Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers in Gaylord are seeking information about a bull elk that was poached in the Pigeon River State Forest, east of Vanderbilt in Otsego County.

A large, bull elk carcass was located near Ford Lake Road approximately three-quarters of a mile south of the Grass Lake and Ford Lake Road intersection. Concerned citizens found the elk Monday and contacted local conservation officers. Officers suspect that the elk was killed Saturday or Sunday. The elk’s antlers included six points on one side and seven on the other.

"We are currently following up on leads,” said Lt. Jim Gorno. “We hope that the public can help us with this investigation, as they have always been helpful in the past. This is flat out poaching. A majestic elk was killed for no reason and left to rot.”

Anyone with information regarding this poaching incident can contact the DNR Customer Service Center in Gaylord at 989-732-3541 or call or text the 24-hour Report All Poaching hotline at 800-292-7800. Information can be left anonymously; monetary rewards are available for information that leads to the arrest of violators.