Kristen Schmitt
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Outdoor journalist / Experienced writer on health & environmental issues
Articles by Kristen Schmitt
Ep. 488: Fictional Graves, Fracking in Ohio, and Fights over Tungsten
Subscribe This week, Cal covers drain tile setbacks in the Prairie Potholes, a major food failure increasing bear conflicts in Montana, and how pumas are keeping deer safe from cars. This week’s Calls to Action: The South Carolina DNR is collecting comments on hunting deer with dogs.
Improving climate resilience in buildings, homes and outdoor spaces
Kristen Schmitt, Patrick Cipriano, Ariane Laxo and Leah Wirgau University of Minnesota Extension, HGA Aug. 7, 2026, 4:46 p.m. CT The spaces where we live, work and play must be able to cope with weather and climate conditions now and into the future. Fortunately, making our buildings, homes and outdoor sites more resilient to climate change is something that both homeowners and building professionals can contribute to.
The First At-Home Test for Infected Ticks Could Improve Lyme Disease Diagnosis
LymeAlert will hit the market in August. The latest tool against the tick-borne illness could become a medicine cabinet staple Research shows that more than 31 million Americans—or nearly one in ten people—experience a tick bite every year.
Insider Secrets From a Top Wedding and Event Planner
Event and wedding planner Marcy Blum’s secrets to a memorable wedding include thoughtful personalization, guest-focused details, and a willingness to forego tradition in favor of what best reflects the couple. Amber Day To Marcy Blum, no detail is too grand and no request too bold. For more than 38 years, the elite wedding and event planner has served a celebrity-filled Rolodex that includes Billy Joel, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, LeBron James and Savannah James, and Kevin Love and Kate Bock.
25 Great Ways to Leave a Legacy That Lasts
A legacy means different things to different people. Read on to discover what it might mean to you.
Montana approves changes for 2026 deer season with 2,500 less nonresident licenses
The commission said that overcrowding on public lands due to too many nonresident hunters sparked the change Related Big game hunting season may look different next year in Montana – for both resident and nonresident deer hunters.
Oregon changes structure of deer hunts beginning in 2026
Hunts will switch from WMUs to Deer Herd Ranges for better deer management Related Last month, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted new regulations when it comes to big game hunting in the state. Most notably is the switch in how mule deer hunts will be structured.
CPW report reintroduced wolves traveling closer to Utah border
New GPS coordinates find wolves in Garfield, Rio Blanco and Mesa counties Related Colorado’s recently reintroduced wolves continue to expand their range, with the latest map from Colorado Parks and Wildlife showing them moving across the Western Slope toward the state’s shared western border with Utah, according to The Post Independent. CPW tracks wolf movement patterns via the animal’s GPS collars. GPS coordinates are recorded every four hours.
Over 160,000 applied for a chance at a Florida black bear permit
First hunt in a decade will take place in December Related There’s plenty of interest in hunting Florida black bears in a first-ever hunt in a decade. This week, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that they had 163,459 applications for a chance at 172 allocated permits. What’s this mean for hunters? They have about a 0.1% chance of actually getting one, according to Spectrum News 13.
Utah Wildlife Board approves changes for mule deer, mountain goat and bighorn sheep
Check out the approved changes in Utah Related Last week, the Utah Wildlife Board approved updates to the mountain goat and bighorn sheep statewide management plans as well as deer population objectives in three hunting units in the southeastern part of the state, according to a news release. The Utah Mountain Goat Statewide Management Plan and the Utah Bighorn Sheep Statewide Management Plan are 10-year plans that went into effect in 2018; however, periodic review is allowed.
Wyoming’s Sublette antelope migration corridor to remain complete
Commission votes to include all 10 segments despite proposal to remove Red Desert and Farson Related Wyoming’s 160-mile-long Sublette antelope migration corridor will retain full protection despite the request to remove protections from two regions.
Cheatgrass threatens Wyoming mule deer
New study shows deer avoid areas where invasive plant grows Related As cheatgrass spreads across the West, a new study finds that the annual invasive grass is impacting mule deer movement patterns in Wyoming – and will likely affect mule deer habitat in the future unless something’s done.
Purchase of Montana ranch ends long-time access issue
American Prairie’s purchase of one of the Wilks’ ranches will allow access to nearly 50,000 acres of public land Related In a landmark purchase, the nonprofit American Prairie has reopened nearly 50,000 acres of public land to hunters, anglers, and backcountry recreationists. Anchor Ranch was previously owned by Texas billionaire brothers Dan and Farris Wilks and spans 67,960 acres.
New study finds elk displaced by trail usage in Upper Gunnison Basin
Deer weren’t as bothered, most likely using “human shield” to deflect potential predators Related Trail use in the Upper Gunnison Basin can be heavy at times, with plenty of hikers out well after dark. And new research finds that the influx of humans in this particular area affects elk more than deer – with elk being displaced from the landscape by 57.5%, according to The Daily Sentinel. Deer, on the other hand, seem to appreciate the human traffic, gravitating toward popular trails.
U.S. Forest Service wants to end 2001 Roadless Rule // GOHUNT. The Hunting Company
Decision could impact 58 million acres of public lands Related Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published its intent to end the 2001 Roadless Rule. The rule, which was enacted during the Clinton Administration, establishes lasting protection for specific wilderness areas within national forests, prohibiting logging and road construction to protect habitat, limit erosion and sediment pollution in drinking water, among other things.
Wyoming man charged with animal cruelty following wolf incident
Juvenile wolf was run over, muzzle taped shut Related There are people who hunt animals ethically, and then there are people like Cody Roberts who was recently charged with felony animal cruelty following his capture and torment of a gray wolf last February.
UDWR prioritizes mule deer to sustain healthy population
Agency funds 115 deer-related projects during fiscal year 2024 Related The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) has made mule deer its focus over the past few years, working to improve habitat to sustain healthy populations.
CPW proposes to increase 25-cent surcharge to $1.25 to support backcountry search and rescue
Increase keeps pace with inflation and helps fund program needs in Colorado Related To help fund search and rescue teams, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) would like to increase the current Backcountry Search and Rescue (BSAR) surcharge from $0.25 to $1.25, according to a CPW public notice. The proposed increase is to keep pace with inflation and the program’s needs today, and applies to the sale of most wildlife licenses and vessel, snowmobile and off highway vehicle registrations.
New study finds wolves will move pups to track migratory prey
Research concentrates on wolf and elk movement in Absaroka Mountains Related New research finds that gray wolves will move with migrating prey, challenging assumptions that denning wolves stay put until litters are old enough to move. The study, “Wolves use diverse tactics to track migratory prey” illustrates how “shifting ungulate migrations can impact predator behaviors and ecosystem dynamics,” according to senior author Arthur Middleton.
200+ of Nevada’s feral horses in the Triple B Complex moved due to drought
The decision stems from “reduced forage growth” Related Due to continued drought conditions, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has decided to remove over 200 feral horses in the Maverick-Medicine Herd Management Area and the Wood Hills. The decision stems from “reduced forage growth” that makes the area risky for “both the land and horse population,” according to Channel 2 News Nevada.
New bill could end bear baiting in Wyoming and other states
Bill targets bear-bait barrels on federal lands Related Western bear hunters may face a baiting ban if a new bill is approved. Earlier this month, U.S. House Resolution 4422, “Don’t Feed The Bears Act of 2025,” was introduced and is currently on deck to be reviewed by the House Committee on Natural Resources. The bill would ban the use of bear-bait barrels for black bear hunting on federal lands in Wyoming and other states, according to the Cowboy State Daily.
Six charged with poaching deer and elk in Montana
Group faces 34 charges and 13 warnings, plus fines close to $23,000 Related From 2020 to 2024, several bull elk and mule deer bucks were illegally killed in the Bull Mountains near Roundup, Montana. Thanks to a confidential informant, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) game wardens investigated and recently charged six people from Montana and Washington for the unlawful killings, according to a news release.
Environmental group files petition to return grizzlies to California
Petition requests establishing “formal rule” to reintroduce over 1,000 grizzlies Related Should grizzly bears return to the Golden State? The environmental group Rewilding Earth recently submitted a petition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requesting a formal rule to do just that, according to the Sierra Daily News.
New bill aims to delist grizzly bears
Grizzly Bear State Management Act of 2025 advances with a vote of 20-19 Related Grizzly bears could lose federal protections if several western lawmakers get their way. Last week, the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources voted 20-19 to advance a bill that would delist grizzly bears, reverting back to a 2017 decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), according to the Montana Free Press. U.S. Rep.
UDWR seeks public comments on e-tagging and changes to permit surrender
Comments will be collected in-person and online through mid-August Related If you hunt in Utah and wish you could tag your harvest electronically, take note. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) is proposing an update to its current tagging rule, which would allow the use of a new e-tagging option with a digital permit, according to a news release.
Montana collects hunter comments for new mule deer management plan
Plan should be released by the end of 2026 Related Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) is in the process of developing a new statewide mule deer management plan. Recently, the agency held a series of public workshops to collect concepts and opinions from interested hunters that may be incorporated into the final plan. “In parts of the state, especially eastern Montana, there’s a lot of concern over mule deer,” said FWP Director Christy Clark.
Landowner petitions Supreme Court to decide corner-crossing case
Petition filed for SCOTUS consideration of controversial case Related In a last-ditch effort to prove he’s right, the landowner who lost the corner-crossing case is now trying to get the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) involved. Last week, the attorney for Iron Bar Holdings LLC and its owner, Fred Eshelman of North Carolina, filed a petition to have the case heard by SCOTUS, according to the Cowboy State Daily.
Montana proposes changes to wolf trapping and hunting seasons
Changes to be discussed during August commission meeting Related Montana wolf populations are above the state’s wolf management recovery thresholds. In fact, according to its 2024 annual wolf report, the estimated population of 1,091 wolves, comprised of 181 wolf packs, is only a dozen fewer than 2023’s estimates, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP).
Montana releases 2024 wolf report
FWP estimates statewide wolf population to be 1,091, still above recovery thresholds Related With an estimated population of 1,091 wolves across the state, the current population is considered “relatively stable” despite some “slight declines,” according to the 2024 Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) annual wolf report. While the current estimated population is 12 fewer than 2023, the number of wolves in Montana is above determined recovery thresholds.
Changes to public lands sale language still targets 1.2 million acres
Revised language faces opposition, unclear if will move forward Related The push to sell public lands continues with Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) proposing some changes to his original language, though not necessarily ones that are better. Now, the current proposal only targets Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, requiring “the sales of between 0.25 and 0.5 percent of the 245 million acres” currently under BLM ownership, equating to “between 612,500 and 1.225 million acres,” according to The Hill.
Colorado to hold special meeting to discuss problem wolves
Copper Creek pack linked to repeat livestock depredation Related The future of the Copper Creek wolf pack is up for discussion during a special meeting of Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s (CPW) commission. The pack, which had pups last spring, has been linked to repeated livestock attacks and deaths across Pitkin and Grand counties, according to the Vail Daily.
Montana adds new restrictions for flying to access landlocked public land
Changes made to improve hunting experiences Related Earlier this month, Gov. Greg Gianforte signed into law after it passed the Senate 48-2 and the House by 98-1. The bill, which goes into effect on Oct. 1, 2025, adds new restrictions for hunters planning to fly into a landlocked parcel of public land, according to the Billings Gazette. The bill, which was sponsored by Sen.
Sale of public lands removed from “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”
Bill moves onto Senate after narrowly passing in the House with a vote of 215-214 Related The possible sale of public lands has been curbed following an aggressive bipartisan effort to strip the language from President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The provision would have authorized the sale or transfer of more than 500,000 acres of public lands across Utah and Nevada with some going to development of affordable housing, according to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
Utah Republicans advance amendment to sell public lands
Sale would target lands in Washington and Beaver counties Related About 11,000 acres of public land in Utah and Nevada could be up for sale following a last-minute amendment approved by the House National Resources Committee. The amendment will be “tucked into the larger budget reconciliation bill,” which House Republicans anticipate passing in a single vote, according to the Deseret News. In Utah, the saleable public lands fall within Washington and Beaver counties.
Pneumonia-causing bacteria found in Montana bighorn sheep
Two rams in HD 622 test positive for disease Related Disease has infiltrated Hunt District 622 in Montana. Last week, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) reported that two rams – one harvested by a hunter last fall and another found dead during FWP’s spring survey – tested positive for Mycoplasma ovipneumonia, the bacteria that causes pneumonia in bighorn sheep and typically results in massive die-offs.
Colorado wolf found dead in Rocky Mountain National Park
Other reintroduced wolves found near Denver, Boulder and Estes Park Related Another gray wolf from Colorado’s reintroduction effort is dead. The female wolf, which was reported dead on April 20, was found in Rocky Mountain National Park, according to The Colorado Sun. The cause is unclear as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service still needs to complete a necropsy.
67% of Idaho mule deer fawns and 93% of elk calves survived this winter
Plus a comparison of previous years numbers of fawn and calf survival Related Idaho’s mule deer fawns and elk calves are doing pretty good – for the moment. The latest statewide winter survival data found that 67% of fawns and 93% of calves (with collars) have survived through mid-March; however, late March and April can be the toughest time for young animals, according to a news release.
Idaho considers new hunting rules for drones, thermals, optics and more
With advances in technology, Idaho's Hunting and Advanced Technology Working Group looks at changes to some hunting methods/rules Related With continual advances in technology – whether it’s optics, rifles, scopes and more – fish and game agencies are charged with changing rules and regulations to make hunting fair for all. Idaho has a working group that focuses on this specifically – the Hunting and Advanced Technology (HAT) Working Group.
New study finds restoring grizzlies to California feasible
Researchers say they could “likely” thrive if returned to native state Related A new study found that grizzly bears “likely can thrive” if returned to California. The California Grizzly Alliance released its peer-reviewed study, Recovering Grizzly Bears in California, this week. The study found that there are “no insurmountable biological, ecological, economic, legal or policy obstacles” to return the once native animals to the state, according to the Sierra Sun Times.
Montana shed hunter attacked by grizzly bear
13-year-old bear killed in self-defense near Dupuyer Related ‘Tis the season for grizzly bear attacks. And a Montana shed hunter got to experience one up close and personal last Friday. Fortunately, he lived to tell the tale. The attack occurred while the man sought out shed antlers in north-central Montana near Dupuyer, according to a news release. He first spotted the bear “on a brushy hillside” and was charged “at close range” when he was leaving.
Texas Men Noodle Record-Breaking Catfish
Two Texas anglers recently caught an absolutely giant flathead catfish—using only their hands. Justin White and Drew Moore were noodling at Lake Tawakoni, which is east of Dallas, on June 23 when they made the epic catch. The fish will go down as one of the biggest fish ever noodled. Two weeks before the catch, White and Moore found a new fishing spot—a hole 14 feet beneath a concrete slope under a bridge. They caught two 30-pounders but thought they might be able to find bigger fish in the cove.
Missouri Kid's Massive Catfish Weighed More Than 100 Pounds
A 15-year-old Missourian caught the fish of his dreams during a mid-August outing on the Missouri River with his father, boating a 108-pound blue catfish that some say is the second largest ever caught with a rod-and-reel in the state. Joshua Jones Jr. was fishing with his father near Spanish Lakes, Missouri, on August 9 when he nodded off. Sometime around midnight, he jolted awake to find a river monster on his line.
Transplanted Wolves Kill Rancher's Calf in Rural Colorado |
Colorado has reported its first wolf-livestock depredation since implementing a controversial voter-enacted proposition to reintroduce wolves in the Centennial State. In December, Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) released 10 wolves captured from Oregon in Grand and Summit Counties. Now, some of those wolves are responsible for killing a rancher’s calf. According to a CPW press release, a landowner in Grand County reported a possible depredation incident of a calf on April 2.
New research looks at diet and group size as factors to bighorn sheep herd health
University of Idaho study looks at forage and behaviors of John Day River herd Related As bighorn sheep herds continue to face disease and die-offs across the West, those that live in a specific area in Idaho are thriving. With more than 1,000 bighorn sheep populating the canyons of the John Day River and its tributaries, researchers at the University of Idaho are trying to determine why they seem to flourish there while other populations elsewhere struggle, according to a news release.
Truck Carrying 100,000 Salmon Crashes Into The Wrong River |
An Oregon Tanker Truck Carrying More Than 100,000 Hatchery Salmon Crashed Into the Wrong River A truck transporting 102,000 young Chinook salmon crashed on its way to Oregon’s Imnaha at the end of March. According to the Washington Post , the driver was okay with only minor injuries but the fish weren’t as lucky. More than 25,000 died when the driver rolled the 53-foot rig onto its roof on a sharp bend along Lookingglass Creek.
Utah proposes increase in general season deer permits, limited entry elk tags for 2025 season
Additional changes proposed to increase youth opportunity and clarifying mandatory harvest reporting Related Hunt 2024 permits 2025 recommended permits General-season buck deer 71,525 80,600 Limited-entry deer 1,339 1,547 Antlerless deer 450 340 General-season any bull elk 15,000 * 15,000 for adults in the early general-season any bull elk hunt (for any legal weapon and muzzleloader hunters) * Unlimited for youth * Unlimited for archery hunters * Unlimited for the general-season any bull late...
Montana closes HD 622 to bighorn sheep hunting
Hunters will be contacted by FWP if they applied for that district Related If you applied for Hunting District 622, expect to be contacted by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP). The agency recently closed HD 622 to bighorn sheep hunting following an emergency meeting held on Monday after biologists only counted five sheep during their spring survey, according to a news release.
Washington bans using bait to hunt big game to curb CWD
New rule approved March 24; also prohibits use of urine or glandular fluid-based scent lures Related In an effort to halt the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) through unnaturally congregating deer, elk and moose, Washington has approved a statewide ban on feeding – and baiting – the ungulates as of March 24, 2025. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Director Kelly Susewind approved the proposed rule, which will be permanent 31 days after filing, according to a news release.
Utah approves SB8 to raise rates for nonresident hunting license fees
Changes go into effect July 1 for license fees and Sept. 1 for applications and permits Related Hunting in Utah just got a bit more expensive if you’re a nonresident. Last week, Gov. Spencer Cox signed several new laws, including one that raises the rates for nonresident hunters and anglers.
ALERT: Washington to raise hunting and fishing licenses fees
SB 5583 moves from Senate to House for consideration - big jump for both residents and nonresidents Related Item Resident (current) Resident (fee change) Percent change (resident) Deer+elk+bear+mountain lion $97.50 $117.30 20.31% Deer+elk+bear+mountain lion w/ discounted small game $119.50 $144.90 21.26% Deer+elk license $85.50 $103.50 21.05% Deer+elk license w/ discounted small game $107.50 $130.37 21.27% Deer license $45.40 $53.82 18.55% Deer license w/ discounted small game $67.40 $81.42...
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