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Get four steps and find resources to create your next land management plan. It's an outdoor journey and a labor of love, so dig in and enjoy the ride.

If you've ever watched press conferences from sporting or political events you know they're usually pretty dry, boring and lacking of any important substance. Occasionally we'll see one that has some fireworks, but usually they're not too exciting. Politicians aren't going to say much that would come back to haunt them later. Athletes often are tired, mad or upset after losses, or if they win they'll "give them credit, they worked hard" in reference to the other team and otherwise not be too illuminating about strategy. Catchin' Deers has some pretty funny videos that make light of our hunting community. It's all in good fun, of course, and it's good to laugh at ourselves now and then. Hunting is supposed to be fun, even if we're serious about whatever we're pursuing, and Catchin' Deers has tapped into that. Check out this post-hunt press conference video and take a moment to chuckle. You might even lose focus and not connect. Hahaha.

The chairman of the Kentucky Department of Fisheries & Wildlife Commission is under fire after being charged with obstructing legal hunting and the head of the KDFW law enforcement division has resigned amid an ethics investigation into his involvement. Commission Chairman Jimmy Bevins of Georgetown was charged with obstructing legal hunting after putting out corn as illegal bait near his property and contacting KDFW officials to investigate. According to LEX18.com News, the situation arose because Bevins reportedly was upset in January 2016 that hunters were near his property on Elkhorn Creek. From LEX18.com: According to court records, the controversy began last January when Bevins contacted Fish and Wildlife about people shooting guns and hunting ducks near his house. Jimmy Bevins A wildlife officer suspected Bevins knowingly put corn out to bait the property so no one else could hunt there, which is illegal. Two other fish and wildlife employees face ethics charges for allegedly discouraging one of their own from pursuing a charge against Bevins because of his role with the department. Colonel Rodney Coffey, who was director of the KDFWR Law Enforcement section but has resigned, and Capt. Richard Skaggs, who still is with KDFWR, were identified in a separate, more detailed Lexington Herald-Leader story about their involvement. According to the Herald-Leader, Coffey resigned in mid-January after the state's Executive Branch Ethics Commission began an investigation. Bevins was appointed to the commission in 2016. His term ends in August 2020. Commission appointments are made for by the governor four-year terms. According to the KDFWR website, Bevins has Life Memberships with the National Rifle Association, Safari Club International, Bass Anglers Sportsmen Society and National Sporting Clays Association. He also is a member of Ducks Unlimited and Quality Deer Management Association. He is the owner and president of Bevins Motor Company in Georgetown and has John Deere dealerships in Paris, Richmond and Mt. Sterling. The commission Bevins chairs hears public input about KDFWR policies, regulations and laws, and is an advisory board to the department and state legislature about such matters. Wildlife Officers Vote 'No Confidence' in Agency Commissioner In a separate situation that points to deeper issues with the KDFWR, Bevins' situation was included as part of a "no confidence" vote by the Kentucky Conservation Officers Association about the state agency's commissioner. Greg Johnson Rodney Milburn, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 100 and KCOA, said the vote was approved at the association's board of directors meeting in February. It was specific to KDFWR commissioner, Greg Johnson, who is in charge of the state agency. Johnson is the eighth commissioner in the agency's 70-year history. From LEX18.com: The (KCOA) letter stated that the KCOA has declared that they have no confidence in Commissioner Gregory Johnson’s ability to guide the agency ethically and with resolve to provide employees with fair and impartial treatment. They have asked commissioners to remove Gregory Johnson immediately as Commissioner of the Department. Also among complaints in the officers' association resoluation are those about inadequate compensation and promotion opportunities for wildlife officers, and failing to be added to the agenda at commission meetings.

A whitetail collected on Jan. 25, 2018, in Issaquena County has tested positive for chronic wasting disease. To date, CWD has been confirmed in 24 states, three Canadian provinces and two foreign countries.

The company founded by hunter and fisherman Leon Bean has lost $250 million due to returns on products the company classifies as “destroy quality.”

Pssst, have you seen a mountain lion in the wild somewhere east of the Mississippi River? Of course you have, because what seems like a bazillion other people have seen one. Hunters, truckers, fishermen, farmers, good ol' boys never meanin' no harm. The reports are legion and often are related thusly: — "It jumped on the road and stopped, looked at me, and then jumped across the ditch before I could get there to see it again." — "I heard one scream like a woman being killed right behind me in the stand, so I ran to the truck but left my hunting backpack in the tree." — "I saw it crossing the big field where my granny said she saw one 40 years ago coming out of the swamp. They live in there." Or combine all those into something like, "I was driving past the big field and it jumped into the road, stopped and looked at me, then ran toward the big swamp where Granny said she saw one all those years ago. Then I heard it scream and I drove like hell to get out of there." Are there mountain lions in states east of the Mississippi River? Sure, because they're migrating from the Midwest. Probably some are released or escaped. With that much land mass, river systems and movements of big cats, some are going to be sighted like this one in northwest Tennessee in 2015. VIDEO: Mountain Lion, Humphreys County, Tennnessee, in 2015The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recently declared the eastern cougar extinct, saying the animal's removal from the Federal List of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife protection is warranted after decades without a verified sighting. The subspecies originally was found primarily in the Northeast region of the U.S. and parts of Canada. They're family, so to speak, in a genetic way with other subspecies including the growing western cougar. "Data from researchers, 21 states and Canadian provinces across the subspecies’ former eastern North American range indicate the eastern cougar likely disappeared forever at least 70 years ago," the USFWS stated in its announcement. "While many suspected cougar sightings are probably mistakenly identified bobcats or other animals, cougars do occasionally occur in eastern North America, but they are cougars of other subspecies: either Florida panthers, animals dispersing from western populations, or animals that have been released or escaped from captivity," the announcement said. "The conclusions are based on a review of more than 100 credible studies dating back to 1900. Accounts suggest that most eastern cougars disappeared in the 1800s, killed out of fear for human and livestock safety and were victims of massive deforestation and overharvesting of white-tailed deer, the cougar’s primary prey." The last known, verified sighting of an eastern cougar was in 1932 in Maine. Questions will linger, though, with answers from the USFWS found here. Answers that many will dismiss, because like UFOs, Elvis' death and if Alexa is listening to us all the time (she says she isn't), people will believe what they believe.

Almost 40 percent of the United States is thirsty, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, with lack of rain and snow contributing to a mounting problem. The USDM, located at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, says approximately 38.4 percent of the country including Alaska, Hawaii and the Puerto Rico territory currently is affected by the ongoing drought. Seems difficult to imagine Alaska or Hawaii not having enough snow or rain, but parts of each state are having issues. Deer and other wildlife may be feeling the impacts of the drought gripping much of the United States. (Photo courtesy iStock) On the mainland, there's less rain and snow along the West Coast and parts of the western mountain ranges, and little rain in the Southwest and Southeast. All this presents potential problems with more wildfires like those last year in southern California and impacts on winter crops. The drought also can impact vegetation needed by wildlife, such as mast-producting trees and seed-bearing plants. Remember that whole "circle of life" thing from elementary school? That's in play here, too. Lack of water can reduce forage, which impacts big and small game, the latter of which can impact predators, and in areas where streams, creeks or smaller rivers dry up the animals begin roaming to search for water. Or they die. Maybe both. Drought also obviously affects aquatic creatures and fish, too. What does it matter? It matters a lot for economics and the environment in the country. More rain, or normal rain, would be the best scenario. How about deer, turkeys, predators and other wildlife? Deer in several states including Ohio, West Virginia, parts of eastern Kentucky, eastern Tennessee and others experienced some deaths from epizootic hemorrhagic disease last summer. It's a common disease in the whitetail world, and we usually see more of it in drought years. We haven't seen any other news about drought-related wildife problems yet but are monitoring the situation.

Predator calling contests are ramping up in parts of the country, which means it's time for some outdoors fun. A little competition is  good thing, especially when it's beneficial to the local wildlife by taking out predators like coyotes and bobcats. Maybe raccoons and other predtors, depending on the event. Some even include mountain lions. Testing your skills with a rifle, camo setups, choosing the right locations, and calling 'yotes or bobs in for a shot is fun. One of the hottest contests going is the Lone Star Predator Calling Classic, which is this wekend in Lampasas, Texas. The event features teams of up to four callers and hunters, cash and other sponsor prizes, "bounties, bonuses and contingencies," side pots, food fromToupsies Cajun restaurant of Lampasas and other goodies. Sponsors including Hoffpauir Group, Nikon, Hornady, Lone Star Outdoor News and others are supportive. I've competed in bass fishing tournaments and bowfishing tournaments, but never a predator contest like these. Going wide open for 24 hours for predators? Holy smokes, that sounds like incredible fun. About 10 or so years ago I visited Lubbock, Texas, and did some nighttime hunting for coyotes and bobcats. We were using custom-built .223 rifles with mounted SureFire lights and Zeiss optics. Loved it. Definitely needed a few Red Bulls. Calling contests like these can be great ways to get young hunters involved, too. Along with the camaraderie, learning about calling and hunting, and possibly winning some cash and prizes, they're outdoors in the sun or under the stars. That's not a bad thing, either. What's your take on predator calling and hunting contests like these?

Whether you’re looking for a great gift or just wanting to beef up your gear arsenal, these affordable hunting products are worth a look.