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During the week of November 19-24, 2017, the Commonwealth of Virginia lost two mature bull elk at the hands of poachers. One elk was killed in the Guest River section of Wise County, near Norton. The other elk was shot in the Warfork area of Buchanan County.
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF), along with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) and the Southwest Virginia Sportsmen’s Association, are working diligently to restore the elk population in historical ranges within the Commonwealth. Poaching is a critical threat to this restoration effort.
Virginia Conservation Police requests that anyone having information concerning the poaching of these animals, please contact the Virginia Wildlife Crime-line at 1-800-237-5712 or via email at [email protected] .
Callers may remain anonymous, but should leave their name and contact information when reporting.
There is the possibility of a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of these poachers.