The Arizona Game and Fish Department is asking the public for help solving a number of elk poaching cases in northern Arizona.

In Hunt Management Unit 5B-N, a bull elk with its antlers cut off was found in an area two miles south of the Old Walnut Canyon Road and the 301 Road, two miles east of Continental, a subdivision on the east side of Flagstaff. The poaching occurred sometime during the week of August 25. You’re asked to call the department if you know of anyone who obtained fresh elk antlers close to Labor Day weekend. There were no elk hunts happening at that time.

In Hunt Management Unit 7M, three separate elk poaching cases occurred. The first was on or around the end of July or the beginning of August. Poachers shot the elk in the shoulder, removed the head and left the rest to waste in the Turkey Hills area about three miles east of the Flagstaff Mall. The second case occurred around August 1 when a bull elk was shot and left in the field north of Fort Tuthill near Forest Service Road 532 and the Mountain Dells community south of Flagstaff. The third poaching occurred in the Turkey Hills area on or around the evening of September 8 or morning of September 9. The poachers shot the elk and removed the head, right shoulder, right hind leg, and left the rest to waste.

In Hunt Unit 8 on September 6, a bull elk was shot with bow and arrow and left in the field near Dutch Kid Knoll. The individual or individuals involved in this case removed the arrow and then left the scene. Two other recent elk poaching cases occurred in Hunt Management Unit 9 on or around September 17. The first case occurred near the junction of the Forest Service 302 and 343 roads; the elk was shot and left to waste. The elk antlers were not symmetrical and somewhat unusual, which may explain why they were left. The second case in Unit 9 occurred at Armstrong Tank. Someone shot a bull elk from a blind located at the tank. Evidence indicates the bull moved about 50 yards and dropped. A portion of the hide was removed along with the head. The rest of the elk was left in the field.

Rewards from $350 to $750 are being offered for information leading to arrests. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Operation Game Thief at 1-800-352-0700.

After months of undercover investigations and subsequent months of legal discussions, the scales of justice have finally come to rest regarding the primary subjects of IDFG's Operation Doubletree investigation. Bonneville County prosecutors have announced out-of-court settlements with two Idaho Falls residents.

Operation Doubletree was an undercover investigation that took six months to probe numerous suspected wildlife violations of an outfitting business. One of the two was the primary guide and the other was major subject of the investigation. A coordinated multi-location raid conducted last September brought the undercover portion of the investigation to a close. The large volume of evidence seized required careful scrutiny by IDFG conservation officers and county prosecutors during the winter months. The guide pleaded guilty to three of the original charges and the outfitter five.

Upon receiving the guilty pleas for the numerous violations ranging from multiple unlawful taking of game charges and misdemeanor violations of outfitter regulations, Judges Walker and Cook levied some rather substantial penalties against the pair. The outfitter was ordered to pay $5,000 restitution and the guide $1,000. Additionally, the outfitter was ordered to pay $1,271 in fines and costs, and the guide another $1,571. According to Regional Conservation Officer John Hanson, "The majority of the restitution money will be used to help defray the costs of the undercover investigation."

In addition to monetary penalties, both men received suspended jail time; the outfitter's is 180 days with three years of informal probation, the guide 270 days with two years of informal probation. Because the crimes were wildlife related, the judges also revoked the guide's hunting, fishing, and trapping license privileges for the next four years; the outfitter had his hunting license privileges revoked for the next five years. During the probationary periods, the guide is not allowed to associate with anyone who is hunting!

Because the wildlife violations occurred while the outfitter and guide were functioning as an outfitter and a guide, the Idaho State Board of Outfitters and Guides will be conducting separate hearings to decide upon the professional license status for each individual.