Monday, October 15, 2012

6 Elk Poached

Officials with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department are investigating six elk poached in elk hunt area 30, Aspen Mountain, and are asking people for any information to help. On Sunday, October 14 Game Wardens Dave Hays and Duane Kerr received two reports from legal hunters in the area about elk that had been poached. Hays and Kerr responded to the first report and found two yearling bull elk that had been shot and left to rot in elk area 30, near the Lower Sage Creek Road. The spike bulls were located about 300 yards from a road and were about 35 yards apart. Both had been dead for several days. A small amount of evidence was recovered from one of the elk, but no tire tracks or footprints were found due to recent rain showers. Kerr and Hays traveled to the scene of a second report in elk area 30 approximately six
miles from the previous location. There, one bull and three cow elk had been shot, probably within the past three or four days. The head and hind quarters of the bull had been removed, but the only things removed from the cows were the ivories, or upper canine teeth. Tracks found at the scene showed that the violators had used two ATVs to get near the bull elk to haul out the parts that were “It appeared one of the ATVs was a ‘side by side’ model, and the other a single seat ATV,” Kerr said. “The tracks found at the scene had been somewhat affected by a rain shower, but were distinct enough to be recognizable. A small amount of other evidence was recovered at the site of the dead bull.” “These are some of the most frustrating violations wardens encounter,” said Kerr. The removal of only a pair of decorative teeth from three of the elk shows a total disregard for the animals and the quality meat they would provide. Also, these elk were destroyed by violators in an area where licenses are highly sought after and drawing odds are extremely high. Anyone with information is urged
to call Kerr or Hays or the office in Green River at (307)-875-3223. Reports may also be made to the "STOP POACHING" Hotline: 1-877-WGFD-TIP (1-877-943-3847) or 1-307-777-4330 for out-of-state "STOP POACHING" calls only.

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