SOUTH DAKOTA DEPT. OF GAME, FISH AND PARKS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, March 30, 2005
CONTACT: Josh Brainard, (605) 673-5508

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Game Fish and Parks and the National Park Service are offering a substantial reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any persons involved with the poaching of five elk in the Pringle area.

The carcass of three cows and two yearling calves were discovered on March 23 near Shirttail Canyon south of Pringle.

Josh Brainard, Custer County Conservation Officer for GFP said, "This is one of the worst cases of big game animal poaching that I’ve investigated in my five-year career. This was a terrible waste. Some of the elk were pregnant, and only one of the animals had meat taken from it."

The first of the five carcasses was discovered as result of a Wind Cave National Park biologist tracking a recently collared elk as part of a three-year elk movement study. Further investigation conducted by Conservation Officer Brainard lead to the discovery of the additional animals.

Wind Cave National Park Chief Ranger Rick Mossman said, "We are working with the State of South Dakota to solve this crime. One of these animals was radio collared and part of a study to help develop an elk management plan for the park."

Anyone with information concerning this incident is encouraged to call the South Dakota Game and Fish and Parks TIPs Hotline at 1-800-592-5522.

-30-