Killing elk just for the head is obviously a big no-no. Photo: New Mexico Department of Wildlife//Facebook
Social media has become a great tool for brainless criminals to expose themselves. Sometimes they make detective work easy, documenting the evidence themselves. Such was the case of a poacher in New Mexico arrested for hunting elk just to sell their heads as trophies, leaving the carcasses in the wilderness.
The New Mexico Department of Wildlife received anonymous tips that this hunter was seen removing the heads of elk he killed, not bothering to take the meat with him. According to New Mexico law, you must obtain a permit to possess elk heads and antlers, and only with such a permit can they be sold. It’s also illegal not to transport edible portions of meat for consumption or donation.
In this case, the poacher held a license for just one elk, but killed two. Even so, not harvesting the meat was a blatant offense.
Apparently, witnesses at a distance saw the whole thing happen, and they even saw the poacher take photos of the incident. He posted those photos on social media, which the authorities found and used as evidence to match them to photos of the carcasses.
When the poacher listed the head for sale, undercover agents bought it and used DNA evidence to connect the elk heads to the bodies. The evidence was so overwhelming that the suspect confessed to the crime.
In 2017, a New Mexico man paid a $4,000 fine for illegal possession of a set of elk antlers, so it’s safe to say this poacher will face harsher penalties.
“This case was made possible by witnesses and individuals who understand that poaching is wrong, hurts all of us and damages conservation efforts,” the New Mexico Department of Wildlife said. “If you see a violation or suspicious activity in the field call Operation Game Thief.”
