A reward of up to $6,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for illegally killing an elk on posted property in the War Fork area of Buchanan County in Virginia. War Fork is the area where the Virginia elk restoration first started in 2012 and is still used for guided, wildlife viewing public tours.
On, Thursday, December 30, 2021, conservation police officers with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR) responded to the report of a dead 6×7 bull elk discovered roughly 300 yards west of the original elk release site in the War Fork area of Buchanan County. Upon examination, VDWR officials collected and processed multiple items of evidence and estimated the time of death to have occurred the previous week. Someone shot the bull elk multiple times and tried to remove its head and neck.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, together with SWVA Sportsmen and The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation are offering a combined reward of up to $6,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible.
Anyone having information about the case should contact the Department of Wildlife Resources via the Wildlife Crime line at 1-800-237-5712, the Wildlife Crime email address, [email protected] or by text DWRTIP at 847411. You can also send anonymous tips by texting tip411.
RMEF provided funding and volunteer manpower to assist with the initial elk restoration and allocated funding for subsequent habitat enhancement, wildlife management and research efforts since 20212.
For 2022, Fiocchi partnered with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to increase the visibility of poaching incidents in an effort to reduce poaching nationwide.
(Photo credit: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources)