Mid-week and still vertical. Grab a coffee, check the wind, and here’s what’s moving across the West today.

What started as a “hold-my-beer” stunt on private ranchland near Evanston turned into a full-blown animal-cruelty case. Three men with ties to the M Arrow Ranch are facing felony charges after investigators uncovered videos from 2021 showing a cow moose being lassoed, mounted, dragged, and harassed while clearly injured and blind in one eye.

The new evidence hit the public only recently — and now the trio has been summoned to court with potential prison time and five-figure fines on the table.

The footage has sparked outrage across Wyoming, with wildlife advocates calling it “one of the most blatant violations we’ve seen in years.”
Unforced errors. Careers-ending energy.

Three individuals in Tonawanda, NY are facing dozens of charges after allegedly using a vehicle to shine deer, shooting multiple animals at night, cutting off heads, and dumping carcasses near Veterans Memorial Park. Not exactly showcasing sportsmanship.
Read More: https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/trio-charged-in-illegal-deer-hunt/

Starting in 2026, Oregon will replace its old Wildlife Management Units with new “Deer Hunt Areas” based on GPS collar data from 1,400+ mule deer. The shift aims to match tag allocation with actual herd ranges — not political boundaries — with an expected ~9% reduction in mule deer tags statewide.
Read More: https://www.gohunt.com/browse/news-and-updates/hunting-news/oregon-changes-structure-of-deer-hunts-beginning-in-2026

Warm, dry conditions kept elk scattered this year, leading to a mixed bag for Southwest Montana hunters. Deer harvests hovered around normal, but elk success struggled thanks to lack of snow to push animals down.
Read More: https://fwp.mt.gov/homepage/news/2025/dec/1209-general-season-ends-with-mild-weather-mixed-hunter-harvest-rates-in-southwestern-montana

Wyoming Game & Fish confirmed a new CWD-positive zone, adding yet another hunt area to the state’s growing map of infected regions. If you’re hunting Wyoming this winter, double-check area designations and plan for testing and safe carcass handling.
Read More: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/news-events/cwd-detected-new-wyoming-hunt-area-2

Applications open Dec. 16 at 8 a.m. MST and close Dec. 30. Results drop Jan. 8, 2026. If you’re dreaming about a spring gobbler, now’s the time to hit the draw.
Read More: https://wildlife.utah.gov/news/utah-wildlife-news/2230-apply-for-utahs-2026-spring-limited-entry-turkey-hunting-permits.html

Idaho Fish & Game sells gift certificates that can be used for 2026 licenses, tags, or even Super Hunt entries. Perfect for anyone who’d rather be in the hills than in a mall.
More Info: https://idfg.idaho.gov/article/give-your-friends-or-family-gift-outdoors-holiday-season

A clean, rugged 36L day pack for scouting runs, tree-stand sits, and bend-the-knees packouts. Lightweight, durable, and built for actual field time — a safe gift for any hunter who appreciates gear that works.
View Pack: https://www.kuiu.com/products/ranger-2200-evergreen/

A simple, useful stocking stuffer for the guy who sips coffee at 4:30 a.m. on a gravel road. Stainless steel, insulated, and the right vibe for someone who counts down to season openers.
See Item: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGXFP42X

• Why you can’t wiggle your toes individually (and now you’re trying).
• A race-car crash you won’t believe someone survived.
• Why Pappy Van Winkle giveaways are the weirdest tradition in whiskey.
• That first sip after a successful hunt — why it hits different.

“Angling is not a sport of the successful. It is a conversation with failure that sometimes ends in a fish.”
— Thomas McGuane

Thanks for reading today’s Western Vantage. If this issue gave you something worth talking about in deer camp, send it to a buddy who lives for the West just like you do.

Stay sharp, stay prepared, and keep hunting the truth.
See you in the next issue.

Western Vantage Team