$20K reward offered for arrest in elk, ram poaching cases in eastern Arizona

EAGAR, AZ (AZFamily) — Arizona Game and Fish is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest in two poaching incidents in the White Mountains in eastern Arizona.

Up to $20,000 is available for anyone who can help provide key information about two separate poaching incidents where seven elk and two bighorn sheep were killed in Game Management Unit 1 near Big Lake, which is south of Eagar.

On July 20, AZGFD found three cow elk shot and left for dead near Forest Roads 249E and 24, likely around 8:15 p.m.

A week later, on July 27, four more elk were found shot near the turnoff to the campground at Big Lake. AZGFD believes the three cow elk and one bull elk were killed around 9:30 p.m. That same day, two bighorn sheep rams were found shot along Forest Road 249 near Three Forks.

“If anyone has information regarding these despicable acts, please report it,” said Kalyn Miller, wildlife manager. “This incident is the definition of poaching. Poachers are thieves who steal Arizona’s most precious natural resource. Not only did they kill six cow elk, but these poachers killed the future offspring that the elk would have produced.”

No information about possible suspects has been released. Anyone with information can call AZGFD’s Operation Game Thief hotline at 800-352-0700. Please reference case number #25-002276. Callers can remain anonymous.

See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.

Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.