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The Hunter's Brief delivers essential news updates on policy changes affecting hunters and anglers across America and internationally. We cover everything from public lands battles to state wildlife management decisions in a quick, informative format.

• 500,000 acres of public land in Utah and Nevada saved from controversial sale
• Growing federal deficit threatens future conservation funding
• Florida considering reinstating annual bear hunt with over 4,300 black bears in the state
• Washington State bans feeding deer, elk, and moose to prevent disease spread
• Ohio raises antlerless deer limit on public lands from one to two
• Utah increases non-resident hunting fees and requires licenses for wildlife management area access
• California updates Black Bear Management Plan for first time in 27 years
• Wales introduces environmental law targeting wildlife recovery
• South Africa expands big game hunting permits for elephants and rhinos

Tune in next time for more wild updates and keep your boots muddy and your lines tight!

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What happens when neighbors spot you arriving home at midnight, covered in blood, without your wife who's normally always by your side? For Jake Walsh, it became the perfect storm of misunderstanding that culminated in one of the most memorable hunting stories you'll ever hear.

Jake's path to becoming a hunter wasn't traditional. Growing up surrounded by hunters who "put a bad taste in his mouth," he avoided hunting throughout his youth. It wasn't until adulthood when concerns about food quality and factory farming practices pushed him to seek cleaner protein sources. Armed with nothing but YouTube videos and podcasts—particularly Steven Rinella's field dressing tutorials—Jake taught himself how to hunt just five years ago.

What makes Jake's journey particularly fascinating is how quickly his passion transformed into innovation. Frustrated with traditional climbing methods for tree hunting, he developed the Bandit Climber—now a sought-after ultralight climbing system. His artistic talents led to creating Rut's Mini Mounts, hand-painted replica trophies that help hunters preserve their memories in miniature form. Both businesses were born from authentic experience rather than market opportunity.

If you've ever wondered about the unexpected places hunting can take you—from suspected criminal to entrepreneur—this episode delivers with humor, heart and genuinely useful insights about modern hunting culture. Have you encountered similar misunderstandings about your hunting lifestyle? Share your story and check out Jake's innovative hunting products at raccoonrigs.com.

Links:
www.raccoonrigs.com

Social tags:

@stealthyclimber

@raccoonrigs

@ruttsminimounts

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Stepping into the wild with a poorly designed backpack can turn dream hunts into nightmares—something Joe Elliston learned firsthand before co-founding Initial Ascent. His journey from an 86-pound disaster pack to creating one of hunting's most respected backpack companies forms the backdrop for this captivating episode filled with unforgettable stories from the backcountry.

Joe's tale of his son Brody harvesting a turkey while half-dressed—camo pants around his ankles, no shirt, and hat backward—brings comic relief and proves sometimes success comes despite our mistakes. But the mood shifts dramatically as Joe recounts a bone-chilling encounter with a wolf pack that surrounded their camp at what was later identified as a wolf "rendezvous point." The pack's eerie, guttural howls continued for hours, forcing them to pack out in darkness with wolves following uncomfortably close behind.

Through these experiences, Joe reveals how adversity sparked innovation. The miserable first backpacking trip where his youngest son shivered in soaked sleeping bags became the catalyst for Initial Ascent's mission to build packs that carry heavy loads comfortably. His Bennett Mountain elk hunt story, complete with unexpected access challenges and eventual success, showcases the persistence that drives both hunting and entrepreneurship.

Whether you're planning your next backcountry adventure or simply enjoy authentic hunting stories, Joe's experiences offer valuable insights and reminders of why we venture into wild places despite the challenges they present. His passion for sharing the outdoors with his sons and building equipment worthy of life's most meaningful moments shines through every story.

https://initialascent.com/

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We bring you the latest developments in hunting and fishing legislation, conservation efforts, and public land access across the United States. Key policy changes are reshaping how hunters access public lands and the regulations they must follow, from ammunition flexibility to expanded hunting opportunities.

• US Fish and Wildlife Service proposing to ease lead ammo restrictions on 12 national wildlife refuges, balancing ecological concerns with hunting access
• EPA awarded $1.2 million to five states for wetland conservation projects supporting habitat restoration for waterfowl and fish
• BLM opening 50,000 acres in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming for public hunting, targeting elk, deer and upland birds
• $200 million allocated from Pittman-Robertson Act taxes to support wildlife state agencies and habitat restoration
• National Park Service banning bear baiting on Alaska's national preserves, affecting 13 million acres
• Washington approving hunting and fishing license fee increases of 10-15% effective July 2025
• Wyoming proposing expanded wolf hunting quotas following 15% population increase
• Montana reporting record elk harvest up 8% from previous year
• Colorado increasing mule deer tags by 10% following population rebound
• Minnesota proposing 15% increase in bear hunting quotas
• Michigan facing $4.4 million wildlife funding deficit
• Florida implementing Amendment 2 rules protecting hunting and fishing as constitutional rights
• Maine expanding Sunday hunting pilot program to five additional counties

Don't miss Monday's storytelling episode, where we'll share epic tales from the field and stream. Subscribe on your favorite platform, share the show with your hunting buddies, and keep your lines tight and your aim true.

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The bond between father and son often transcends life itself. In this emotionally charged episode, Maine hunter Dan Schaefer reveals how his hunting journey became irrevocably intertwined with the memory of his late father, creating a spiritual connection that defies simple explanation.

Dan's path to becoming a hunter started later than most. Despite growing up with a father passionate about hunting, young Dan earned the nickname "Wiggles" for his inability to sit still in the woods. Years later, he embraced hunting in 2017, diving headfirst into pursuing multiple species across Maine's challenging terrain. Little did he know how profoundly his father's passing in 2021 would transform his hunting experiences.

What follows are three remarkable harvests that blur the line between coincidence and spiritual connection. First, Dan wakes from a vivid dream about his father—the first since his passing—and hours later takes a magnificent 13-point buck they had discussed before his father's death. The following season, using his father's rifle, Dan harvests a unique piebald buck on his father's birthday. Finally, Dan completes the tribute by taking a massive 225-pound "Piggy" buck, earning the same "Biggest Bucks of Maine" patch his father had proudly worn on his hunting jacket.

Throughout these experiences, Dan feels his father's presence guiding him, steadying his aim, and bringing these deer into his path at precisely the right moments. Each success becomes not just a personal achievement but a shared experience that bridges the gap between this world and whatever lies beyond.

Whether you believe in spiritual connections or not, these stories remind us that hunting creates powerful bonds that can echo through generations. Dan's journey shows how pursuing game can become a profound way to process grief, honor legacy, and maintain connection with those we've lost.

Instagram

SchaefferD

TheMaineHunt

Youtube

TheMaineHunt

155" Buck of a Lifetime

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Welcome to Hunter’s Brief, your weekly roundup of hunting and fishing news from across the globe. I'm your host, bringing you the latest updates to keep your boots on the ground and your lines in the water.

• US expands hunting on 87,000+ acres of National Wildlife Refuge and Fish Hatchery land
• Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act under congressional review
• Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) faces potential elimination, concerning conservationists
• AI technology revolutionizing biodiversity conservation through data analysis
• Lesser prairie chicken protections threatened despite significant population decline
• Department of Interior renews Colorado River conservation agreements targeting 321,000 acre-feet water storage
• Amendment proposed to expedite federal public land sales in Utah and Nevada
• Bipartisan Explore Act enhances access to federal public lands
• North Dakota enacts 14 new outdoor-related laws effective August 1st

Don't forget to tune in on Monday for our storytelling episode, where we share tales from the field. Subscribe, leave a review, and share the podcast with your fellow outdoor enthusiasts. If there's a story we missed or something you think we should cover, let us know.

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Ever walked into a hardware store covered in blood, desperately trying to convince the cashier you're not a murderer? That's just one of the hilarious mishaps shared by this week's guest, Brian Dowling.

Brian brings a unique perspective as both a firearms expert with an actual master's degree in guns and a veteran who found healing through hunting. Working at XCAL Shooting in Virginia—a massive 97,000-square-foot facility combining shooting ranges, a gym, and a gun store—he's turned his passion into a career that spans gunsmithing, instruction, and product development.

What makes this episode special is the heartwarming thread running through Brian's hunting stories: his incredibly supportive wife. From helping him drag a freshly harvested doe up a hill in a wheelbarrow while wearing pajamas, to stealing "his" perfect pheasant after missing shots all day (much to his good-natured chagrin), their relationship shines through the narrative. When Brian describes seeing his blood-spattered wife hosing down a deer carcass in their yard without complaint, you can hear the genuine admiration in his voice.

The conversation takes us through the challenges of Eastern whitetail hunting, North Carolina hog hunts in eerie swamps, and the comedy of errors that ensues when a hunter isn't properly prepared to transport his harvest. Brian's self-deprecating humor about showing up at a rural hardware store covered in blood to buy rope and a hatchet—prompting the cashier's skeptical "that's what they all say" response to his innocent explanation—will have you laughing out loud.

Beyond the entertainment, Brian offers valuable insights into how hunting serves as effective PTSD therapy for veterans like himself, creating a deeper understanding of why many former service members find such profound peace in the woods. His technical expertise also shines through when discussing rifle zeroing and equipment selection for different hunting scenarios.

https://xcal.com/

https://mimicfirearms.com/

Instagram,

Xcal

Mimic

Brian

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Christensen Arms
Christensen Arms makes the best hunting and long-range rifles in the world. Made in the USA.

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Hunting Stories Instagram

Have a story? Click here!

Send us a text

🔭 Upgrade Your View with Vortex Optics! Experience unparalleled clarity and precision with our top-of-the-line binoculars, scopes, and more. Check out our full range at VortexOptics.com

Christensen Arms
Christensen Arms makes the best hunting and long-range rifles in the world. Made in the USA.

Support the show

Hunting Stories Instagram

Have a story? Click here!