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Elk kill shocks Idaho officials.
08/29/01 Larry Hurrle
IDFG Senior Conservation Officer Dan Hislop said the three elk — two cows and a six-point by seven-point bull — were shot sometime between Friday night and Sunday morning just west of Reeds Grove Road, four miles northwest of Midvale. Hislop said he received a telephone call Monday morning from a local resident who had spotted the three dead elk.
“With the heat and the bug production, they had been there a while,” Hislop said about the elk. “They were definitely spoiled.”
Hislop estimated each of the elk was 7 to 8 years old.
Hislop said he searched the area for evidence. He said the scene showed the poachers who shot the elk were planning on butchering the animals, but something scared them away from the carcasses.
“They had gone and started gutting the first two animals,” Hislop said. “They had made the slit and the entrails had started to fall out. Then they got scared.”
Hislop said he is hoping whoever shot the elk got frightened away because somebody else saw them, or drove by the scene.
“Hopefully, the evidence at the scene and any information from the public will help us get these guys,” Hislop said. “I did find bullets. We have good evidence. With that and any other statements the public can come up with, we should be able to put something together.”
In Idaho, and specifically within areas of the Weiser River Zone, an antlerless elk hunt is currently open, but only on land outside the National Forest System boundary and only within Unit 22 and a small portion of Unit 32. The Elk were killed in Unit 31, which is designated a controlled elk hunt area only.
“There is a possibility that somebody might have had a Weiser River Zone A tag and was trying to pass it off as that,” Hislop said.
An “A” tag means hunters can hunt elk in August and September, whether with a bow from Aug. 30 to Sept. 30, with any weapon from Aug. 15 to Sept. 30 (outside National Forest System boundary) or from Aug. 1 to Dec. 31 within certain portions of Unit 32. Only the archery tag allows the taking of either sex. The any weapon categories are for antlerless elk only.
A “B” tag allows hunters to use any legal weapon and hunt for antlered elk only within Units 22 and 32 from October to December.
Hislop could not elaborate on the evidence he found, but said good evidence was turned up at the location. Also, he said, he is relying on the public to turn in any information in order to catch the poachers.
He said people wanting to give information on the illegal kill can call the Idaho Citizens Against Poaching hotline at (800) 632-5999. Callers to the CAP line can remain anonymous, Hislop said.
“Any information anybody can bring forth, we would sure appreciate it,” he said.
Idaho Department of Fish and Game Senior Conservation Officer Dan Hislop, examines the carcass of a bull elk that was killed sometime between Friday night and Sunday morning.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is investigating the illegal killing of three mature elk near Midvale.
08/29/01 Larry Hurrle
IDFG Senior Conservation Officer Dan Hislop said the three elk — two cows and a six-point by seven-point bull — were shot sometime between Friday night and Sunday morning just west of Reeds Grove Road, four miles northwest of Midvale. Hislop said he received a telephone call Monday morning from a local resident who had spotted the three dead elk.
“With the heat and the bug production, they had been there a while,” Hislop said about the elk. “They were definitely spoiled.”
Hislop estimated each of the elk was 7 to 8 years old.
Hislop said he searched the area for evidence. He said the scene showed the poachers who shot the elk were planning on butchering the animals, but something scared them away from the carcasses.
“They had gone and started gutting the first two animals,” Hislop said. “They had made the slit and the entrails had started to fall out. Then they got scared.”
Hislop said he is hoping whoever shot the elk got frightened away because somebody else saw them, or drove by the scene.
“Hopefully, the evidence at the scene and any information from the public will help us get these guys,” Hislop said. “I did find bullets. We have good evidence. With that and any other statements the public can come up with, we should be able to put something together.”
In Idaho, and specifically within areas of the Weiser River Zone, an antlerless elk hunt is currently open, but only on land outside the National Forest System boundary and only within Unit 22 and a small portion of Unit 32. The Elk were killed in Unit 31, which is designated a controlled elk hunt area only.
“There is a possibility that somebody might have had a Weiser River Zone A tag and was trying to pass it off as that,” Hislop said.
An “A” tag means hunters can hunt elk in August and September, whether with a bow from Aug. 30 to Sept. 30, with any weapon from Aug. 15 to Sept. 30 (outside National Forest System boundary) or from Aug. 1 to Dec. 31 within certain portions of Unit 32. Only the archery tag allows the taking of either sex. The any weapon categories are for antlerless elk only.
A “B” tag allows hunters to use any legal weapon and hunt for antlered elk only within Units 22 and 32 from October to December.
Hislop could not elaborate on the evidence he found, but said good evidence was turned up at the location. Also, he said, he is relying on the public to turn in any information in order to catch the poachers.
He said people wanting to give information on the illegal kill can call the Idaho Citizens Against Poaching hotline at (800) 632-5999. Callers to the CAP line can remain anonymous, Hislop said.
“Any information anybody can bring forth, we would sure appreciate it,” he said.
Idaho Department of Fish and Game Senior Conservation Officer Dan Hislop, examines the carcass of a bull elk that was killed sometime between Friday night and Sunday morning.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is investigating the illegal killing of three mature elk near Midvale.
