DILLON, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife is seeking information about
the death of a bull moose found Wednesday, near Frey Gulch Road on
Tenderfoot Mountain, east of the shooting range. According to wildlife
officials, the moose died from a gunshot wound and was not field
dressed, leaving the meat to waste.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife urges the public to provide any additional
information that may lead to the person or persons responsible,
including personal photos of any live bull moose seen in the area since
early October.
The animal was discovered during Colorado’s 2nd Rifle hunting season,
however officials believe it was killed in early October, possibly
during the 1st Rifle season, Oct. 12 through 16. Although the
circumstances are currently unknown, officials are investigating the
incident as a possible mistaken or careless kill by an elk hunter.
“We understand that mistaken kills can happen while hunting, but we ask
hunters to let us know right away,” said District Wildlife Manager
Elissa Knox, of Summit County. “Killing an animal without a license,
abandoning and wasting the meat and evading authorities can potentially
lead to felony charges, substantial fines, prison time and a lifetime
suspension of hunting privileges in Colorado as well as 38 other
states.”
Knox adds that if officers have to track down individuals in cases like
this, they will likely face the maximum penalties. She says that
officers will take prompt self-reporting into consideration and
encourages the person responsible in this incident to contact wildlife
officials as soon as possible.
In recent years, Colorado wildlife officers have investigated a number
of incidents involving the misidentification of moose for an elk.
Hunters are reminded to always be 100 percent sure of their target
before they shoot and notify officials immediately if they have killed
the wrong species.
Anyone with information that can help in this investigation can contact
Operation Game Thief, a wildlife tips hotline at 877-265-6648 . Callers
will remain anonymous and cash rewards may be given if the information
leads to a conviction.
For more information about Operation Game Thief, go to
http://www.wildlife.state.co.us/RulesRegs/LawEnforcement/OperationGameThief/Pag
es/OGT.aspx
<http://www.wildlife.state.co.us/RulesRegs/LawEnforcement/OperationGameT hief/Pages/OGT.aspx>
Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages 42 state parks, all of Colorado’s
wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational
programs. To learn more, please visit cpw.state.co.us
<http://cpw.state.co.us/> .
Moose Photo Copyright Jim Robertson
Exposing the Big Game 
Give me a break! If fathers and sons can’t tell each other from game animals; if hunters can’t tell the difference between squirrels and other hunters; if hunters can’t recognize their hunting partner’s face, how the hell are they supposed to tell the difference between a moose and an elk? I suppose you think it’s easy, but if you had all your blood concentrated in your lower brain, too, you would also find it hard.
Obviosly, hunters don’t often wait until they actually see the proper target area to insure a quick kill of their victim, let alone determine the species of animal (non-human or otherwise) they’re shooting at.
Reblogged this on Wolf Is My Soul.