KOTA Territory NewsInvestigators Seek Moose Poachers

Investigators Seek Moose Poachers

Shad Olson

South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks is investigating the apparent poaching of a Black Hills moose.

Regional supervisor, Mike Kintigh says two elk hunters discovered the wounded and dying moose Friday in the Dumont area of Lawrence County, northwest of Deerfield Lake.  Kintigh says the animal was still alive when the conservation officer arrived at the scene, and was found to be suffering from a single gunshot wound.

It died soon after the officer arrived.  Kintigh says there was no attempt to take the animal's meat or antlers and he doesn't believe it was a case of mistaken identity.

"We can tell from the scene that it fell immediately after being shot, it didn't run anywhere."  Kintigh said.  

"I'm sure that whoever shot it saw it fall and then either got scared and just drove off made no attempt to go out and finish it."

The two men who discovered the dying moose are not considered suspects in the poaching. If you have any information about this case, call the TIPS Hotline at 1-888-683-7224.