CPW: A big-eared deer was poached in Lake Pueblo State Park last week

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) — Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is asking the public for help in identifying the person who shot a big-eared deer in Lake Pueblo State Park last week.

According to CPW, officials discovered a dead big-eared deer near Rock Creek Canyon Road and adjacent to Kesterl Pond Swim Beach on Thursday, Sept. 12. Evidence found at the scene indicated the deer had been poached, the agency said. Hunting is allowed in certain parts of the park, primarily in the western end where the Arkansas River flows into the lake, but not in the area where the deer was found.

“We need the public's help,” said Gretchen Holschuh, district wildlife manager for the Pueblo West region. “This is poaching and it's illegal, and we want to catch the person who did this.”

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact CPW. To anonymously submit information regarding a wildlife violation, the public can contact Operation Game Thief at 877-265-6648, by dialing #OGT from a Verizon cell phone, or by email at [email protected].

If the information leads to an arrest or subpoena, a reward of up to $500 is possible.