Upper Snake Region Conservation Officers Need Your Help!

IDAHO FALLS - As another big game season winds down, local Conservation Officers (COs) have been left with several open cases. Unknown to most sportsmen, COs receive calls weekly about poached animals. Commonly these calls lead to the prosecution of the violator. Occasionally though COs are left with little or no information and the violator is never caught. The following are cases that are being investigated by local COs, who are asking for the help of sportsmen. On September 28, 2003 CO Eric Crawford received a call from a Howe rancher reporting a dead 6x6 bull elk in his field. After arriving at the scene it was apparent that the bull had be shot that morning, sometime during the hours of darkness. The bull was found approximately 60 yards from the Little Lost Highway in an alfalfa field. After further investigation it appears the bull had be shot twice with a small caliber rifle. One small caliber bullet was recovered from the carcass. "This is a beautiful bull that any sportsmen would love to harvest, but now that opportunity is no longer available", stated CO Crawford. On October 15, 2003 CO Dan Duggan received a call from a local landowner reporting two dead moose. The landowner reported seeing a cow and calf moose early on the 14th feeding on the Kelly Canyon ski slope. That evening the moose were found dead and left to waste. The cow and calf were found dead in the barrow pit of Kelly Canyon Road. At this time Officer Duggan has not received any further information. Local Officers received information about a cow elk that was shot and left on October 24, 2003. The incident occurred just off the Mann Road in the Gray's Lake area. It appears the individuals may have been caught in the moment and shot into a herd of elk. The individuals probably had two tags but did not have a tag for the third. It appears the individuals were aware of the third dead elk because they took the ivories but left the rest to waste. An individual did assist two men and a boy load two of the elk into an early 90's two tone gray Ford with a Cassia County designated license plate that morning. One of the shooters introduced themselves as Tom Horn to a party that told him that they were trespassing. CO Shane Liss received information on October 16, 2003 about a 4x4 bull elk that was shot and left near the Big Springs Warming Hut in the Island Park area. Officer Liss located two additional gut piles at the scene. It appears the individuals may have flock shot the elk and found that they shot a branch antler bull during a spike only season. The bull was found untouched and left to waste. Officer Liss is also seeking information about a cow moose shot and left on the Shotgun Valley Road near Davis Lakes. Officer Liss found the carcass on October 25, 2003 which appears to have been shot 4-5 days prior. Officers are seeking information about 3 mule deer carcasses found at 200 N. 4800 E. Ririe, Idaho. The carcasses were found on October 23, 2003. A minimal amount of meat had been taken from one carcass and the others left to waste. The above cases are just a snapshot of a Conservation Officers fall season. COs find themselves investigating similar cases year after year. Sadly, there are some individuals that violate Fish and Game law every year with little or no regard for the wildlife of Idaho. For the above reason COs are asking sportsmen to take an active role in protecting Idaho's wildlife. Local COs are asking for the help of local sportsmen to help solve these cases. If an individual has information regarding any of the above cases or other wildlife violations they are encouraged to call the CITIZENS AGAINST POACHING HOTLINE at 1-800-632-5999