Wilder World Outdoors: 2014 in Review

by
posted on December 31, 2014
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2014 marked another banner year for the "Wilder World Outdoors." Though bears certainly stole the show, we faced no shortage of truly whacky hunting-related news this past calendar year. In case you missed one 2014's entries, I've categorized them below.

Here's to 2015, folks. Happy New Year, and happy hunting!

Nature vs. Nurture (Animals vs. People)

Man Goes Hand-to-Hand with Wounded Bear, Wins
When Whitetails Attack
Black Bear vs. Bulldogs
California Officials Kill Aggressive Mountain Lion
Bears Destroy Mock Campsite, Lone Cooler Survives
Don't Get Hit in the Head by a Snow Goose
Moose Allegedly Attack Snowmobiler, Researcher
Deer Breaks Into Minnesota Home, Battles Owner
Turkey Runs Off UPS Man

Of Poachers, Thieves and Crazy People

Homeowner Defeats Burglar with Bear Spray, Shotgun
Michigan Men Arrested for Buying Black Bear Parts

Out of Place Animals

Bear, Bigfoot or Hoax?
Bear Cub Gets Head Stuck in Cookie Jar
Bear Goes on Rampage in Washington
Bear Interrupts American Legion Baseball Game
Massive Alligator Caught Not Once, But Twice, near Hilton Head, S.C.
Whitetail Runs into Car, Reports to Hospital
Moose Captured on College Campus
Why Did the Geese Cross the Road?
Video: Black Bears Scale Cliff
Moose Falls Into Well, Stops Water Flow
American Chemical Society: Science of Deer Hunting Can Help Patients With Diabetes
Mountain Lion Goes for Stroll in Hollywood Hills

Just Plain Wild

Black Bears Come to Blows in New Jersey
Wilder World's "Best Of" Whitetail Entries
Pennsylvania Women Engage in Taxidermy Duel
Are These Athletes Really Busting Clays?
Bear, Hiker or Bigfoot?
OK, Who Brought the Bear?
Video: The Little Elk That Could
Goose, Turkey Smash Vehicle Windows
Bear Climbs Tree, Walks Tightrope for Meal

Beer

Drink Busch, Win a Once-in-a-Lifetime Hunting Vacation?

Latest

Shooting VX 6HD Lede
Shooting VX 6HD Lede

#SundayGunday: Leupold VX-6 HD Gen 2

This week on #SundayGunday, we’re talking optics—specifically riflescopes—from a company that has defined it’s longstanding American Made reputation by building some of the industry’s best: Leupold. Starting last year, the Oregon based manufacturer began revamping its optics lines, and great news for hunters, they started with the second generation of the incredibly versatile VX-6 HD line, culminating in the VX-6 HD Gen. 2.

Michigan Mayor Looks Down on Guns and Dogs

“If you’ve got a gun, you should be ashamed of yourself,” said Grand Rapids Mayor David LaGrand. NRA-ILA also noted that in his response to a police K-9 chasing down a suspect, LaGrand said: “It is time that we ask, ‘What are dogs good for?’ Like, if you need a dog to find someone in the woods, get a hound dog. If you need to chase somebody in a backyard, why couldn’t you do that with a drone? If my dog did what I saw in that video, I’d put my dog down.”

A 9-Year-Old Girl’s Effort to Make Hunting the Official Sport of Idaho

While reading her history textbook, Betty Grandy, a 9-year-old fourth-grade student from Twin Falls, Idaho, noticed that Idaho lacked an official state sport. So, she did what any 9-year-old fourth-grade student would do: She ran a poll in a neighborhood newspaper.

Tips to Improve Small Game Shooting & Big Game Accuracy

Sometimes switching from large game—like elk or deer—to hitting a moving squirrel with a .22 or .17 rimfire will tell on you in a hurry. Here are some tips to get your skills back up to snuff.

First Look: Muddy Expands DV8 Apparel and Accessory Line

Muddy Outdoors has expanded its men's hunting apparel and accessory line, DV8, to include several key items scheduled for release later in 2026.

Coyote Tactics: Stay Flexible

The successful hunters I know do not get hung up on one tactic. They constantly float between strategies in an ever-changing hunting environment. Quite simply, they’re flexible. I take that improvising nature to heart even for coyotes, particularly when they shun my calls for whatever reason. When that occurs, I continue the hunt, but modify my strategy to fit the scenario.  

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