Quick Tip Helps Game Wardens Catch Poacher Red Handed

~ To report wildlife crimes, call 1-877-265-6648 ~

One Fremont County resident is $500 richer.  Another Fremont County family has some fresh pronghorn antelope meat.  And a Pueblo West man is $1,770 poorer.  All the result of someone shooting a pronghorn antelope with a rifle during archery season.
 
On August 19, an alert citizen reported that someone shot a pronghorn antelope near Waugh Mountain north of Cotopaxi.  The reporting party supplied a description of the man’s clothing and the vehicle he was driving.
 
DOW officers responded and apprehended 32 year old Justin Youngblood of Pueblo West.   Youngblood had a valid archery license, but violated the law by shooting the animal with a rifle.
 
Youngblood shot the animal around noon and then drove to a friend’s house to stash the rifle.  When he returned to pick up the pronghorn, DOW game wardens apprehended him. 
 
At first, Youngblood told the officers he shot the antelope with a bow, but when confronted with the information provided by the tipster, Youngblood admitted using a rifle that belonged to his friend.
 
DOW officers charged Youngblood with hunting without a proper license and illegal possession of wildlife, and confiscated the pronghorn and the rifle.  Faced with the fact the rifle belonged to his friend, Youngblood agreed to pay his fines.  Officers gave him the rifle back, but kept the antelope and gave the meat to a local family.  
 
The DOW routinely supplies game meat to low income families or individuals with specific dietary needs due to medical conditions.  Persons interested in learning more about the game meat donation program should contact their local DOW office.
 
The citizen who reported the crime will receive $500 through the DOW’s “Operation Game Thief.”  If you have information about a poaching crime, call 1-877-COLO-OGT, Verizon cell phone users can dial #OGT.  Callers can remain anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward if the information provided leads to a citation.