Out & About: First grizzly sighted in Yellowstone

OUTROAMING – Yellowstone National Park has reported its first grizzly bear sighting of 2016.

The male grizzly was confirmed Tuesday near the Nez Perce Creek drainage during a wolf survey flight.

Timing of this year’s first grizzly sighting has come a little earlier than average but about two weeks later than the first male grizzly bear sighting in 2015. Last year’s first sighting was reported on Feb. 9.

Male bears typically come out of their dens first and females without cubs leave earlier than those with cubs.

Yellowstone Park is urging visitors to bring bear spray.

Mule deer hunt nets record bid

OUTBUCKS – A Canadian hunter has set a world record high of $410,000 for a bid to hunt one of the genetically huge-antlered mule deer bucks otherwise protected at a Utah state park in November.

The auction, which raises money for wildlife management, was held this month during the 10th annual Western Hunting and Conservation Expo at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, sponsored by the Mule Deer Foundation.

Troy Lorenz of Prince George, British Columbia, topped his own former record auction bid of $390,000, which he made last year. After filling that tag at Antelope Island State Park with a buck that scored 231 points on the Boone and Crockett scale, Lorenz saw the potential for trophy bucks worth an even higher price tag.

Auction tag topic in Coeur d’Alene

OUTHUNT – An Idaho proposal to raise money for wildlife management and sportsman access by offering five big-game hunting tags for auction – one each for elk, mule deer, mountain goat, pronghorn and moose – will be presented for public comment at a meeting in Coeur d’Alene on Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Panhandle Region Fish and Game Office, 2885 W. Kathleen Ave.

Idaho lawmakers have authorized up to 12 auction tags.