Four bull elk and a bighorn ram with its horns still attached are among wildlife poachers shot and left to die in Las Animas and Saguache counties in recent weeks, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife is offering a $4,000 reward for information about the elk and $1,000 for the sheep.

The elk were poached on four separate ranches between the communities of Stonewall and Picketwire in Las Animas County on Sept. 13, 26 and 27. The first rifle season for elk hunting is Oct. 15 to 19.

One was shot and abandoned whole; one was wounded and had to be killed by wildlife officials; another was shot with only a portion of meat called backstraps removed; and the fourth had its head removed with no meat taken.

CPW can’t provide additional details on the case because it’s an open investigation, spokespers

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