In partnership with
Western Vantage — Friday, December 12, 2025
Pull up a chair, enjoy whatever keeps you going in the field, and let’s walk through the stories shaping access, policy, and gear in the hunting world.
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🦌 LEAD STORY — Wyoming Easement Lawsuit Could Shift Public Land Access
Can a private landowner limit your hunt on public ground? That’s what’s now being litigated in Campbell County.
A growing land-access battle in Wyoming is testing just how far easement rights stretch — and what that could mean for hunters and other public land users. In Campbell County, a landowner has sued his neighbor, arguing that while the neighbor can drive an easement road to reach his private property, he should not be allowed to stop along the way to hunt on adjacent public lands. Moorcroft Leader
The easement in question runs about 10 miles and provides the only practical access to more than 16,500 acres of BLM land that would otherwise be landlocked. The plaintiffs claim the easement is solely for ingress and egress and does not authorize hunting. The neighbor, in turn, insists that private parties cannot restrict lawful use of public land that lies adjacent to the easement and that public lands are held in trust for the benefit of all citizens. Moorcroft Leader
Why this matters:
This dispute adds to a string of cases involving landlocked and checkerboarded public land access — including corner crossing battles that have reached the federal appellate level. University of Wyoming
If courts side with restrictive interpretations of easements, other hunters could find previously accessible public land harder to reach legally.
The trial is currently scheduled for December 2026, but the case has access advocates watching closely — because the outcome could influence public-land access battles across the West. Moorcroft Leader
🐗 TAG WATCH — Alberta’s Wild Boar Pest Ban Creates Ripples
Just north of the border, Alberta has declared feral hogs a pest and imposed broad bans on hunting, trapping, and transporting them without special permits. The move is designed to protect agriculture and ecosystems but has raised eyebrows among hunters and wildlife managers watching how different jurisdictions handle invasive species. We’ll unpack more next week. (Source: Venatic/Alberta government announcements.)
🐻 PREDATOR WATCH
Yellowstone grizzlies recorded high mortality yet again this year — deaths tied primarily to predation conflicts, vehicle strikes, and management removals amid ongoing debates over bear management strategies.
🎥 VIDEO OF THE DAY
📹 Unexpected Action on the Water:
A peaceful fishing clip turns chaotic when competition dives in from above. Quick, unpredictable, and worth a watch before you hit the woods this weekend.
🛠️ GEAR DROP — Stuff Worth Bringing on the Hunt
1️⃣ Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses (Wayfarer)
Great hunts deserve great footage — but on your terms. These smart glasses give you hands-free POV photo and video so you can record stalks, calling sessions, and packouts without fumbling for a phone or rigging a camera. Useful for your personal hunt log or sharing legendary moments with crew later.
2️⃣ BOG DeathGrip Aluminum Tripod
A predator hunter’s secret weapon. This tripod locks your rifle/sticks steady whether you’re calling across a flat or watching a draw. Smooth height adjustments, solid frames, and real stability when it matters most — especially on coyote and fox runs.
Which type of story should we chase next week?
📍 OPENINGS BOARD
Late-season tags and opportunities to chase before winter really sets in:
Wyoming antelope — check daily quota updates.
Utah desert bighorn — some units still have opportunity windows.
Idaho early-winter elk — units with specific regulations are still productive.
Always confirm rules and tag quotas with state agencies before heading out.
📝 FIELD NOTES
Access isn’t static — it’s shaped by law, land ownership changes, and ongoing litigation. Know your rights, understand easements, and always plan routes before you drop into that canyon.
Thanks for reading, we will see you on Monday
— WV