Poacher who decapitated elk and buck sought, Montana officials say. 'What a disgrace.'

Brooke Baitinger, The Charlotte Observer on Dec 4, 2024

Published in Outdoors

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A bull elk and a whitetail buck carcass were found decapitated — and the rest of the animals left to waste — in northern Montana, officials say.

Game wardens are seeking any information about the poaching incident, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks said on Facebook on Tuesday, Nov. 26.

Photos show the gruesome scene of the carcasses lying headless in bloodied brush.

The animals were shot and their carcasses were left in tact after the heads were removed, likely between the evening of Nov. 20 and early Nov. 21, officials said. Wardens received a report of the dead animals and found the carcasses on private property in south Blaine County, about 30 miles south of Chinook.

The area is about a 200-mile drive north from Billings.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to provide details online to the agency’s tip line at tipmont.mt.gov or call Warden Investigator Dirk Paulsen at 406-230-2277. People who report information might be eligible for a cash reward up to $1,000.

People shared their outrage toward the poacher in the comments on the post. Several also shared their dismay that the best part of the animals were wasted.

“This is so sad and selfish,” someone said. “That’s (a lot) of meat that could have fed quite a few people! So wasteful! Hope you catch them.”

“Unreal,” another person said. “Who would do this?”

“Didn’t even take the back straps,” someone else said, referring to a tender and lean cut of meat from the spine of deer, elk or moose that is considered one of the best steaks from the animal. “I would have loved that meat.”

“What a disgrace!!!” another person said. “So senseless!”