Thanks to a tip submitted through Fish and Game’s Citizens Against Poaching hotline, a Coeur d’Alene man was convicted of a felony for unlawfully taking wildlife
Following a two-day jury trial on June 26 and 27 in Kootenai County, Coeur d’Alene resident, Joel Rose was convicted of a felony for the unlawful killing, possession or wasting of wildlife.
Rose illegally killed a trophy-class bull elk with a rifle during an archery-only season on Sept. 10, 2024. The elk was killed near Rose’s residence on private property in the Wolf Lodge area in Kootenai County.
The elk’s unique antler configuration made it an easily recognizable and well-known animal in the area that other hunters had pursued for several years. A Citizen’s Against Poaching tip led to the discovery of a 6.5 mm bullet that was recovered from the hide of the elk, which sparked the investigation.
Idaho Fish and Game conservation officers conducted a search warrant at Rose’s residence for the collection of evidence on Sept. 11, 2024. The investigation revealed that the elk had been killed by two lethal shots from a rifle, and that an arrow had been inserted into the carcass after the animal was already dead.
During the search warrant, a 6.5mm Creedmoor rifle equipped for long-range shooting and with a silencer for sound suppression was seized from Rose’s home. Subsequent ballistic analysis revealed that the rifling characteristics from the seized rifle were consistent with the bullet recovered from the elk hide. Fish and Game conservation officers seized other items for evidence, including antlers and meat from the elk and a bow with arrows.
Additional evidence revealed that Rose had been specifically targeting the trophy-class bull elk during the archery-only season, which overlaps the rutting period for elk in North Idaho. After the elk was killed with a rifle, Rose posed in photos with the elk with an arrow protruding from the carcass.
In Idaho, the unlawful killing, possession or wasting of wildlife with a single or combined damage assessment of more than $1,000 is a felony. Because the bull elk antlers scored greater than 300 inches using the Boone and Crockett scoring system, it was classified as a “trophy” per Idaho code and had an assessed damage value of $5,000.
Sentencing for the conviction is set for August.
Fish and Game thanks the public for being diligent in reporting potential wildlife crimes and helping to preserve, protect, perpetuate and manage the incredible fish and wildlife to which Idaho is home.
Anyone who observes or has information about any wildlife crime is encouraged to call the Citizen Against Poaching hotline at 1-(800) 632-5999. Information can also be reported online.
Citizens Against Poaching monetary rewards are available for individuals who provide credible, detailed information which significantly helps to identify person(s) involved and which leads to any relevant charges for a wildlife crime.
source: Idaho Fish and Game
