Information Sought In Elk-Poaching Case

Arizona Game and Fish is seeking information regarding the poaching of a bull elk northwest of Ash Fork.

Officers with Game and Fish need public assistance and Operation Game Thief is offering up to a $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest of those responsible for the crime.

"An officer has collected evidence at the scene, but we are looking for additional information," said Zen Mocarski, public information officer for the Game and Fish Region 3 office in Kingman.

The elk was shot on Oct. 19 or 20 one mile north of Stone Lake in Game Management Unit 10 on the Diamond 7 allotment on the south end of the Bishop Lake Plateau. At the time of the crime, there was no bull elk season in GMU 10.

If found, those responsible face class 2 misdemeanor charges of possession of unlawfully taken wildlife, take out of season, waste of game meat, and potentially take without a tag or license. These charges have a maximum of $750 in fines for each count.

After the case is adjudicated, those responsible also face a potential civil assessment by the Game and Fish Commission and possible license revocation.

"It is important to remember this is not the act of sportsmen or women," Mocarski stated. "Poaching is a crime. It is important for anyone with information to come forward. There's a lot of territory for an officer to cover and the eyes and ears of the public is critically important in bringing poachers to justice."

Mocarski added that information provided to Operation Game Thief has played a vital role in bringing poachers to justice.

Anyone with information regarding this case, or any wildlife violation, should call the OGT hotline at (800) 352-0700. Web submissions can be reported via the Internet by going to http://www.azgfd.gov/thief. Identities will remain confidential. Anyone calling should reference case number 13-002889.