2 Colorado Ranchers slaughter 34 elk Illegally
TheGreatwhitehunter
4/10/08 9:55pm
Big elk kill sign of harsh times
By The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 04/05/2008 10:15:57 PM MDT
Taken solely from the aspect of big-game management, there has been nothing pretty about the dense cover of snow that continues to blanket Colorado's high country.
A massive feeding program in certain hard-hit locations serves to stamp an exclamation point on a brutal winter that killed large numbers of deer, elk and pronghorn. The exact number cannot be determined.
Better known are the ugly scenes west of Craig, where, authorities say, two ranchers deliberately killed 34 elk that had moved onto their feed grounds. Rodney Heath Culverwell was charged with willful destruction and illegal possession of 18 animals.
Kenneth Wolgram, whose ranch lies several miles away, was charged with the rest.
Willful destruction is a Class 5 felony and conviction could carry a sentence of one to two years in prison and a fine of $1,000 to $100,000 per count. Each count of illegal possession can bring a $1,000 penalty. The office of the District Attorney in the 14th Judicial District in Craig will prosecute the case.
Instances of deer and elk invading cattle feed are commonplace this year; wildlife officials typically attempt to lure or fence them away or subsequently pay damage claims. The Colorado Division of Wildlife asserts that neither rancher informed the agency of any problem.
The likely result of this mess will be a protracted and expensive court proceeding certain to divide the community along the lines of rancher-against-wildlife, a skirmish no one wins.
Charlie Meyers, The Denver Post
By The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 04/05/2008 10:15:57 PM MDT
Taken solely from the aspect of big-game management, there has been nothing pretty about the dense cover of snow that continues to blanket Colorado's high country.
A massive feeding program in certain hard-hit locations serves to stamp an exclamation point on a brutal winter that killed large numbers of deer, elk and pronghorn. The exact number cannot be determined.
Better known are the ugly scenes west of Craig, where, authorities say, two ranchers deliberately killed 34 elk that had moved onto their feed grounds. Rodney Heath Culverwell was charged with willful destruction and illegal possession of 18 animals.
Kenneth Wolgram, whose ranch lies several miles away, was charged with the rest.
Willful destruction is a Class 5 felony and conviction could carry a sentence of one to two years in prison and a fine of $1,000 to $100,000 per count. Each count of illegal possession can bring a $1,000 penalty. The office of the District Attorney in the 14th Judicial District in Craig will prosecute the case.
Instances of deer and elk invading cattle feed are commonplace this year; wildlife officials typically attempt to lure or fence them away or subsequently pay damage claims. The Colorado Division of Wildlife asserts that neither rancher informed the agency of any problem.
The likely result of this mess will be a protracted and expensive court proceeding certain to divide the community along the lines of rancher-against-wildlife, a skirmish no one wins.
Charlie Meyers, The Denver Post
1,490
one hunting fool
4/11/08 8:28am
Shameful just shameful. :>/ one punishment should be taking there land if they can not manage to share the land the was the elks winter range in the first place auction it off to some one that is willing too. Like me :thumb he,he
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