Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Game officials investigate wanton killings
By: Tonya Wieser, Staff Reporter
ALLIANCE — Game officials want to know who’s killing and wasting antelope.
Numerous pronghorn antelope killings have been reported across the Panhandle during the past several weeks. Jim Zimmerman, Nebraska Game and Parks district law enforcement supervisor, said the majority of cases reported have been around Alliance and Hemingford, but the department recently received reports of similar incidents near Kimball.
“In most cases, vehicles are being used to chase these animals across winter wheat strips, other crops and across personal property down to exhaustion,” Zimmerman said. “Oftentimes,the perpetrators are running over the animals, crippling and injuring them before shooting them and leaving them to rot.”
However, he said in the incidents in the southern Panhandle, the animals were shot from a vehicle.
Such crime has become common and has increased in frequency over the last five years, he added.
“With such frequency, we know there are people out there with common knowledge and would like them to step forward,” Zimmerman said.
The Nebraska Games and Parks Commission has prosecuted six or seven individuals over the years.
“This is simply wanton killing,” Zimmerman said. “The perpetrators are not recovering the meat to feed their families, and we consider it a class of vandalism. They think they are having fun, but they are destroying public resources and personal property.”
The conservation officers have a couple of leads they are working on but are still in search of more information. Although they speculate the perpetrators are young adults, because of the irresponsibility of what they are doing, officers are investigating all leads.
People with any information can call the Nebraska Wildlife Crimestoppers toll free hot line at (800) 742-7627 or contact the district office of the Game and Parks Commission in Alliance at (308) 763-2940. Callers will remain anonymous, and a reward will be offered for information leading to a conviction.
Numerous pronghorn antelope killings have been reported across the Panhandle during the past several weeks. Jim Zimmerman, Nebraska Game and Parks district law enforcement supervisor, said the majority of cases reported have been around Alliance and Hemingford, but the department recently received reports of similar incidents near Kimball.
“In most cases, vehicles are being used to chase these animals across winter wheat strips, other crops and across personal property down to exhaustion,” Zimmerman said. “Oftentimes,the perpetrators are running over the animals, crippling and injuring them before shooting them and leaving them to rot.”
However, he said in the incidents in the southern Panhandle, the animals were shot from a vehicle.
Such crime has become common and has increased in frequency over the last five years, he added.
“With such frequency, we know there are people out there with common knowledge and would like them to step forward,” Zimmerman said.
The Nebraska Games and Parks Commission has prosecuted six or seven individuals over the years.
“This is simply wanton killing,” Zimmerman said. “The perpetrators are not recovering the meat to feed their families, and we consider it a class of vandalism. They think they are having fun, but they are destroying public resources and personal property.”
The conservation officers have a couple of leads they are working on but are still in search of more information. Although they speculate the perpetrators are young adults, because of the irresponsibility of what they are doing, officers are investigating all leads.
People with any information can call the Nebraska Wildlife Crimestoppers toll free hot line at (800) 742-7627 or contact the district office of the Game and Parks Commission in Alliance at (308) 763-2940. Callers will remain anonymous, and a reward will be offered for information leading to a conviction.
 |
||
| TV viewers face several choices for reception |
