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DNR searching for elk poacher in Northern Michigan

Geoff Parsons
/
https://flic.kr/p/5dfKdr

State officials are looking for information about two elk killed recently in Montmorency County.

Two bull elk were found shot over the weekend. State officials say they think elk were shot during the first day of firearm deer season.

Lt. James Gorno is with the Department of Natural Resources. He said he suspects the kills were intentional

“Now we do have accidental kills where someone will turn themselves in and say ‘yeah I made a mistake.’ We treat that totally different than someone who just drives down the road sees a couple animals, kills them and takes off.”

Gorno said he thinks the killings are connected.

“It looks like someone just shot them and left them. I don’t know if there are two people together but we think they are related because they are pretty close to the road and pretty close in proximity to where they died.”

John Pepin is with the Department of Natural Resources. He said investigators are hoping someone will come forward with a tip.

“Maybe someone had seen a vehicle in the area or hunters in the area at the time. That’s the kind of information that we’re hoping to get. Maybe they heard someone talk about it.”

Pepin said penalties for poaching elk can be as high as five thousand dollars per killed elk.

He said there is a limited elk hunting season but these elk were shot illegally. The poachers do not appear to have taken any meat.

The DNR estimates that statewide there are roughly 1,170 elk.