Episode 698: Cougars Killing Wolves, Deer Hunters Hammered For Bringing Back Parts of CWD Infected Bucks and Tips on Finding A Lease

What this episode covers

I recently came across a NAT GEO piece that detailed the interesting phenomenon of cougars killing grey wolves in Washington. After a quick Google search, I realized that a similar feature was published in Outdoor Life over a year ago and the NAT GEO piece was largely just regurgitating the original. I reached out to writer Dac Collins to discuss the feature and get his take on why Washington state’s big cats are taking out grey wolves. Generally speaking, wolves are known to dominate an area once they move in, even displacing other apex predators due to their pack structure. Strength in numbers usually wins out in these situations, so why are these wolves being taken out? Are the cats eating the canines or just killing them and are Washington wildlife officials documenting that this is indeed occurring? Then we shift gears and discuss a very recent piece Dac penned regarding a couple deer hunters who tagged out in Kansas last fall and then got hammered by South Carolina’s Department of Natural Resources for illegally transporting CWD infected deer (or parts) across the South Carolina state line. Does South Carolina already have CWD positive cases? Does the punishment fit the crime? Did the hunters even know what they were doing was a crime? Dac breaks it all down for us. We wrap up the broadcast with me answering one of the most common questions I receive from listeners or followers – “How do I find a hunting lease?” There’s no magic formula to find a good lease. It can be a daunting task to be honest, but they are out there if you know how to look. Hopefully some of the resources I use will help a couple of you in your search for a decent hunting property.