Current:Home > Back$1,500 reward offered after headless antelope found in Arizona: "This is the act of a poacher"-InfoLens
$1,500 reward offered after headless antelope found in Arizona: "This is the act of a poacher"
View Date:2024-12-23 20:02:40
Wildlife officials in Arizona said Tuesday they are searching for poachers who allegedly killed a pronghorn antelope and left its headless body behind, with a reward of up to $1,500 offered for information leading to an arrest.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has asked members of the public for help finding the individual or individuals responsible for the illegal killing of the pronghorn antelope buck. The animal was recently found dead along a road near Paulden, a small town in the central part of the state, more than 60 miles west of Flagstaff.
The animal's headless body was discovered within the boundaries of an area that, at the time, was closed for pronghorn antelope hunting, the game and fish department said in a news release. Investigators believe the antelope was killed at some point between Aug. 21 and Aug. 24. Darren Tucker, a wildlife manager with the department, said the crime was one example of how poachers "steal from wildlife and Arizonans."
"Poachers are not hunters," Tucker's statement read. "They are criminals who steal from wildlife and Arizonans; this is the act of a poacher, not a lawful hunter."
People looking to hunt animals of any kind in Arizona are required to apply for an obtain permits from the state wildlife department, and specific permits are required for anyone looking to hunt pronghorn antelope or elk. Once a permit is obtained, hunters are still bound to a number of regulations, including date and location restrictions, in order to hunt legally.
Officials urged anyone with potential information relating to the antelope's death to report what they know to the wildlife department's Operation Game Thief hotline, adding that hunters and others knowledgeable about backcountry recreation are usually "the best sources of leads for catching wildlife violators."
Callers can request to report tips anonymously and their confidentiality will be protected under Arizona law, the wildlife department said. The reward offered would be funded by criminal poaching fines, civil restitution and donations.
Efforts to increase pronghorn antelope populations statewide are underway in Arizona. The Arizona Antelope Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on conservation, organizes large-scale volunteer projects in pursuit of what the group calls its core mission, "to increase pronghorn populations in Arizona through habitat improvements, habitat acquisition, the translocation of animals to historic range, and public comment on activities affecting pronghorn and their habitat."
- In:
- Hunting
- Arizona
veryGood! (545)
Related
- Mariah Carey's Amazon Holiday Merch Is All I Want for Christmas—and It's Selling Out Fast!
- How much do you tip? If you live in these states, your answer may be lower.
- Good American Blowout Deals: Khloe Kardashian-Approved Styles Up to 78% Off With $22 Dresses
- Jordan Chiles deserved Olympic bronze medal. And so much more
- Republican Vos reelected as Wisconsin Assembly speaker despite losing seats, fights with Trump
- Georgia prosecutors drop all 15 counts of money laundering against 3 ‘Cop City’ activists
- Prosecutors charge 10 with failing to disperse during California protest
- Ellen DeGeneres Addresses Workplace Scandal in Teaser for Final Comedy Special
- Tennis Channel suspends reporter after comments on Barbora Krejcikova's appearance
- Winning numbers for Sept. 17 Mega Millions drawing: Jackpot rises to $31 million
Ranking
- NBA today: Injuries pile up, Mavericks are on a skid, Nuggets return to form
- Sean “Diddy” Combs Arrest: Lawyer Says He’s in “Treatment and Therapy” Amid Sex Trafficking Charges
- Canucks forward Dakota Joshua reveals he had cancerous tumor removed
- Dolphins put Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve after latest concussion
- Diamond Sports Group can emerge out of bankruptcy after having reorganization plan approved
- Gilmore Girls’ Lauren Graham Reunites With Kelly Bishop—And It's Not Even Friday Night
- Feds: Cockfighting ring in Rhode Island is latest in nation to exploit animals
- Man now faces murder charge for police pursuit crash that killed Missouri officer
Recommendation
-
'I know how to do math': New Red Lobster CEO says endless shrimp deal is not coming back
-
2-year-old fatally struck by car walked onto highway after parents put her to bed
-
Ulta & Sephora Flash Sales: Get 50% Off Kylie Jenner's Kylie Cosmetics Lip Oil, IGK Dry Shampoo & More
-
Mississippi program aims to connect jailed people to mental health services
-
Chiefs block last-second field goal to save unbeaten record, beat Broncos
-
Marvel's 'Agatha All Along' is coming: Release date, cast, how to watch
-
Man who sold fentanyl-laced pill liable for $5.8 million in death of young female customer
-
Partial lunar eclipse occurs during Harvest supermoon: See the stunning photos