Predators on the move, points expiring, and a hard truth from deer season every hunter can relate to.

Tag Tracker | Predator Watch | Gear Drop | Fit to Hunt | Wanderings | Field Notes | Giveaway

⏰ Last Call — Wyoming Preference Points Due October 31
The clock’s ticking. Friday at midnight is your deadline to secure 2025 Wyoming points. Miss it and you’re starting from zero next year. Apply Now → https://wgfapps.wyo.gov/elsapplication/ELSWelcome.aspx

👉 Montana & Idaho: Both states are in peak season. Check unit maps and report deadlines before heading out. See IDFG Updates → https://idfg.idaho.gov/hunt and Montana- https://fwp.mt.gov/hunt

Grizzlies Still Roaming Late Season — Don’t Let Your Guard Down
October’s almost over but Wyoming’s grizzlies aren’t all asleep. Gut piles and thin berry crops keep some active into November. If you’re hunting the high country or creek bottoms, keep your bear spray close and head on a swivel. Read More →

Feds Freeze Canadian Wolf Imports to Colorado
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik told Colorado Parks & Wildlife to stop importing wolves from Canada and Alaska — they’ll now have to source from neighboring U.S. states. It’s a move that could reshape future predator management across the West. Full Story →

Whitetail Poached & Wasted Near Grangeville (ID)
A mature buck was found shot and left to rot along Mount Idaho Grade. Officers are asking for tips. It’s a gut-check reminder that ethics define us in the field. Report or Read →

Moose Relocated from Chubbuck Neighborhood
IDFG officers tranquilized and moved a full-grown moose wandering through backyards in Chubbuck. Safe ending — and proof wild Idaho doesn’t stop at city limits. Read →

🏹 Hoyt Carbon RX-9 — Elite Performance for Serious Bowhunters
Carbon riser. 342 fps. 4 lbs. The RX-9 balances speed and forgiveness in one deadly package. See Specs →

🧭 Garmin Montana 700 — Navigation That Won’t Quit
Big 5″ touchscreen, multi-band GPS, and battery life for days. If you hunt solo or off-grid, this handheld is your insurance policy. Learn More →

Shoulder Mobility Before Rifle Season 🎯
Before you sight-in, loosen up:
1️⃣ Banded Shoulder Pull-Apart – 3 × 15 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osRimvxXlKQ
2️⃣ Wall Angels – 3 × 10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UU4VvklQ44
3️⃣ Arm Circles with 1-lb plates – 2 × 30 sec https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfjcYUTeLbg

Better mobility = steadier hold and less fatigue on long glassing sessions.

In 1948 Idaho Parachuted Beavers into the Wilderness
Yes, really. Wildlife crews dropped 76 beavers by parachute into remote basins to restore wetlands — and many of those colonies still thrive today. Only in Idaho. Read the Full Story →

Deer season’s in the books, and I’m staring down a big bowl of tag soup.

A few weeks ago, I had my chance at a good buck — one of those shots you replay over and over in your head. I’ve been through long-range school. I shoot weekly. My rifle’s dialed and capable. But when the moment came, real life stepped in. Maybe I pulled instead of squeezed. Maybe the wind did something I couldn’t feel.

When the season closed, that miss still ate at me. So I went back to the ridge where it happened, rangefinder in hand. Turns out my range was off by nearly 100 yards — about two feet of drop at that distance.

I still don’t know exactly how. I ranged him several times; conditions seemed perfect. But the truth is simple: I misranged, and I missed.

It’s a tough pill to swallow, but also a reminder that the mountains have a way of humbling us. I’ll be sending my Leica Geovids in for calibration, tightening my process, and carrying the lesson into elk season.

Every miss still teaches — and redemption is always one tag away.

— From the Editor’s Desk
Western Vantage Team

Winners have been drawn — all three prizes will ship once we verify and confirm each winner.
If you entered, please check the email address you used when signing up (and don’t forget to check your spam folder). We will post winners once we get approval from each winner to post there names.
We’ve sent out official congratulations emails to all selected participants.

Big thanks to everyone who entered. Next giveaway drops soon. This will likely be a subscriber only giveaway. We are still trying to decide that. Updates coming soon..

Thanks for riding with us this Monday. Whether you’re glassing ridges, sighting rifles, or just day-dreaming of elk country — keep the faith and stay sharp.

— The Western Vantage Crew