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Suspect Cited In Bighorn Sheep Poaching
A Texas man has been charged with poaching a mature desert bighorn sheep ram on March 3 in a remote area of western Maricopa County, advised Arizona Game and Fish Department law enforcement officers.
Keith K. Flora, age 31, of 11025 Timbergrove, Corpus Christy, Texas has been charged with taking a bighorn sheep during a closed season, possession of unlawfully taken bighorn sheep, and waste of edible game meat. Flora is scheduled to appear before the Buckeye Justice Court April 17 on the three charges.
The poaching incident came to light thanks to two citizens calling the Game and Fish Department’s Operation Game Thief Line (1-800-352-0700). That prompted an investigation by Officer Dan Caputo and Field Supervisor Dave Conrad. The officers initially focused their investigation in the Saddle Mountain area of Game Management Unit 41 where the alleged poaching took place.
Only the head of the 8½-year-old, Class III ram was taken. The remainder of the carcass was left to rot. Game and Fish officers allegedly recovered the head and horns of the animal at Flora’s part-time residence in Tonopah.
The Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society is providing $1,000 of the $1,500 reward, through the Operation Game Thief Program, that is being paid to the conscientious individuals who initially reported the incident.
Bill Keebler, the Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, said his organization is glad to work closely with Game and Fish on such cases. “We’d like to send a message that we will not tolerate this type of activity.”
http://www.gf.state.az.us/frames/whatsnew/idx_bult.htm
Delw
A Texas man has been charged with poaching a mature desert bighorn sheep ram on March 3 in a remote area of western Maricopa County, advised Arizona Game and Fish Department law enforcement officers.
Keith K. Flora, age 31, of 11025 Timbergrove, Corpus Christy, Texas has been charged with taking a bighorn sheep during a closed season, possession of unlawfully taken bighorn sheep, and waste of edible game meat. Flora is scheduled to appear before the Buckeye Justice Court April 17 on the three charges.
The poaching incident came to light thanks to two citizens calling the Game and Fish Department’s Operation Game Thief Line (1-800-352-0700). That prompted an investigation by Officer Dan Caputo and Field Supervisor Dave Conrad. The officers initially focused their investigation in the Saddle Mountain area of Game Management Unit 41 where the alleged poaching took place.
Only the head of the 8½-year-old, Class III ram was taken. The remainder of the carcass was left to rot. Game and Fish officers allegedly recovered the head and horns of the animal at Flora’s part-time residence in Tonopah.
The Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society is providing $1,000 of the $1,500 reward, through the Operation Game Thief Program, that is being paid to the conscientious individuals who initially reported the incident.
Bill Keebler, the Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, said his organization is glad to work closely with Game and Fish on such cases. “We’d like to send a message that we will not tolerate this type of activity.”
http://www.gf.state.az.us/frames/whatsnew/idx_bult.htm
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