The Outdoor Pressroom

Rev. Maclean monument dedication at Missoula church

A monument honoring the legacy of minister and fly fisherman John Maclean and his son Norman's book, "A River Runs Through It," will be dedicated Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church in Missoula, Mont., where the elder Maclean became pastor one hundred years ago. Rev. Maclean, his wife Clara, and son Paul, around whose murder the book's plot is constructed, are all buried in the church cemetery. In The Missoulian.

SC golfer loses arm to alligator

A 77-year-old golfer had his arm chewed off below the elbow by an alligator at a Fripp Island, SC golf course yesterday. After the 10-foot gator dragged the man to a nearby pond, his golf partners were able to free him and call 911. The alligator was killed and the arm retrieved, in hopes it could be reattached by surgeons. Hilton Head Island Packet.

Poll shows record low support for stricter gun laws

New polling data released today by Gallup finds a new low of 44% of Americans believe laws impacting firearm sales should be made more strict, reflecting a drop of 5 points in the last year and 34 points from the high of 78% recorded the first time the question was asked, in 1990. The results are based on Gallup's annual Crime Poll, conducted Oct.1-4.

Montana backcountry wolf hunt suspended

With nine wolves taken by hunters toward a quota of 12, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks are temporarily suspending the wolf hunt in the backcountry area adjacent to Yellowstone National Park. Officials said wolf hunting in the area will resume when the general big game rifle season begins Oct. 25. The Helena I-R.

NPS Director: No current plans to ban lead ammo, tackle

National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis told the Jackson Hole News and Guide this week he has no immediate plans to ban lead ammo and fishing tackle in national parks where hunting and fishing are permitted, but he didn’t rule out a future transition to nonlead ammunition, calling it a broad goal that “is going to take a long time.”

'Open carry' pastor, NY rabbi to promote clergy security

A Kentucky pastor who gained celebrity for hosting an "Open Carry Celebration" at his Louisville church has resigned his ministry to work with a New York rabbi to promote the use of armed and trained security at houses of worship. Ken Pagano, who is also a chaplain for Louisville Metro Police, has formed the International Security Coalition of Clergy with Rabbi Gary Moskowitz. Via AP.

Cabela's donates animal mounts to Nebraska college

Two semi-truck trailers containing big game and wildlife mounts donated by outdoors mega-retailer Cabela's arrived this week at Nebraska's Chadron State College to be utilized as teaching aids for its wildlife management program. A Cabela's spokesman said the 65 mounts were being stored at its Sidney, Nebraska facility as a result of the company's curtailed retail expansion. Via AP.

AK hunters' grizzly kill upsets wildlife watchers

The killing of a juvenile brown bear by two Alaska hunters within view of several camera-toting wildlife watchers near the Kenai River this week has sparked media debate about hunting ethics and shooting protocol. Officials say the hunters possibly violated a regulation prohibiting weapons discharge near the particular roadway, but otherwise the kill was legal. The Anchorage Daily News.

Wisc. senatorial candidate will wear hunter orange

Dave Westlake, the Republican challenger to U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), says he will wear hunter orange at every campaign appearance he makes between now and the Nov. 2010 general election. Westlake, an avid hunter, said the blaze orange shirt he wore at rallies this past weekend was such a hit, he decided to make it part of his campaign. Via AP.

Green gestapo? Idaho resort town outlaws idling vehicles

The Ketchum (Idaho) City Council has passed an ordinance requiring drivers to turn off their vehicles when they are parked for more than three minutes. Environmental advocates who supported the move have distributed anti-idling pamphlets in parking lots, while those in opposition said police time would be wasted. The Twin Falls Times-News.

Reid challenger raffling AR-15

One of the half-dozen challengers to U.S. Senate majority leader Harry Reid's (D-NV) seat in the Nov. 2010 election is raising campaign funds by raffling an AR-15 rifle. Republican Mike Wiley is asking for donations of $10 for each ticket for a chance to win the firearm. Las Vegas Fox 5 News.

Montana hunters nearing district's wolf quota

Montana state game managers are somewhat surprised that hunters have already tagged nine wolves in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, an area adjacent to Yellowstone National Park where the quota stands at 12. Brett French in The Billings Gazette.

Will CWD threat prompt urine-based lure ban?

Recent findings indicating that chronic wasting disease is spread by excreted prions found in the waste of infected animals has prompted some in the wildlife and hunting community to consider banning the use of commercial lures that utilize deer or elk urine. Walt Cottrell, chief veterinarian for the PA Game Commission, says nine states are considering such action. More at my Slugs & Plugs blog.

Deer makes mess of WV school classroom

A deer that crashed through a window of Central Elementary in Moundsville, W. Va. made quite a mess of the unoccupied third grade classroom Monday, pushing around shelves, scattering papers and moving every student's desk from its original position. In the Charleston Daily Mail.

FTC sets blogging endorsement regulations

New regulations approved by the Federal Trade Commission yesterday require bloggers who offer online product endorsements to disclose any payments they have received from the subjects of their reviews or face penalties of up to $11,000 per violation. The Washington Post.

North Face spoofer fighting legal action

A Missouri college student who sells "The South Butt" T-shirts to spoof those produced by trendy mega-outdoor gear maker North Face says he'll fight any potential legal action from the Bay Area company. University of Missouri student Jimmy Winkleman says his shirts parody what he considers a silly status symbol among many students. He has received a cease-and-desist letter from an attorney for The North Face. In the Post Dispatch.

Baton Rouge, La. outdoor writer Jerry Breaux, 88

Jerry Breaux, television broadcaster and longtime outdoors writer for the Baton Rouge (La.) Morning Advocate, died Friday from a heart ailment at 88. Breaux's final outdoors column for the Advocate was written in 1990.

Florida woman, 74, 'filleted' by raccoon pack

A 74-year-old Lakeland, Fla. woman is recovering from injuries she received after being attacked at her home’s front door by five raccoons Saturday evening. "She was gashed open around her legs," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. "She was filleted." In the Tampa Tribune.

PKC coon-hunting championship moves to S. Illinois

The decision to move the Professional Kennel Club's 10-day world coonhound championships to Salem, Illinois after nearly two decades in western Kentucky was based to a large degree on the past winter's devastating ice storm that left debris and downed trees across much of the Bluegrass State's timberland. Via AP.

Florida man scratched in black bear encounter

A Heathrow, Fla. man suffered minor scrapes when he surprised a 400-pound female black bear and her cubs as they raided his garbage can last week. "You don't really expect to get attacked by one in your yard in a gated community in Florida," said David Amsler, 34. In the Orlando Sentinel. 

At 50.5 pounds, muskie is likely new Michigan record

Kyle Anderson of Rapid City, Mich. was fishing with a 9-inch Muskie Magnet lure on the Torch River last week when he landed a 50-pound, 8-ounce, Great Lakes muskellunge, exceeding the current state record for the species by 2 1/2 pounds. Detroit Free Press outdoor writer Eric Sharp has the details.

Colorado teens find mastodon fossils

Two Colorado teens discovered a portion of a 13,000-year-old mastodon jaw in a creek near their Littleton homes earlier this summer, marking the third time traces of the extinct animal have been found in the state. Officials with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science say the discovery is the best example yet of the prehistoric animal in Colorado. Aspen Times.

Rare bowhunting fatality in Illinois

An apparent case of mistaken identity is being blamed for a rare and tragic bowhunting fatality on opening day of archery deer and turkey season in southern Illinois. A 20-year-old Fairfield, Ill., hunter was killed Thursday night when his 16-year-old friend apparently mistook him for a wild turkey and shot him in the back with an arrow. Evansville Courier & Press.