In a poaching case that one wildlife official said is the worst he’s ever seen, four trophy-sized bull elk were shot and left to rot in southern Colorado, in one of the state’s most prized hunting areas.
The bulls’ carcasses were found abandoned on four separate ranches in Las Animas County, Colorado.
Investigators suspect the elk were shot at night, Mike Brown, area wildlife manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), told Cowboy State Daily.
The elk were apparently poached last month, but the investigation remains a top priority for CPW, said Brown, who called the case “unsettling.”
“This is something that I’ve never seen,” he said.
“These elk were all killed within close proximity of roads. And that tells me this wasn’t something that was accidental,” Brown added.
A Mountain Of Charges And Penalties
The case could result in a host of charges, including hunting without a proper game tag, hunting on private land without permission and wanton waste of a game animal.
Those charges could result in fines and penalties that might “easily add up to $45,000,” Brown said.
The violations could also result in a long-term, or even lifetime loss of the perpetrator or perpetrators’ hunting privileges, he said. Through the Interstate Game Violators Compact, a loss of privileges in one state applies in nearly every other state.
It likely won’t end there. There could be a “myriad” of other charges, such as shooting outside of legal hunting hours and the illegal use of artificial light or night-vision equipment for hunting big game, Brown said.
And after CPW is done with the hunting-related charges, the landowners could also press criminal trespass charges against the defendant or defendants, through the county sheriff’s office, he said.
Four Huge Bulls Shot
Because the case remains under investigation, Brown couldn’t divulge certain details, such as whether CPW is seeking a single suspect, or a suspected poaching ring involving multiple people.
The elk were illegally shot Sept. 13, 26 and 27 near the communities of Stonewall and Picketwire, according to CPW.
Of the four bull elk that were poached, one was shot and abandoned whole; one was wounded and had to be put down; another carcass had the backstraps removed. The fourth had its head removed, but no meat was taken.
Coveted Hunting Area
The area where the bulls were taken was near the Colorado-New Mexico stateline.
Brown said the elk there have excellent habitat and genetics, although the herds aren’t specifically managed for trophy bull hunting.
CPW tries to offer as much hunting opportunity as possible with over-the-counter tags.
However, there is also lots of private land there, where hunting pressure can be limited, and bulls can grow big, Brown said.
That could create some real potential trophies for hunters seeking the biggest and best bulls, he said.
Seeking Public Help
CPW is calling on the public to help solve the case, Brown said.
Information can be provided anonymously through Operation Game Thief at 1-877-265-6648 or by email to game.thief@state.co.us.
A $1,000 reward is being offered for tips that lead to a citation or an arrest. Anyone willing to testify about information they provided which led to the filing of charges would be eligible for a preference point or hunting license, according to CPW.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
