound behind his right front leg which entered his lung, and the wound had come from another buck’s antler. Every fall, bucks fight each other for dominance during the rut and when truly big bucks meet, their battles can be extremely violent and on rare occasion, lead to death. Observers noted that the ground where Slingshot’s carcass was found looked torn up, as if an epic buck battle had happened there.

Photo Courtesy of Colorado Parks & Wildlife

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) in partnership with Operation Game Thief, now offers a $4,000 cash award as efforts continue to seek the public’s help to identify those responsible for  poaching and abandoning carcasses of four large bull elk on four separate ranches in Las Animas County. The elk were illegally shot Sept. 13, 26 and 27 near the communities of Stonewall and Picketwire.

The Incident

Of the four bull elk poached, one was shot and abandoned whole; one was wounded and had to be put down; another was shot with only the backstraps removed; the fourth had its head removed with no meat taken. 

The Reward

At today’s Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commissioner’s Meeting the CPW staff presented the items below so the Commissioners could ask questions and provide guidance back to the staff.  After final staff preparation, these items will be presented to the Commissioners at a future meeting for a vote on whether or not to adopt these changes.

Deer
● Creating a first rifle season buck hunt code in data analysis unit D-30.
● Creating a private-land-only deer hunt code in game management unit 682.
Elk
● Modifying second and third rifle season bull elk licenses from unlimited over-the-counter to limited in game management units 54, 55, and 551.
● Removing antler point restrictions in game management unit 82.
● Modifying hunt codes for the first and fourth rifle seasons in data analysis unit E-2.
● Creating a private-land-only hunt code in data analysis unit E-13.
● Creating private-land-only archery hunt codes in data analysis units E-20 and E-35.
Pronghorn
● Creating pronghorn licenses in data analysis unit A-22.
● Creating a second antlerless season in data analysis unit A-3.
Bighorn Sheep
● Removing hunt code SMS79O1R.
● Closing hunting in game management unit S-35 due to low population size.
● Combining sheep hunt codes in game management units S1 and S18.

The post Potential Changes to CO Big Game Regulations? appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Photo Courtesy of NaturesCharm_Envato

Today the Parks and Wildlife Commission unanimously approved regulations giving bison a dual legal classification as both livestock and wildlife in Colorado, following the direction of the 2025 Protect Wild Bison Act (SB25-053).

Under the new regulations, privately owned and fenced bison herds will continue to be managed as livestock through the Colorado Department of Agriculture. However, free-ranging bison that naturally enter the state from neighboring jurisdictions will now be managed as wildlife, specifically as a big-game species under Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s (CPW) authority.

Colorado currently has no confirmed wild bison herds, though animals from Utah’s Book Cliffs herd occasionally cross into the state. Wild bison in Colorado will receive legal protection beginning Jan. 1, 2026, as outlined in SB25-053.

Proposed CPW regulations are designed to implement SB25-053. CPW is not proposing regular bison hunting seasons at this time. 

“This dual classification recognizes both the cultural and ecological importance of bison while providing the tools needed to manage wild bison as big game wildlife,” said CPW Big Game Manager Andy Holland. “Colorado’s last native wild bison were killed in the late 1800s, but as restoration efforts expand across the West, wild bison are moving into Colorado from the Book Cliffs herd in Utah.”

Adding bison to the list of animals that CPW manages and protects as a big-game species requires several updates to existing regulations, including the addition of Director-approved management licenses to be used on a case-by-case basis, for example, in the case of game damage, updates to definitions and the adoption of license fees. CPW is developing a registration process for interested hunters to join a management roster, which could be used if needed to manage a free-ranging herd. That process, including a public application form and drawing system, is expected to be available in January 2026 through the CPW website. If management action is necessary, names from the roster will be used for a random draw to issue licenses. Successful applicants will be notified directly by CPW.

“These regulations prepare Colorado for when wild bison once again roam here,” Holland said. “Our goal is to ensure we have the management tools available while we are engaging stakeholders to create a Book Cliffs Bison Herd Management plan, which will establish the bison management area and population objectives.”

 For more information on bison management in Colorado, visit CPW’s Rules and Regulations page.  

The post Colorado Bison Reintroduction? appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Big game hunter Scott Reekers reviews the Lacey Knives Outdoor Hiking Utility Paracord EDC Knife in this video. This fixed blade knife is built to be lightweight, durable and easy to clean with polished stainless steel. It features a skeletonized handle and paracord wrap for versatility and a comfortable grip. Lacey Knives is a veteran-owned company focused on building knives you can rely on. Scott tests this blade as he breaks down and capes a whitetail buck.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/LaceyKnives-Eastmans

The post Lightweight Fixed Blade EDC Knife | Lacey Knives Review appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Photo Courtesy of GreensandBlues_Envato

The Long Road To Justice

It started with an anonymous tip about a hunter who’s residency was kind of fishy. In the tight-knit hunting community of Lincoln County, Wyoming, rumors spread that an out-of-stater was gaming the system. Sure enough, the Afton Game Warden at the time, James Hobbs took notice and launched an investigation that year. What followed was a six-year rigamarole of detective work across three counties and two states, ending in 2025 with a poacher facing the music in court. The wheels of justice turned slowly, but they did turn. For Wyoming’s wildlife, it was worth the wait.

Faking Residency

The culprit, an Idaho man posing as a Wyoming resident, had spent years cheating the licensing system to take trophy big game. By the time wardens served a search warrant on his Idaho Falls home in 2022, they uncovered a cache of illegal trophies: four large mule deer bucks, two bull elk, and one pronghorn antelope that were all taken without valid tags. 

To put it in perspective, those mule deer were giants, scoring between 180 and 220 inches on the Boone & Crockett scale. These are once-in-a-lifetime caliber animals that most law-abiding hunters only dream of harvesting legitimately. For one man to steal four of them through poaching isn’t just illegal, it’s downright infuriating to everyone who puts in the work to do it right.

In this gear review, Brandon Mason takes a deep dive into the Kryptek Stalker Hoodie. A lightweight, durable, and performance-driven layer built for serious hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. Brandon breaks down how its performance features and athletic fit make it ideal for early to mid-season hunts or as a comfortable everyday layer.

GET YOUR HOODIE AT: http://bit.ly/GiftSub25-Eastmans

The post GET A FREE KRYPTEK HOODIE appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Photo Courtesy of NaturesCharm_envato

If you’ve been following the rollercoaster that is Wyoming’s ongoing conversation about landowner hunting licenses, here’s the latest twist: a bill just cleared committee that would cap landowner tags in limited-quota hunt areas.

Now before you pop the champagne, let me pump the brakes. This is a step in the right direction, sure. But like any good backcountry hike, there’s unknown terrain between “good idea” and “reliable outcome.” Let’s walk through what the bill actually does, where it falls short, and why public hunters should keep their boots laced up and ready.

What’s in the Bill?

This new bill would give the Wyoming Game & Fish Commission the authority (not the mandate) to cap landowner tags. While it’s reported that a 40% cap was on the table, the bill as written on WyoLeg.Gov allows WGFD to make a cap, but does not set the cap. 

Photo Courtesy of harrycollinsphotography_envato

After an eight-year investigation, Wyoming Game and Fish Department officials recently charged ten people with faking Wyoming residency to skip the nonresident waiting line, and save a ton of money in drawing resident hunting tags. 

The Facts

The investigation began in 2018 with reports of illegal hunting tied to an outfitter operation in Sweetwater County. Over several years, game wardens in Wyoming worked with officials in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Utah to gather evidence. Search warrants were executed in multiple states, and dozens of wildlife violations were uncovered.

At the center of the case was a man named Sean Thomas of Farson. Authorities say Thomas and others made false statements to obtain Wyoming resident licenses. Under those false licenses, they harvested elk, deer, pronghorn, black bears, and other game animals in southwest Wyoming.

For his role, Thomas was fined a total of about $9,000, ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution, sentenced to jail time (with most of it suspended), and lost his hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges for twenty years. Others connected to the case faced similar charges and penalties.

Photo Courtesy of PedaltotheStock_envato

A several year investigation by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game has ended with numerous convictions.  The investigation began in 2022 and was highlighted by 115 charges (81 felonies) amongst 12 different defendants. 

Earlier this year, several of the defendants, Austin Zeko, Brian George, and Bobby George took plea deals involving this case.  Austin pleaded to three misdemeanor charges in exchange for two felonies being dropped.  He received a suspended 90-day jail sentence, unsupervised 3-month probation, restitution, and court fees and a 3-year suspension of his hunting license (but it may be reviewed after one year).  Brian and Bobby George also received similar sentences for their guilty pleas.  

Poaching Ring – Career Criminals

The defendant, described as the ringleader, was Robert Zeko (Born in 1975).  Robert Zeko pleaded guilty to four felony charges in exchange for 22 more felonies and 8 misdemeanors to be dropped.  Robert was sentenced to 3 years determinate and 2 years indeterminate in Idaho State Prison, thousands of dollars in restitution and a lifetime suspension of his hunting license.  

Watch over thirty big game hunting kills in less than twenty minutes! Elk, mule deer, antelope, Stone sheep bow and rifle hunts and more crammed into one video.

The post 30+ Bow & Rifle Hunts in 20 Minutes! appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Photo Courtesy of Colorado Park and Wildlife

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) seeks the public’s help to identify those responsible for illegally poaching and abandoning carcasses of four large bull elk on four separate ranches in Las Animas County, near the Colorado-New Mexico state-line. The elk were illegally shot Sept. 13, 26 and 27 near the communities of Stonewall and Picketwire.

Of the four bull elk illegally poached, one was shot and abandoned whole; one was wounded and had to be put down; another was shot with the backstraps removed; the fourth had its head removed with no meat taken. 

“These were senseless and disgraceful acts which demonstrates a complete disregard for Colorado wildlife,” said Jim Hawkins, CPW Assistant Chief of Law Enforcement and Operation Game Thief Coordinator. 

Investigators would like to speak with anyone who may have information about these crimes. Information may be provided anonymously through Operation Game Thief at 1-877-265-6648 or by email to [email protected].  A $1,000 reward is being offered for tips that lead to a citation or an arrest. Anyone willing to testify about information they provided which led to the filing of charges would be eligible for a preference point or hunting license.

According to the CPW website: “Poaching is a serious, costly crime which harms legitimate sportspersons, wildlife viewers, small business owners and taxpayers. If convicted, a person charged with poaching violations could face heavy fines and suspension of hunting and fishing licenses.”  

Opinion

While that sounds good, it seems like poachers normally just receive a slap on the wrist. What good is suspending a poacher’s hunting license when they are already hunting without a license anyway? We need extremely heavy fines and significant jail-time if we really want to slow or stop poaching.

This review features adaptable shooting supports, tripods, bipods and more from Spartan Precision Equipment. Western hunter Todd Helms breaks down some of his favorite gear in the Spartan Precision line-up including, the SpringBok Quad Sticks, the Springbok Bipod, Javelin Bipod, Hoplite Tripod, Ascent Tripod and Davros Pro Head. Each one of the featured shooting supports are versatile, lightweight and flexible to tackle any challenge a western hunt can present, from steep angle prone shooting to standing shots in tall brushy country. The Ascent Tripod is a do-it-all tool that allows a hunter to have a stable platform for a spotting scope, shooting and can even be broken down into trekking poles for a heavy packout. The SpringBok Bipod is lightweight, flexible and adaptable to just about any shooting scenario without adding weight or bulk to your system. Learn how to use the SpringBok Quad Sticks to quickly achieve a stable shooting platform for standing or kneeling opportunities. The Hoplite Mini Tripod was designed with the ounce-counting hunter in mind. It’s dual purposed for shooting and glassing in an ultralight package.

The post Do-it-all Bipods & Tripods for Hunters by Spartan Precision Equipment (Review) appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Hunting in grizzly bear country today presents unique challenges. Mike Eastman compares hunting today to the experience of hunters in the 1960s.

Be sure to check out Blazed Trails Forgotten by Mike Eastman where he recounts some of his favorite stories from around the world —– click here to watch

The post Hunting in Grizzly Country: Then and Now appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Deer saved from certain death in this wildlife video! Mike Eastman and his friends free a mule deer buck who’s antlers are locked with another deer. One deer is already dead and the other doesn’t have much time left! This footage was filmed by a young Guy Eastman.

The post Wildlife Rescue! Deer saved from certain death! appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Hunt for a trophy whitetail deer buck during the November rut on this episode of Eastmans’ Hunting TV. This hunt begins during the archery season in September and concludes during the peak of the rut. Eastmans’ staffer Scott Reekers puts the hammer down on a true trophy of a western whitetail deer on this hunt with Circle S Outfitters.

The post Would you shoot this buck? Whitetail Rut Hunt | Eastmans’ Hunting TV appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Hunt mule deer in Montana with Eastmans staffer Jon Gabrio. A cold October snowstorm has rolled in—just the kind of weather that can crank up the rut and get those big boys on their feet. Hunting alongside Rod Paschke of Sizzlin’ S Outfitters, Jon’s stacking the odds in his favor for a true Big Sky bruiser.

The post Eastmans Hunt TV – Montana Rut Hunt appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

You’ve heard me say it before, and I’ll say it again: I’m a gear nut! Any chance I have to test new gear, I jump at it. When I learned about the clothing company Aspinwall out of Billings, MT it definitely piqued my interest.

Aspinwall sent me a set of their softshell jackets and pants in solids and in camo to test in the field and give them honest feedback. 

THE BEARTOOTH JACKET

I was very impressed with the fit of the jacket, the first piece I tried on out of the box. We get to test virtually every brand of clothing on the market and each brand fits just a little different, as would be expected. The Aspinwall Beartooth jacket fit like it was tailor-made for my upper body, including plenty of sleeve length for my long arms. 

Photo By Lightitup_now

Well, it looks like this chapter of the corner-crossing saga has finally come to a close, or at least as close as it’s going to get for now. Today, October 20, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court just refused to hear the appeal from the landowner at the center of the Wyoming corner-crossing case, effectively letting the lower court’s ruling stand on its own two feet.

That means, for the first time in modern hunting history, it’s now settled law in the Tenth Circuit that hunters who corner cross from federal land to federal land, without setting foot on private ground, are not trespassing.

We covered the legality and how one would do it right in this Eastman’s article at the beginning of the fall.

Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Kansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico all fall under that same jurisdiction.

This all stems from the 2021 case in Carbon County, Wyoming, where four hunters from Missouri used a ladder to step over the corner between private and public land without touching private soil. A jury found them not guilty of criminal trespass, but the landowner pressed on with a civil lawsuit. When the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that corner crossing didn’t violate his rights under the federal Unlawful Inclosures Act, it was the talk of the street for the Western hunter. 

Now, with the Supreme Court declining to take it up, that ruling stands.

It’s a win for public land hunters who like to get out and do a little walking to reach greener pastures; there’s no doubt about that. Millions of acres of checkerboarded BLM and Forest Service ground are now, at least legally, more accessible than they were just a couple of years ago. But before we all go marching across corners with onX in hand, it’s worth keeping our boots on the ground and our heads cool.

Hunt mule deer with Eastmans’ elite member Jim Grage. The rut action is just kicking in as Jim arrives in Montana to hunt with Sizzlin’ S Outfitters. Each year Eastmans’ gives away western hunts to randomly selected elite members. Enjoy the western mule deer action on this episode of Eastmans’ Hunting TV.

The post Big Bucks in Montana | Eastmans’ Hunting TV appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.