Fish and Game Seeks Help in Poaching Cases

Two recent elk waste incidents have left Dane Cook, senior conservation officer with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, shaking his head. Two female elk were shot and left in the McDevitt Creek Drainage in Unit 29 on or about November 1. "There was no attempt to dress them out, even though both were within 50 yards of the main McDevitt Road," Cook said. Conservation officers would like to talk to anyone who hunted in the McDevitt, Mormon Canyon or Sawmill Gulch area of Unit 29 on opening day. In a separate incident, Cook has collected evidence around Discovery Hill, also known as Old Dump Hill, where a bull elk carcass was left on or about November 2. The carcass was completely skinned and had apparently hung in a storage facility, garage, or a similar place for a period of time. The elk had been tagged, but the tag was removed. Cook suggested that someone may have decided that they let the carcass hang too long. "The meat had been well taken care of before it was dumped, and it was still in good condition," he said. Anyone with information about either of these incidents is encouraged to contact the Fish and Game office in Salmon at 208-756-2271, the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999, or any law enforcement agency. Callers may remain anonymous, and a cash reward is available if the information leads to a citation.