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The animal was found lying in a food plot approximately a half-mile west of Red Ash Baptist Church in Caryville.
CARYVILLE, TN (WLAF)— A $2,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for illegally shooting and killing an elk on the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area last week. The Campbell Outdoor Recreation Association and the Pine Mountain Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation are offering the reward.
On Dec. 23, TWRA Elk Biologist Brad Miller responded to a call about a dead cow elk on the NCWMA in Campbell Co. The animal was found lying in a food plot approximately a half-mile west of Red Ash Baptist Church in Caryville. He says the elk was wearing a GPS collar designated “Cow #15” as part of a 3-year elk research study with the University of Tennessee Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries. Miller also says there were no obvious signs of trauma or disturbance in the field, but blood was leaking from the elk’s nostrils and a scavenger had consumed a portion of one hindquarter. He also says the animal appeared to have died approximately 48 hours earlier.
The carcass was taken to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine for a necropsy that concluded that the animal has been shot. A bullet has been recovered and is being analyzed.
Illegally killing an elk in Tennessee is a Class A Misdemeanor punishable by not more than 11 months, 29 days in jail and up to a $2,500 fine. In addition, any person convicted of illegally killing an elk without antlers may be ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,500.
Anyone with information about this incident may contact Wildlife Officer Brendan Marlow at (615) 571-4792 or the TWRA Hunting/Fishing Violation line at 1-800-831-1174. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 12/28/2019-7PM)