Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Seek Help Finding Bull Elk Poachers

Published 03/07/26 at 6:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Prineville, Oregon) - The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is seeking the public’s help after two young bull elk were found dumped on U.S. Forest Service land in Crook County.

Troopers responded on March 3, 2026, to a report along Mill Creek Road east of Prineville, where they located the dismembered corpses of two young bulls. All that was left were legs and heads discarded off the roadside. Both animals were missing their antlers, and investigators believe the elk were taken unlawfully.

Now, authorities are asking for anyone with information to contact Oregon State Police Dispatch at 1-800-452-7888, *OSP (*677), or TIP@osp.oregon.gov. Reference case number SP26-072453. Click here to see the photo. Warning: it is too gruesome to post directly here

Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators

“The Turn In Poachers (TIP) program is a collaboration between the Oregon State Police, Oregon Hunters Association, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Wildlife Coalition, Oregon Outfitter and Guides Association, and the Oregon State Marine Board,” ODFW told Oregon Coast Beach Connection.

The program provides rewards for information that leads to an arrest or citation in wildlife and habitat cases.

Preference Point Rewards
5 Points: Bighorn Sheep
5 Points: Rocky Mountain Goat
5 Points: Moose
5 Points: Wolf
4 Points: Elk
4 Points: Deer
4 Points: Pronghorn Antelope
4 Points: Bear
4 Points: Cougar

Cash Rewards
Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) cash rewards:
$2,000 Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, or Moose
$1,000 Elk, Deer, or Antelope
$600 Bear, Cougar, or Wolf
$400 Game Fish & Shellfish
$400 Snagging/Attempt to Snag
$300 Habitat destruction
$200 Illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or angling license or tags
$200 Unlawful lending/borrowing big game tag(s)
$200 Game Birds or Furbearers
$200 Spotlighting

Rewards for Game Fish & Shellfish and Snagging/Attempting to Snag are supported in part by Northwest Steelheaders Association and Coastal Conservation Association.

Along the Oregon coast or Washington coast, it is illegal under federal law to remove any part of a stranded whale. Photo of whale bones on north coast courtesy Seaside Aquarium.

Oregon Wildlife Coalition (OWC) cash rewards:
$500 Hawk, Falcon, Eagle, Owl, Osprey
$500 Cougar, Bobcat, Beaver (public lands only), Black bears, Bighorn Sheep, Marten, Fisher, Sierra Nevada Red Fox
$1,000 Species listed as threatened or endangered under state or federal ESA (excluding fish)
$10,000 Wolves east of Highway 395
$11,500 Wolves east of Highway 395 and north of Highway 20

Oregon Outfitters & Guides Association (OOGA) cash rewards:
$200 Acting as an outfitter guide for the illegal killing of wildlife, illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or angling licenses or tags, or illegally offering to act as an outfitter guide as defined in ORS 704.010 and 704.020.

How to Report Wildlife or Habitat Violations: TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 or *OSP (*677) TIP Email: TIP@osp.oregon.gov (monitored Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.)

For more information visit the Oregon State Police Turn-in-Poachers (TIP) web page

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