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. Read more