Investigation into recent elk killing continues

Idaho conservation officers continue to investigate the illegal killing of an elk near Coeur d’Alene.

The head and neck of a freshly killed bull elk were found near a Cougar Gulch dumpster during the early morning hours of Aug. 8, said Craig Walker, regional conservation officer supervisor for the Idaho Fish and Game Department.

The elk’s velvet-covered antlers had been sawed off and its set of ivory teeth had been pulled, Walker said.

The animal’s hide revealed a bullet hole in the neck.

The rest of the carcass was missing.

“There isn’t much to work with,” Walker said. Tips from neighbors or other witnesses are the best hope for solving the crime.

Investigators suspect the elk was part of a herd that lived in the Cougar Gulch area, about two miles south of Coeur d’Alene.

The herd has become relatively acclimated to the sight of nearby residents, making them more vulnerable to poaching.

Illegal shooting of game animals happens each year, Walker said.

The crimes typically don’t begin popping up until September or later.

“It’s kind of an early start to the season,” he said.