WGFD Catches Jackson Elk Poacher

 

JACKSON- Charles Chanatry of Jackson was recently convicted of illegally shooting a six-point bull elk during an antlerless elk only season in the Curtis Canyon area northeast of Jackson last fall.

On the morning of November 20, 2014, South Jackson Game Warden Kyle Lash received a call from two individuals who were hunting mountain lions in the area about a bull elk they believed had just been illegally shot in the Sheep Creek drainage east of the National Elk Refuge. Warden Lash responded to the area and began contacting hunters about it. The two individuals who reported the incident were able to collect enough information to give Warden Lash a good description of the suspect and the vehicle he was driving. The two even located the dead elk and reported that it had been buried in the snow.

Eventually that day, Lash was able to contact Chanatry and ask him about the incident. After being questioned, Chanatry admitted to shooting the bull elk and that he had buried it in the snow when he realized that it was not a cow. He also told Warden Lash that he did not plan on returning later to salvage the elk.

Charges were filed with the Teton County Circuit Court for waste and abandonment of a big game animal and failure to tag a big game animal. Chanatry was fined $500.00 on both counts with both fines being suspended. He was also ordered to pay $2000.00 in restitution for the elk plus $80.00 court costs. In addition, Chanatry’s hunting privileges were suspended for two years in Wyoming and all other member states of the violator compact.

Warden Lash noted that this case was only made possible by the actions of concerned sportsmen doing the right thing. “This is a great example of how a concerned citizen can make all the difference in bringing a poacher to justice,” said Lash. “Not only did these individuals provide great information, but they also helped us pack out the meat so that it could be donated to those in need, which was no small task.” 

Anyone with information on a possible poaching incident should call the STOP POACHING hotline at 1-877-WGFD-TIP (1-877-943-3847), any Game and Fish regional office, or any Game and Fish warden. Information can also be reported by clicking on the “Stop Poaching” icon located on the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s web site homepage at https://wgfd.wyo.gov/web2011/home.aspx . Any information leading to an arrest and conviction may result in a reward of up to $5,000.00. 

~WGFD~

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