Tennessee – A $3,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the conviction of those responsible for poaching an elk on North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area (NCWMA) in the Caryville area of Campbell County. The location, known to locals as the Red Ash/Wheeler Gap area on the Royal Blue Unit of NCWMA, became the site of an investigation after a call reported the discovery of an elk carcass.
On the afternoon of Saturday, Feb. 22, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) wildlife manager Darrell England was the first to arrive at the scene, where he located the remains of an elk that appeared to have been shot within the past few days.
TWRA wildlife officer Spencer Wilson and wildlife manager Brenden Marlow also responded and assisted in collecting evidence. According to the officers, multiple parts of the elk had been removed, and several pieces of evidence were gathered. The incident remains under investigation.
The Pine Mountain Long Beards Chapter of the NWTF, Campbell Outdoor Recreation Association, and the Tennessee Wildlife Federation are collectively offering the reward to encourage anyone with information to come forward.
Those with information about the case are urged to contact wildlife manager England at (423) 895-2692, wildlife manager Marlow at (615) 571-4792, wildlife officer Wilson at (615) 587-0665, or the TWRA Region IV poaching hotline at 1-800-831-1174.