Oregon State Police's Fish & Wildlife Division is currently engaged in a search for an individual accused of illegally taking down a mature bull elk with archery equipment during the recent Labor Day weekend. The suspect was reported to have shot the elk and begun the process of harvesting the meat but was interrupted upon the arrival of an OSP trooper. According to a report by NBC Right Now, the man fled the scene immediately without taking any of the meat and did not return to the salvage site for several hours as troopers worked to save what they could.
The location where the elk was discovered has been withheld from the public to aid ongoing investigations. According to The Chronicle, the suspect may be associated with a white late-model GMC or Chevrolet pickup truck, characterized by four doors and tinted windows. This detail comes in conjunction with an image of a man believed to be the poacher, caught on a trail camera and now disseminated in hopes of gaining helpful tips from the community.
Individuals with information pertinent to the case are encouraged to contact Sr. Trooper Kris Davis through the TIP line at 1-800-452-7888 or by using a mobile phone to reach *OSP (*677). Tips can also be sent directly to [email protected], and informants may remain anonymous. The Turn in Poachers (TIP) program offers potential rewards, including hunting preference points and, in cases of elk violations like this one, cash rewards of up to $1,000 from the Oregon Hunters Association, as reported by The Chronicle.