Another elk poacher sought

Denise Sharkey
Courier-Islander

Friday, December 05, 2008

For the second time in less than a week, the Conservation Service is looking for the public's help to locate an elk poacher.

Conservation officer Gord Gudbranson said a hunter found a dead spike bull elk Monday on the Big Tree Creek Mainline, about two miles southwest of Highway 19, north of Roberts Lake.

"The elk was shot and left," Gudbranson said.

"There was butchering this time. Two hind quarters were removed and one of the back straps."

It's believed the elk was shot Nov. 30.

Earlier this week, conservation officers asked the public for any tips that might lead to the person or people who shot three elk whose bodies were discovered north of Sayward Nov. 15. The elk in that case - two bulls and one cow - were found near the East Main Logging Road, off the Eve River Main. In that incident, the animals weren't butchered at all - the animals were left in their entirety in a logging slash.

In both cases, Gudbranson is hoping someone may have been in either area at the times of the poaching incidents and may have seen or heard something. He asked anyone with information about the elk shootings to call the RAPP (Report All Poaching and Polluters) line at 1-877-952-7277 or Crime Stoppers at 250-287-TIPS.

He added that the B.C. Wildlife Federation offers up to a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the guilty parties.

© Courier-Islander (Campbell River) 2008

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