LINCOLN COUNTY, Ore. – The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is asking for the public’s help to locate whoever’s responsible for the waste of a cow elk in Lincoln County.

A tip leading to an arrest could be worth up to $1,000 in reward money from Oregon hunters.

On September 23, 2025 troopers took a report of a dead cow elk in the Stott Mountain Unit near Fraser Road and the Salmon River Estuary northeast of Lincoln City, the only open unit for the harvest of bull elk during the archery season. The scene was heartbreaking. A cow elk, likely shot earlier that morning, had an arrow lodged in its abdomen and was left to waste.

According to ORS 498.042: “No person shall waste any edible portion of any game mammal, game bird or game fish or the pelt of any fur-bearing mammal.”

The OSP Fish & Wildlife division discovers dozens of cases yearly where unscrupulous poachers take the most valuable and sought-after parts such as the backstrap, hide, antlers or head (usually referred to as “trophy hunting”). Other body parts that are eagerly sought by degenerates and result in waste of wildlife include claws, teeth, and feathers. One of the few exceptions to the law is cougar meat.

THE IMPACT OF POACHING

The impact of wildlife crime is devastating to Oregon and its local communities. According to statistics provided by the OSP, in 2024 alone nearly 5,000 animals were poached in Oregon. Only a fraction of poaching crimes are identified and prosecuted, however. The consequences of this widespread lawbreaking steals recreation opportunities from legitimate hunters and anglers while snubbing all Oregonians who cherish wildlife.

Violators sometimes have their guns, fishing poles and vehicles seized, face fines and loss of fishing and hunting privileges for three years. They even do jail time, as in the case of Julio Duran of Salem who pleaded guilty to taking a giant white sturgeon, which is a Class C Felony. Duran served 20 days in the Columbia County jail and owes $5,000 in restitution to ODFW and $500 to the Turn In Poachers TIP reward program;

REPORT POACHERS AND HABITAT VANDALS

The Turn In Poachers (TIP) program offers cash rewards for information leading to an arrest for the unlawful take/possession or waste of fish and wildlife, habitat destruction, illegally obtaining hunting or angling license or tag, lending or borrowing big game tags, spotlighting, or snagging. Anyone with information is encouraged to call 1-800-452-7888, *OSP (*677), or email [email protected].

Though you can turn in a poacher for the satisfaction, you may earn extra bullet or bait money in the process:

$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 for illegally obtaining an Oregon hunting or angling license or tags
$200 Unlawful lending/borrowing big game tag(s)
$200 Game Birds or Furbearers
$200 Spotlighting
$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 Endangered Species Act (excludes fish)
$10,000 for Wolves east of Highway 395 and $11,500 for Wolves east of Highway 395 and north of Highway 20
$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.