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New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
Contact: Ross Morgan, 222-4707
ross.morgan@state.nm.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FEB. 26, 2007:

POACHERS DUMP TWO ELK CARCASSES WEST OF RIO RANCHO

ALBUQUERQUE - The Department of Game and Fish is asking the public for help finding the person or persons responsible for poaching two bull elk and dumping their carcasses west of Rio Rancho near Rainbow and Northern Boulevard sometime in the past two weeks.

Investigating officers found the carcasses with the heads, but both skull caps were missing.

"Usually when we find elk dumped and the heads with the antlers and skull caps missing, the antlers are significant in size so the individuals take them," said Chris Chadwick, Albuquerque District Supervisor. One elk was fully boned out. The other had most of its meat left on it, he said.

Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to call the Operation Game Thief hotline at (800) 432-4263. Reporters can remain anonymous and receive a reward up to $750 if the information leads to the arrest or charges against the wildlife law violators.

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