Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks is investigating after a mature bull elk was shot and left to waste in rural Fergus County between Lewistown and Grass Range.
The elk was shot the evening of Nov. 8 near Surenuff and Flatwillow roads on private property in the Little Snowy Mountains, according to a press release from FWP.
The bull was killed and its head cut off.
FWP is asking anyone with information on the incident to call 1-800-TIPMONT. Callers are kept confidential and a reward of up to $1,000 is possible.
The landowners are willing to match TIPMONT’s reward for a total of $2,000.
The 1-800-TIP-MONT program is a toll-free number where people can report violations of fish, wildlife or park regulations. Callers may remain anonymous.
Related: Reward offered after trophy deer poached, left to waste north of Hardin
The FWP website provides the following information about poaching:
Poaching is the illegal killing of fish or wildlife. It can include illegal killing of fish or wildlife:
- for commercial trade
- for ego gratification
- in closed areas, during closed times, or taking more than the law allows
Poachers:
- reduce recreational opportunities for law abiding anglers, hunters, wildlife watchers, and other outdoor enthusiasts
- kill and waste Montana game animals, threatened and endangered species, and even nongame animals
- target Montana’s fish and wildlife resource for personal profit
- Poaching robs law abiding hunters of game and fish, businesses and taxpayers of revenues generated by hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing recreation, and it denies many other Montanans the ability to enjoy seeing healthy, mature fish and wildlife populations.
