OSBURN, ID — Idaho Fish and Game is seeking the public’s help in solving two separate wildlife crimes reported in the Osburn area between Oct. 19 and Oct. 22.
According to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game’s Panhandle Region, the first incident involved an elk that was shot and left to waste off Nuchols Gulch Road. The animal was shot behind the shoulder, and none of the meat was taken. Investigators believe the elk was killed on Oct. 19.
The second case involved a mule deer doe that was illegally harvested during a closed season. The quarters and backstraps had been removed, and the carcass was discovered near a Large Tracts Program gate up Polaris Peak Road.
Officials emphasized that these acts violate Idaho law and represent a loss of public resources. “Fish and wildlife in Idaho belong to all Idahoans, and crimes such as these steal from everyone who values and enjoys them,” Fish and Game said in a statement.
Anyone with information about either case is asked to contact the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999, available 24 hours a day, or submit a tip online. Fish and Game noted that a monetary reward may be available for information leading to the identification and prosecution of those responsible.
