Western Vantage — September 29, 2025

⚡ Lead Story: Deadly Storms in the Backcountry

Colorado hunting season has been rocked by multiple lightning deaths in just two weeks.

  • Sept 22: Two 25-year-old elk hunters, Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko, were killed by a lightning strike while sheltering near a tree. (Guardian)

  • This weekend: Two more hunters — along with their dogs — were killed in a separate lightning strike while in open country. (People)

Why it matters:

  • Storms are getting more severe in the Rockies, often with no warning.

  • Hunters are vulnerable at elevation and in exposed basins.

Safety Playbook:

  • Avoid ridgelines, saddles, and lone trees during storms.

  • Carry a satellite communicator (Garmin inReach, Zoleo).

  • Build storm delays into your hunt plan.

🦌 Tag Watch: Western Deadlines & Opportunities

  • Idaho: Controlled hunt draws closing soon. Mule deer herds still showing strong high-country numbers, though predator pressure is climbing.

  • Montana: Archery elk is live in multiple units; rifle opens soon. Early rut reports suggest decent bull activity despite warm weather.

  • Wyoming: 2025 predator management updates expand wolf and coyote removal thresholds. Elk calf recruitment still under stress in some GMUs.

  • Utah: Buck sightings increasing in lower country. Predator control program continues to pay $50 per coyote with proper documentation.

📌 Action: Double-check your state’s app/harvest deadlines here:

  • Idaho Fish & Game

  • Montana FWP

  • Wyoming Game & Fish

  • Utah DWR

🐺 Predator Watch: Who’s Paying for Coyotes?

  • Utah: Official $50 incentive per documented coyote harvest. Details: Utah Coyote Bounty Program

  • Idaho, Montana, Wyoming: No statewide programs, but county-level and ranch-sponsored predator control efforts are common.

  • Why this matters: With wolf numbers up and deer/elk calf recruitment down in some zones, predator control is a real management tool — and sometimes a way to offset gas money.

👀 WV is working on a GMU-by-GMU predator incentive map — stay tuned.

🛠 Gear Drop: New & Field-Tested

🏋️ Fit to Hunt

This week’s quick burner: Hill Sprint Prep for Elk Country

  • Find a 50-yard hill.

  • Sprint up, walk down.

  • Do 8–10 reps.

  • Add pack weight for extra misery (and realism).

💡 Why it matters: It simulates elevation gain and trains recovery — exactly what you’ll need chasing bulls.

📚 Western Wisdom

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” – Seneca

In the West, that translates to pack light, train heavy, and respect the weather.

🔗 Quick Clicks

🏹 Sign-Off

Storms don’t care about your tag, your hunt, or your plans. Neither do predators. Out here, the mountains demand respect — the smart hunters prepare, adjust, and keep pushing.

Stay sharp, hunt hard,
— The Western Vantage Team

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