POACHING -- Two trophy class bighorn rams were illegally killed up Asotin Creek on the Asotin Creek Wildlife area last weekend.  

"One was shot and wounded and we just found it (Tuesday)," said Paul Mosman, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife police sergeant in Clarkston. He said the ram  probably died Saturday or Sunday and was possibly seen last Wednesday with an injured shoulder. 

"The second ram had a radio collar and the only thing we found was the collar cut off and thrown in the brush," he said.

Tips on the cases can be made to Officer Matt Sabo, (509) 780-9843 or to Mosman, (509) 710-5707.

Only one permit for bighorn sheep was offered this year for this coveted area.

"This level of harvest is unsustainable on the Asotin Creek herd over the long run," Mosman said.

A third ram was killed in the same vicinity last weekend by a Nez Perce tribal hunter exercising his tribal hunting rights, Mosman said, noting that a Nez Perce Tribal conservation officer dropped off the research collar the animal was wearing.