WANTED: Poachers in Colorado Springs injuring deer with arrows

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials are asking the public for help solving two recent poaching cases in an unincorporated neighborhood in northeast Colorado Springs in which deer have been shot with arrows.

One deer, found in a neighborhood not far from Keller Elementary School, died. Another, a young buck, was injured and still carries an arrow in its front left leg. It was reported by residents south of the Sunset Mesa Open Space, not far from the dead deer.

CPW officials have been unable to capture the deer to assess its injury.

“This is illegal poaching,” said Philip Gurule, a CPW district wildlife manager for the Pikes Peak region. “It’s something we take very seriously. But we need the public’s help catching whoever is doing this.”

CPW’s Southeast Region office has fielded a number of complaints from neighbors about the dead and injured deer.

Gurule said anyone illegally injuring or killing wildlife could face misdemeanor charges including harassment of wildlife, hunting big game without a license, illegal taking of wildlife and reckless endangerment among other charges.

Convictions could result in fines ranging from $750 to $3,000 and up to 6 months in jail, depending on the charge, Gurule said.

He encouraged anyone with information of the incidents to contact CPW at its Southeast Regional office at 719-227-5200.

To provide information anonymously about a wildlife violation, the public can contact Operation Game Thief at 877-265-6648, by dialing #OGT from a Verizon cellphone, or by email at game.thief@state.co.us. Rewards are available if the information leads to an arrest or citation.