Outdoor News: Monster Black Bears, New Public Hunting Land & More

Check Out These Outdoor Industry Headlines From The Past Week

A lot hit the outdoors news wires in the past week. From monster black bears to new public hunting areas to CDC puppy bans, quite a bit is going on. Check out some of the most recent news right here: 

New Jersey Hunter Tags 770-Pound Bear 

One hunter from New Jersey bagged a huge black bear. In fact, the beast weighed an impressive 770 pounds. Brian Melvin first got eyes on the incredible specimen three years ago and continued hunting it each season since. 

“I wasn’t really chasing records … it was an incredible honor to have chased him because he was the smartest animal I had ever chased,” Melvin said to The New York Post. 

“He never stayed in the same place for more than six months,” he said to NJ.com. “I spent weeks knocking on doors and getting permission for land that I thought he might be on or at least travel through. Last year I had him on camera. He vanished until May of this year.” 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Opens New Public Hunting Access 

Recently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced 52 new distinct hunting and sport fishing opportunities. These will occur on approximately 211,000 acres in locations throughout Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. 

“Hunting and fishing opportunities within the National Wildlife Refuge System connect people with nature,” said Service Director Martha Williams. “We are pleased to expand access and offer new opportunities on national wildlife refuges that are compatible with the refuge’s purpose and are committed to responsibly managing wildlife health and these areas for the benefit of future generations.” 

CDC Says No More Puppies? 

Earlier this year, the Sportsmen’s Alliance sued the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on its (and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) decision to restrict dog importations. SAF also filed a motion for a preliminary injunction. 

“We’re looking forward to presenting our case,” said Michael Jean, Litigation Counsel at the Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation. “We’re confident the court will agree with our briefings that CDC’s restrictions are too broad, unnecessary, and an overreach of the agency’s statutory authority. A preliminary injunction is just the first, but necessary, step in protecting the interests of our members until we can do away with this rule altogether.” 

Colorado Mountain Lion Hunting Ban Fails 

A recent attempt in Colorado to ban mountain lion hunting failed. According to themeateater.com, voters voted against it by a wide margin. 

“When it came down to it, you showed up and made your voice heard,” said Dan Gates of Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management (CRWM). “We want to thank everyone for the support and the movement that’s been built.” 

No Campfires in Pennsylvania (on State Game Lands) 

This year, much of the East is experiencing drought conditions. Pennsylvania is among these states. Because of that, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is temporarily prohibiting the building of fires on state game lands. 

“Taking this one small step now to address wildfire risk could prevent a larger problem as we get deeper into the heart of hunting season,” Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith said. “Doing what we can to protect wildlife habitat in what might be a hunter’s favorite spot benefits both and might make all the difference.” 

“While the Game Commission recognizes the value of prescribed fires under the right conditions, that time is clearly not now,” said Scott Bearer, Game Commission Chief Land Manager. 

Winchester Life Featured on Waypoint TV 

Those who watched content on Waypoint TV stand to benefit from a major giveaway. Winchester Ammunition and Waypoint TV announced three large giveaways throughout November. Plus, a full night of Winchester Life programming will occur on November 19. This will include multiple episodes of Winchester Life and popular short films. 

“Winchester night on Waypoint TV, along with the November giveaway series celebrates all outdoor enthusiasts, and the popularity of hunting and the shooting sports,” said Jason Gilbertson, Director of Marketing for Winchester Ammunition. “The Winchester Life episodes and short films feature our legendary brand in the field and on the range, along with people who are passionate about the outdoors.” 

Winchester and White Flyer Finish Strong at 2024 NSCA National Championships 

The 2024 NSCA National Championship took place October 19-27. This year, it was held at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonia, Texas. Fortunately, Winchester and White Flyer finished strong during the event, with Anthony Matarese, Connor Daniels, Desi Edmunds, Mike Wilgus, Joe Fanizzi, and Zach Kienbaum, all finishing quite well. 

“Team Winchester and Team White Flyer have had a phenomenal season and ended the year strong at this year’s national championship,” said Jason Gilbertson, Director of Marketing for Winchester Ammunition. “This competition draws the best of the best sporting clays athletes from nearly every state and even internationally. Our Team Winchester and Team White Flyer shooters work incredibly hard to deliver strong performances and Winchester AA® shotshells give them that extra edge to stand above the competition.” 

Winchester Supreme Optics Announces Scope Line 

Winchester Supreme Optics now offers a line of scopes. These are designed for hunters, sport shooters, and anyone else who enjoys burning gunpowder. As Supreme Optics states, this “value-focused line of rifle scopes packs essential features into a full range of focal length options.” These are crafted from 6063-T6 anodized aluminum housings, beryllium bronze springs, fully multi-coated lenses, a nitrogen-filled and sealed optical system, fast focus eyepiece, and more. These are designed for 800 Gs of recoil. Get these via online and in-store retailers, including Amazon, EuroOptic Ltd, and Optics Planet.