Fish & Wildlife Investigating Bull Elk Shot and Left to Waste in Douglas County

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. (Dec. 23, 2025) — The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is investigating a report of a bull elk that was shot and left to waste during the opening day of Tioga Second Season in Douglas County.

According to investigators, the bull elk was discovered in the area of the 8400 line near Bear Creek off Hubbard Creek, near Umpqua. The incident is believed to have occurred on November 22, 2025, the opening morning of the season.

A reporting party told troopers they heard a gunshot around daylight on the foggy opening morning. When the individual returned to hunt in the same area the following day, they located the dead bull elk in a clear-cut. The animal had not been recovered.

While in the area, the reporting party observed three adult males, described as possibly a grandfather, father, and son, walking nearby. The men were wearing camouflage clothing and were not carrying firearms at the time. Their identities are unknown.

The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is asking anyone who may have shot and lost a bull elk in the area, or who has information related to the incident, to contact the Turn In Poachers (TIP) program. Tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-452-7888 or *OSP (*677) from a mobile device. Callers are asked to reference case number SP25-479764.

Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators

The Turn In Poachers (TIP) program is a collaboration between the Oregon State Police, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Hunters Association, Oregon Wildlife Coalition, Oregon Outfitters & Guides Association, and the Oregon State Marine Board.

The TIP program offers preference point rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take, possession, or waste of big game mammals.

Preference Point Rewards

• 5 Points: Bighorn Sheep
• 5 Points: Rocky Mountain Goat
• 5 Points: Moose
• 5 Points: Wolf
• 4 Points: Elk
• 4 Points: Deer
• 4 Points: Pronghorn Antelope
• 4 Points: Bear
• 4 Points: Cougar

The TIP program also offers cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take, possession, or waste of fish and wildlife species. Cash rewards may also be issued for habitat destruction, illegally obtaining hunting or angling licenses or tags, lending or borrowing big game tags, spotlighting, or snagging.

Cash Rewards

Oregon Hunters Association (OHA)

• $2,000 - Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, or Moose
• $1,000 - Elk, Deer, or Antelope
• $600 - Bear, Cougar, or Wolf
• $400 - Game Fish & Shellfish
• $400 - Snagging / Attempt to Snag
• $300 - Habitat Destruction
• $200 - Illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or angling license or tags
• $200 - Unlawful lending or borrowing big game tag(s)
• $200 - Game Birds or Furbearers
• $200 - Spotlighting

Rewards for Game Fish & Shellfish and Snagging or Attempting to Snag are sponsored in part by the Northwest Steelheaders Association and the Coastal Conservation Association.

Oregon Wildlife Coalition (OWC)

• $500 - Hawk, Falcon, Eagle, Owl, Osprey
• $500 - Cougar, Bobcat, Beaver (public lands only), Black Bear, Bighorn Sheep, Marten, Fisher, Sierra Nevada Red Fox
• $1,000 - Species listed as “threatened” or “endangered” under state or federal Endangered Species Acts (excluding fish)
• $10,000 - Wolves east of Highway 395
• $11,500 - Wolves east of Highway 395 and north of Highway 20

Oregon Outfitters & Guides Association (OOGA)

• $200 - Acting as an Outfitter or Guide for the illegal killing of wildlife, illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or angling licenses or tags, or illegally offering to act as an Outfitter or Guide as defined in ORS 704.010 and 704.020

How to Report a Wildlife or Habitat Law Violation

• TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888
• Mobile: *OSP (*677)
• Email: TIP@osp.oregon.gov (monitored Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
• For more information visit the Oregon State Police Turn-in-Poachers (TIP) web page.

Authorities remind hunters that the unlawful waste of big game animals is a serious violation of Oregon law and encourage anyone with information, no matter how minor it may seem, to report it.

Information provided by the Oregon State Police