Officials with the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency went to the public earlier this month looking for tips after an illegally killed bull elk was found in Anderson County.
The bull was found on October 8th with the entire head and body left intact. Officers on the scene reported only a bolt wound present on the animal, puzzling investigators as they looked for clues.
In many cases of poaching, the perpetrators will remove antlers or the entire head of the animal as a trophy. In some cases, easily accessible cuts of meat, such as backstraps, will also be salvaged by poachers. The remainder of the animal’s carcass is typically left to rot.
Scrambling for answers, officials took to social media after gathering an original $3,000 reward with help from CORA, The Tennessee Wildlife Federation, and the National Wild Turkey Federation Pine Mountain Longbeards Chapter.
“Poaching is a serious offense in Tennessee,” said TWRA Officer Caleb Hardwick “The TWRA has been working diligently since 2000 to restore the elk population to a huntable size. Poaching is not only illegal, but it threatens restoration efforts that ensure Tennesseans have the opportunity to legally hunt these animals.”
Without any additional tips or information coming forward, the agency announced over the weekend that the total reward has since been increased to $5,000. Being topped up by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Bucky Ingram, investigators are hoping to get additional information that will hopefully lead to arrest.
Wildlife officials are asking that any individuals with information about the poacher to contact the East Tennessee Regional Poaching Hotline at 1-800-831-1174.
