Tag Archives: Poaching

AZGFD is asking for public’s help in identifying persons involved in deer poaching case

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SUPERIOR — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is hoping someone will be able to identify two “persons of interest” in a possible deer poaching case.

A concerned citizen took a photo of a man and woman with a white-tailed deer draped across the hood of a Jeep Wrangler and forwarded it to the Department’s Operation Game Thief. The photo was taken during the morning of Nov. 27 near Oak Flat (Game Unit 24B), east of Superior, Ariz., and investigators are looking for anyone who can identify the people in the photo.

“If you recognize either of these individuals, or have seen anything suspicious on social media that may help us solve this case, we want to talk to you,” said Joshua Hurst, AZGFD Operation Game Thief Program Manager. “Poachers are not hunters. They are thieves stealing wildlife from the citizens of Arizona. Please call our Operation Game Thief Hotline.”

Arizona hunters and back-country recreationists are often the best sources of leads for catching wildlife violators. If you have any information about this incident, contact Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-800-352-0700, 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week, or on the web at www.azgfd.gov/ogt.shtml. Please reference case #16-004087.

“If you know the people in this picture, we hope you will reach out to us,” said Hurst. “Your information could help catch a criminal.”

The Department may pay cash rewards to individuals whose reports lead to the arrest of poachers and other criminals in Arizona. Under law, callers may remain anonymous and their confidentiality is protected. Money for rewards comes from criminal poaching fines, civil restitution by those who commit wildlife crimes, and donations.

Three bull elk poached near Joseph City

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operation_game_thief_footerPINETOP — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is asking for the public’s help in finding those responsible for the illegal killing of a three bull elk on the morning of November 7. The bull elk were killed in an agriculture field located south of I-40 off Hunt Road. This is just east of Joseph City.

All three bull elk were untouched and were left to waste.

“The poacher left these animals to waste, and we need assistance from the public to find the individual(s) responsible. This is a senseless act and not the actions of a hunter,” said Officer Ken Clay, an AZGFD wildlife manager. “What makes this act so appalling is this particular area is open to elk hunting year round to anyone who purchases a non-permit elk tag over the counter at one of our offices.”

Anyone with information about this case can call the Department’s Operation Game Thief hotline at (800) 352-0700 or visit www.azgfd.gov/thief and refer to case #16-003848. Callers who have information leading to the arrest of the suspect(s) will be eligible for a $2,500.00 reward in this case. All calls may remain confidential upon request.

Investigators seek tips to catch cow elk, calf poacher near Happy Jack

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operation_game_thief_footerFLAGSTAFF — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is investigating the poaching of a cow elk and her calf sometime between Sept. 7 and 9 in Game Management Unit 5A near Happy Jack.

Game and Fish officers received information that the cow elk and calf had been shot from Highway 87 near Happy Jack, which is about 40 miles south of Flagstaff. The poaching was reported in an effort to help the department catch the suspected poacher(s).

“We hope the public will again come forward to help us bring this poacher to justice,” said Game and Fish Wildlife Manager Garrett Fabian. “Poaching isn’t hunting. It’s a crime against all Arizonans, and our sportsmen and women have shown a long, committed history of helping the department combat poaching.”

Anyone with information about the case can call the Department’s Operation Game Thief Hotline toll-free at (800) 352-0700 or use the online form at www.azgfd.gov/thief. Callers should reference case number 16-003184.

Callers may remain confidential upon request. A reward of up to $1,500 is being offered in this case for information leading to the arrest of the violator(s). To learn more about Operation Game Thief, visit www.azgfd.gov/thief.

$750 reward offered for information in illegal killing of a mule deer buck

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operation_game_thief_footer The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Operation Game Thief program is offering up to a $750 reward for information leading to an arrest in connection with the illegal poaching of a mule deer buck. The deer’s remains were discovered near Happy Valley Rd. and the AZ-303 loop in Peoria.

Game and Fish investigators believe the buck was killed during the Father’s Day weekend. It appears to have been poached close to the Valley, transported and dumped at the location.

“Poachers are not hunters. They are thieves stealing wildlife from the citizens of Arizona,” said Joshua Hurst, AZGFD’s Operation Game Thief Program Manager. “If you saw something—even if you think you saw—something suspicious or learned about the crime through social media, please call our Operation Game Thief Hotline. Do the right thing and call today.”

The Department relies on the citizens of Arizona to assist in the reduction of wildlife violations. If you have any information or knowledge of this incident, please contact Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Operation Game Thief hotline at 1-800-352-0700, 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week, or on the web at www.azgfd.gov/ogt.shtml.

Every year, the Department pays cash rewards to individuals who report wildlife crimes in Arizona. Under law, callers can remain anonymous and their confidentiality is protected. Money for rewards comes from criminal poaching fines, civil restitution by violators who commit wildlife crimes, and donations.

Game and Fish seeks information to catch deer poacher on Arizona Strip

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FLAGSTAFF — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking the public’s help in finding those responsible for the illegal killing of a mule deer doe recently on the Arizona Strip.

The doe was illegally taken out of season and was discovered on the Arizona Strip in an area locally known as Low Mountain, about 20 miles south of St. George, Utah. Investigators believe the doe was killed within the past 10 days in a remote area accessible from a gypsum mine located off Interstate 15.

While some meat was removed from the animal, much of the carcass was left to waste.

“Poaching is a serious crime that impacts every sportsman and woman within the state of Arizona,” said AZGFD Region 2 Field Supervisor Luke Thompson. “Poaching robs all Arizonans of their valuable wildlife resources. This is not the act of a hunter. It’s a crime that can likely be solved with one tip that can help us bring those responsible to justice.”

Anyone with information about the cases can call the AZGFD’s Operation Game Thief Hotline toll free at (800) 352-0700 or use the online form at www.azgfd.gov/thief. Callers may remain confidential upon request.

A reward of up to $750 may be available for information leading to the arrest of the violator(s).

Game and Fish seeks information on elk poaching case near Strawberry

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operation_game_thief_footerFLAGSTAFF — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking the public’s help in finding those responsible for the illegal killing of a yearling elk found in the Strawberry area on or about Sunday, May 22.

The elk was illegally taken out of season and was discovered along Highway 87 north of Strawberry in Game Management Unit 6A. In this case, some of the edible meat was left to waste and was dumped at a different location than where the poaching is suspected to have taken place.

The case remains ongoing, but investigators believe the poaching occurred on the National Forest  between Pine and Happy Jack. Evidence collected at the scene is currently being analyzed by the crime lab.

“Someone may have information about this case and we need them to come forward,” said Game and Fish said Wildlife Manager Garrett Fabian. “Sportsmen and women pay for licenses and tags and contribute to wildlife conservation and management, but poachers do not. Poaching isn’t hunting, it’s stealing Arizona’s valuable wildlife resources.”

Anyone with information about the cases can call the AZGFD’s Operation Game Thief Hotline toll free at (800) 352-0700 or use the online form at www.azgfd.gov/thief. Callers should provide case number 16-001353 when calling. Callers may remain confidential upon request.

A reward of up to $750 may be available for information leading to the arrest of the violator(s).

Four great horned owlets rescued after illegal shooting of mother out of backyard nest

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160324_Tolleson_rescued_owlets_webPHOENIX — Thanks to a concerned citizen, four young great horned owl nestlings now are safe at a local wildlife rehabilitation center after the mother was illegally shot and had to be euthanized.

In early March, the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Operation Game Thief program received a call from a Tolleson resident reporting that a neighbor had shot a nesting owl out of a tree in their yard.

Liberty Wildlife, a Scottsdale-based wildlife rehabilitation center, took the injured female in hopes of rehabilitating her, but x-rays indicated that the bird’s wing fracture was too severe. The bird was humanely euthanized.

Several days later, Game and Fish biologists climbed the tree to access the nest and remove the young when it was determined that the male parent would be unable to raise four young on his own. The department also was concerned the homeowner might harm the remaining owls since the family believed they were evil and was afraid of the birds.

“If the concerned citizen hadn’t notified our Operation Game Thief program about the shooting of the female owl, we may never have known and the four young would have likely not survived. The male parent was attempting to care for the young, but each nestling can eat up to 15 mice a day so it was a lot for him to keep up with,” said Arizona Game and Fish Officer Lainie Antolik. “Since owls are a protected species, the person was cited for taking wildlife without a license and taking wildlife during a closed season.”

The nestlings were placed with a foster female great horned owl at Liberty Wildlife to raise the young as naturally as possible. The four young will be released back into the wild once they are able to fly and hunt on their own.

As a misdemeanor offense, the homeowner could face penalties from the local justice court. In addition, the homeowner may face civil penalties from the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, and the department will seek restitution for caring for the owlets.

Operation Game Thief is a silent witness, anti-poaching program that encourages the public to report any suspicious activity or knowledge about a poaching violation. The toll-free hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to report wildlife violations. Reporting parties may be eligible for a monetary reward.

Poaching is the illegal take of game or fish, trespassing, littering, theft, or destroying property.

Game and Fish seeks information on elk poaching case

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The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking the public’s assistance in finding the individual or individuals responsible for illegally killing a cow elk in a poaching incident in northern Arizona.

The poaching may have occurred during the weekend of March 16. Evidence discovered at the scene indicates that the elk was shot twice, with a center fire rifle, from Lake Mary Road near the Narrows, about 12 miles southeast of Flagstaff. The entire animal was left to waste, leaving investigating officers to believe that the suspect(s) may have been scared off by another vehicle, were spotlighting, or just randomly shot the elk from the road.

“We investigate numerous poaching cases throughout the year and rely heavily on the public’s help in catching the people that do this.” says Wildlife Manager, Lee Luedeker. “The weather was really nice that weekend and a lot of people were out, we need information from someone who was in that area. Luedeker adds, “They may have enough information for us to bust the poachers, all it takes is one piece of evidence to break a case.”

Anyone with information regarding this case can call the department’s Operation Game Thief Hotline toll free at (800) 352-0700 or use the online form at www.azgfd.gov/thief. Callers should provide case number 13-000609 when calling. All calls may remain confidential upon request. A reward of up to $1,350 may be available for information leading to the arrest of the violator(s).