A tip from an alert citizen resulted in confessions from three men involved in a poaching incident in the San Luis Valley.

On September 10, a citizen called to report suspicious activity regarding the possible poaching of an antelope. Colorado Division of Wildlife officers responded to the tip and questioned the individuals involved and they confessed to killing a buck antelope.

A 61-year-old man of Monte Vista and a 32-year-old man from Sharon, Kansas were charged with hunting without a license and illegal possession of wildlife. They paid fines of $1,301 each. Another 32-year-old man from Medicine Lodge, Kansas paid a $342 fine for hunting without a license. The first two also face possible suspension of hunting privileges in Colorado.

According to their confessions, the men were working on the 61-year-old's property when they spotted a buck antelope. The man from Sharon, who was preparing for an archery elk hunt, decided to take a shot at the animal with his bow. His arrow hit the antelope in the shoulder, but did not kill it.

At that point, the three men pursued the antelope. Two of them were in a vehicle and the other was on foot. When the men in the vehicle caught up with the antelope, the older man shot it with a 30.06 rifle.

“We are extremely grateful that the citizen who witnessed the poaching called the local DOW office and was willing to work with us,” said District Wildlife Manager Brad Weinmeister. “Without the information from a concerned citizen, this act might have gone undetected.”

“The wildlife of Colorado belongs to all of the citizens of the state. Illegal hunting without a proper and valid license is the same as stealing. It’s not right, and if you get caught, you are going to be punished,” Weinmeister said.

It is difficult to track the number of animals poached each year, but anecdotal evidence suggests the practice of illegally taking trophy game animals in western states is on the rise. “Colorado’s majestic wildlife is part of our heritage and needs protection from this illegal and selfish use,” Weinmeister said.

Persons with information about wildlife violations are encouraged to contact their local Division of Wildlife office or call Operation Game Thief at 1-800-332-4155. Callers can remain anonymous, and a reward is available in the event the information leads to a conviction.

The Division of Wildlife’s 122 law enforcement officers write thousands of tickets every year, but they can always use the help of the public to catch people who illegally poach wildlife. Oftentimes, people are out hunting, fishing or just taking a walk when they see something suspicious or hear of someone bragging. In those cases, Weinmeister suggests getting as much information as possible, including license plate numbers and physical descriptions.

“Often, hunters who see a violation wait until their hunt is over and they return home to make a report,” said Colorado’s Operation Game Thief coordinator Glen Smith. “By actually talking to someone about the infraction, the information will be fresher and more detailed. At the same time, officers are able to respond more quickly.”