BILLINGS — Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) is looking for information on two new poaching cases where an elk and an antelope had their heads illegally removed and the carcasses left to waste, according to a Tuesday release.
A bull elk was killed with its head removed was killed either Nov. 1 or 2 on private property along Big Timber-Rapelje Road near Big Timber.
The carcass was discovered by the landowner, the release stated.
Earlier in the hunting season, a buck pronghorn antelope with its head removed was found in a coulee north of Billings, west of Highway 87 along 21 Mile Road on Oct. 26.
The carcass was found on public land. FWP game warden Sydney Young said, "there is some question about whether the animal was killed there or elsewhere and dumped after the head was removed," according to the release.
"The two crimes are the latest in a string of similar incidents in which trophy bucks and bulls were killed illegally, heads were removed and all meat was left to waste," the release stated.
Anyone with information that leads to conviction in either of these cases is eligible for a reward of as much as $1,000.
People with information can contact Young at 406-598-8144, or call Montana's toll free poaching tip line at 1-800-TIP-MONT (847-6668).
