Elk NetworkIdaho Authorities Seek Culprits in Three Bull Elk Poachings

General | October 28, 2019

Idaho authorities need your help finding the person(s) responsible for poaching three bull elk. A synopsis of each case is listed below.

On October 18, 2019, a spike bull elk turned up dead off of Fern Hill Road south of Deary in the northern part of the state. Someone shot, gutted and partially skinned it before dumping the carcass along the road. The perpetrator left all of the meat to waste.

On October 17, about 20 miles northwest of there in a wheat field near McKown Road north of Potlatch, someone found a dead bull elk. It, too, was left to waste. Someone shot it once and then removed the antlers and ivories. It is believed that happened sometime between October 13 and October 16.

On the evening of October 11, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) received information that led to the investigation of a 6×6 bull elk illegally killed near Harpster on Lightning Creek road, near Highway 13. A witness saw two young adults, one man and one woman, shoot and kill a mature trophy class bull elk. The property is privately owned with limited hunting opportunities. The man and woman did not have permission to hunt that private property. They dragged the elk down a hill and removed it from the property after dark. IDFG officers are looking for a male 19-21 years old, medium build, brown hair, and about 5’11”. The female is described as being 19-21 years old, petite build, blond hair, and 5’2”. The two suspects left the area driving an older gray compact pickup with a partial Idaho license plate of I-7.

If you have any information about any of these three cases, or if you witness any suspicious behavior while afield, call the Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) hotline 1-800-632-5999.

(Photo source: Idaho Department of Fish and Game)