Wisconsin hunters have just days left to apply for one of the state’s most coveted hunting opportunities. As the May 31 elk application deadline nears, new data shows Wisconsin’s elk population has reached a record high, leading to the largest elk harvest quota in state history for the 2026 season.
Spring surveys in eastern Montana delivered encouraging news for mule deer hunters, with strong increases reported in both the northeast and southeast. While some regions are seeing improving numbers after several favorable winters, mule deer populations remain below long-term averages in parts of the state and recovery continues to vary by region.
After a rare return in 2025, Wisconsin’s sharp-tailed grouse hunt appears likely headed back to the sidelines in 2026. The state’s fragile sharptail recovery remains a conservation balancing act, with hunting only possible when bird numbers can support it.
Southern Zone sets all-time record as statewide harvest climbs above long-term averages
A newly introduced Senate bill targeting big game migration corridors is drawing rare bipartisan support—but its path through Congress remains uncertain. Here’s what hunters need to know now.
A mild winter across Idaho is translating into strong survival rates for deer fawns and elk calves, according to new data from state biologists. The encouraging numbers could signal improved herd recovery—and better hunting prospects—in the seasons ahead.
Targeted action in northern Idaho marks first wolf removal effort of its kind in the Panhandle region. Officials say the move is aimed at improving struggling elk populations, while critics question long-term strategy.
Several hunting and conservation organizations have filed a lawsuit seeking to halt the approved plan to remove all mule deer from Catalina Island. The plaintiffs argue the project was approved without the full environmental review required under California law.
A recently introduced bill in the California State Senate seeks to explore the reintroduction of grizzly bears, absent from the state for over a century. While proponents highlight ecological and cultural benefits, critics worry about the implications for local wildlife management and human activities in the outdoors.
Lawmakers advanced a proposal to establish Wisconsin’s first sandhill crane hunting season, citing crop damage and growing bird populations. The measure has drawn sharp reactions from hunters, farmers, and conservation groups as it moves to the State Senate for consideration.
Hunters have a limited chance this spring to pursue Roosevelt elk on private ranchlands along California’s North Coast. Applications are open now, with tags issued by random draw as part of a targeted effort to reduce agricultural damage and manage herd impacts.
Meghan Hertel has officially taken the helm of California’s wildlife agency, bringing a background in habitat conservation and land management. Her leadership arrives at a time when hunters are watching closely for direction on wildlife management, access, and conservation priorities across the state.
The California Fish and Game Commission has designated six Central and Southern California mountain lion populations as threatened under state law, while leaving Northern and Sierra populations unchanged. The decision could reshape habitat policy, predator management, and long-term deer herd dynamics in key hunting regions. Here’s what the ruling means for sportsmen, ranchers, and wildlife conservation across the state.
A hunter-harvested deer in Gladwin County tests positive for chronic wasting disease, marking the 18th Michigan county with confirmed cases and prompting renewed calls for testing and surveillance.
California’s Catalina Island mule deer face total eradication after CDFW green-lights a five-year lethal removal plan, ending a century of regulated hunting on the island. Some conservation groups hail the move as essential to restore native habitats and reduce wildfire risk, while hunting organizations strongly condemn it as unnecessary and a loss of a cherished sporting tradition.
For the first time, Wisconsin could authorize a regulated sandhill crane hunting season. Lawmakers say the proposal would give hunters new opportunity while addressing crop damage, but the path forward remains uncertain as debate continues in Madison.