CARYVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said Sunday several groups are offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to a person the agency says poached an elk.
It happened on the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area (NCWMA) in the Caryville area, TWRA officials said.
"Wildlife Manager Darrell England was the first on the scene, locating the remains of an elk that appeared to have been shot within the last few days," TWRA officials said. "The officers state that multiple parts of the elk had been removed from the carcass and several pieces of evidence were collected."
England told WVLT News 18 elks have been poached in 25 years. Of those cases, only six or seven have been resolved.
"You're limited to so many animals, you know," England said. "Four hundred animals on a landscape, that's not an extreme amount. So one gets taken out and like I said, it may end up being two animals, you're doing something pretty detrimental at that point. We're exhausting all our resources to try and find this person."
If found guilty, whoever is responsible can end up with a year in jail or a hefty fine.
The Pine Mountain Long Beards Chapter of the NWTF, Campbell Outdoor Recreation Association, and the Tennessee Wildlife Federation are offering the $3,000 reward.
Those with information are being asked to call the TWRA Region 4 poaching hotline at 1-800-831-1174.