NEWS RELEASE
Feb. 9, 2024
Reward up to $6,500 for information leading to an arrest
GILA BEND, Ariz. — The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Operation Game Thief program is offering a reward of up to $500 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the illegal killing of an adult ram desert bighorn sheep near Gila Bend, Arizona (Unit 39).
The Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, the Arizona Deer Association, and the Arizona Antelope Foundation have also graciously offered an additional reward of up to $6,000 for information leading to an arrest on this case.
The sheep carcass was found near S. Enterprise Rd., not far from an agricultural field. Officers believe the bighorn sheep was shot around the weekend of Jan. 13, 2024.
Travis Clarkson, a wildlife manager in the department’s Yuma region, stated, “There is no justifiable reason to poach an animal during a closed season and leave it to waste. Poachers are not hunters or sportsmen; they are criminals who are stealing from the residents of Arizona.”
Officer Clarkson further added, “Due to the location of the crime scene, a hunter, an off-highway vehicle user, or a field worker near the area may have seen something or heard something that may assist officers in solving this case.”
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Operation Game Thief Hotline toll-free at 1-800-352-0700. Caller identities will remain confidential and callers can report anonymously. Please reference OGT #24-000074 when reporting information on this case.
For more information about Operation Game Thief, visit https://www.azgfd.com/operation-game-thief/.