October 24, 2014
From DailyCamera.comdate
Colorado Parks and Wildlife continues to investigate the possible poaching of an elk near Gross Reservoir in western Boulder County, while the owner of the property where the animal was shot said residents in the area are at their “wit’s end” over shooting in the area.
The elk was shot around 7 p.m. Wednesday off of Magnolia Road. Josh Elmore, the owner of the property where it was shot, said the wounded animal was located and put down by wildlife officials.
Elmore said he was with his wife walking on their property near County Road
68 and Forest Service Trail 359 just before 7 p.m. Wednesday when he heard a shot go off near a herd of elk that had been grazing near his horse barn.
“When we heard the shot, we were concerned someone was trying to shoot at the elk,” Elmore said. “Then we heard another shot and we ran down into the meadow.”
Elmore said he and his family spotted a man on his neighbor’s property wearing a bright orange hunting outfit who ran when they saw him.
Elmore said they tracked a blood trail to a wounded elk, but it ran away.
Thursday morning, Elmore said wildlife officials returned to his property and found the elk, but had to put it down because it had a gunshot wound to its leg.
Elmore, who said he is sure the herd was on his property when the shooting occurred, is upset no charges have been brought against the hunter.
“The big concern for us, amongst many, is he was shooting towards not only our horses and horse barn, but our kids were down there feeding our horses literally minutes before the shots were fired,” Elmore said. “I just don’t see how what he was doing was safe.”
Elmore said residents in that area have had issues not just with hunters, but with recreational shooters as well.
“The residents up here are kind of at our wit’s end,” Elmore said. “It’s just been absolutely crazy. Every weekend we are calling the sheriff’s office to investigate.”