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Here’s what’s worth reading today, Friday, August 23, 2019:
Dick’s Sporting Goods removed hunting category, including guns, from 125 more stores: Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. said that it has eliminated the hunting category, including firearms, from about 125 stores, replacing the merchandise with “categories and products that can drive growth,” according to Edward Stack, the athletic retailer’s chief executive. The changes were part of a strategic review of the hunting business, including Field & Stream, a subsidiary of Dick’s Sporting Goods DKS, -2.58%. Dick’s Sporting Goods previously removed the category from 10 stores. Those 10 stores generated positive same-store sales, Stack said in March.
2019 Texas deer hunting forecast still looks ‘great’ despite dry conditions
Officials say Colorado boy attacked by mountain lion ‘doing well in light of the circumstances’ It was an innocent mistake: An 8-year-old playing outside with his brother heard his friend next door calling, so he ran over to the home. But that movement may have triggered a nearby mountain lion to perceive the boy as prey, and the animal attacked. Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed they were investigating the attack, which happened about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Burland Ranchettes Subdivision of Bailey. On Thursday afternoon, CPW officials confirmed that officers had captured two lions in the area — both fitting the description of the lion involved in Wednesday night’s attack — and euthanized the animals. Officials believe that one of the euthanized lions were involved in the attack. The bodies will be sent to a lab in Wyoming for a DNA analysis to confirm if one was involved. CPW said the two boys were outside their home on a trampoline when the 8-year-old heard his friend next door. He left the trampoline and ran in the direction of the home. As he ran, the mountain lion attacked, biting his head. The boy’s brother ran inside the home for their father, who then rushed outside. As the father approached the mountain lion, which was on top of his son, the animal let go and ran away.
Utah Wildlife Board hikes cougar hunting for 4th year despite warnings from wildlife advocates: The Utah Wildlife Board boosted cougar hunting quotas Thursday for the fourth year in a row, voting to hike permits for the upcoming season to 690, representing about a quarter of the state’s lion population. Critics say that level of hunting pressure is not sustainable, but Division of Wildlife Resources biologists said they have recorded steady increases in cougar numbers in the past few years despite higher harvests. Cougars’ population growth tracked with gains in Utah’s mule deer herds, said Darren DeBloois, DWR’s game mammals coordinator. DWR surveys indicate the state has 2,700 mountain lions, more than double the total in 2007.
HOG RUSH: Why feral hog hunting is crucial in Alabama: WVTM 13’s Lisa Crane went hog hunting at night in Macon County, Alabama, to learn about the state’s big problem with feral hogs. Feral hogs in Alabama pose a serious threat to native wildlife. High reproductive rates, a lack of natural predators, voracious omnivorous feeding habits, destructive rooting behavior and habitat destruction are just a few reasons why Alabama sportsmen and land managers are encouraged to help control this non-native species. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that feral hogs cause more than $800 million of agricultural damage in the United States annually. Feral hogs are considered a game animal in Alabama and have no closed season and no bag limits. This means that on private land, hunters can legally hunt hogs every day of the year with no harvest restrictions. Hogs can be stalk hunted by moving slowly through areas with choice foods like acorns or agricultural crops or stand hunted along trails leading to food sources or bedding areas. When hunting on a Wildlife Management Area a hunting license, management area permit and management area license are required.
Massive search for firefighters lost at sea suspended; rescuers only had 1 clue in 6 days: The Coast Guard has suspended its search for two firefighters missing since Aug. 16 when they sailed out for a fishing trip from Port Canaveral. The suspension began at sundown Thursday. The massive search for friends Justin Walker and Brian McCluney, two off-duty firefighters, lasted six days and covered over 105,000 miles when Coast Guard officials made the decision. “We have reached a point where our computer modeling and our ability to search a given location are no longer allowing us to search with any reasonable degree of probability of success,” the Coast Guard said. Time and the Gulf Stream current were working against rescuers as they searched an area the size of the state of Colorado. The Coast Guard looked for items or debris similar to McCluney’s tackle bag — which was found Monday afternoon 50 miles off the coast of Jacksonville — to point them in any direction.
Fish with ‘two mouths’ shocks anglers: ‘It’s a catch of a lifetime’ A woman in upstate New York made what some are calling “the catch of a lifetime” when she reeled in a fish that appears to have two mouths. When a photo of the fish was uploaded to Facebook, it unsurprisingly went viral. Debbie Geddes told Fox News that she caught the unique fish while she was out on Lake Champlain with her husband. “When this particular fish bit, it felt like I had a nice fish on,” she explained. “I actually commented, ‘I hope it’s as big as it feels!’ When we got it in the boat I couldn’t believe what I was seeing! Two mouths! And yet this fish was healthy and thriving! Pretty amazing! We quickly took a few pictures and released the fish,” she continued. That picture was eventually uploaded to Facebook by a co-worker of Geddes, Adam Facteau. “She wasn’t convinced anyone would care about the catch,” Facteau told Fox News. “I knew it would be popular.”
Wildlife commission takes action on south Delta deer season, urine ban: In its August meeting, the Mississippit Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks voted on deer season structure and bag limits for the south Delta as well as a proposal to partially rescind the recent ban on using natural deer urine as an attractant. Natural urine was banned due to fears it may contribute to the spread of chronic wasting disease, but the commission decided that the use of certain brands that are tested for CWD and approved by the Archery Trade Association present minimal risk and approved the use of them. Brands that are allowed carry the ATA approval seal on the labels.
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio urges conservation officials to ensure Key Deer populations remain protected: On Thursday, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent a letter to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, urging the agency to ensure that Florida Key deer populations remain protected. Rubio’s concern arises from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s plans for downlisting and delisting actions.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission asks public to help document disorder impacting panthers: The FWC is investigating a disorder detected in some Florida panthers and bobcats. All the affected animals have exhibited some degree of walking abnormally or difficulty coordinating their back legs. As of August, the FWC has confirmed neurological damage in one panther and one bobcat. Additionally, trail camera footage has captured eight panthers (mostly kittens) and one adult bobcat displaying varying degrees of this condition. Videos of affected cats were collected from multiple locations in Collier, Lee and Sarasota counties, and at least one panther photographed in Charlotte County could also have been affected. The FWC has been reviewing videos and photographs from other areas occupied by panthers but to date the condition appears to be localized as it is only documented in three general areas.
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