The opening weekend of the "elk reduction program" at Grand Teton National Park resulted in a bull elk illegally being killed near the Schwabacher Road. Park rangers were able to detain a Wyoming man and issue four citations in connection with the incident.
Grand Teton officials were not releasing any specific details of the matter Monday, noting that a criminal investigation was ongoing. They did say the citations were issued to Robert Baltensperger, of Wilson.
The hunt is called for in the park's enabling legislation, passed by Congress in 1950. That legislation directs Grand Teton National Park to jointly develop the hunt with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and for the governor of Wyoming and Interior secretary to approve the annual plan.
The event is controversial, with some simply opposed to elk being hunted in the national park, and others concerned that federal wildlife authorities are willing to let four grizzly bears be killed over seven years in connection with the hunt. In November 2012, three elk hunters in the park shot and killed a grizzly that charged within ten feet of them. An investigation later absolved the hunters, saying they acted in self-defense.
Park rangers and state game wardens follow up on all information received and many times the information may lead to successful prosecution of violators. Individuals submitting information can remain anonymous, and may be eligible for a reward. Tips can be called in to the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center at 307-739-3301 or 911, or the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Poaching Hotline at 1-877-WGFD-TIP (1-877-943-3847) or 1-307-777-4330 for out-of-state calls.
This year's elk reduction program began October 24. The areas open to the program, Wyoming Game and Fish Department Elk Hunt Areas 75 and 79, are generally located on the east side of the park, and north of the Gros Ventre River. The Snake River Bottom, between Deadman’s Bar access road to Ditch Creek west of US Highway 26/89/191 is closed to the program. The Antelope Flats area is closed to the program after November 30, and the entire program ends December 13.
Elk reduction program participants are responsible for knowing and complying with the rules and regulations that apply to the program, including the boundaries of the area they are using, and only take an animal that is within a legal zone.
The areas remain open to park visitors, and the wearing of orange or other bright colors is highly recommended during this time.
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This story screams for details. What exactly did this guy do that was illegal? Was he part of the hunt or was his illegal activity totally unaffiliated with the hunt?
Elk poached, man cited
By Mike Koshmrl
Jackson Hole Daily
A Jackson Hole resident who held a cow elk-only tag is being investigated for killing a bull in a portion of Grand Teton National Park that's closed to hunting.
Robert Baltensperger, of Wilson, was cited for four infractions related to the illegal killing of a bull Saturday near Schwabachers Landing, according to a notice the park distributed. Specifically, Baltensperger was cited for illegal taking of game, hunting in the wrong area, violating the terms of his permit and killing the wrong sex of elk, Teton park spokeswoman Denise Germann said.
Other information about the case is not being made available by authorities at this time.
"Mr. Baltensperger will be required to appear before the federal magistrate next month," Teton park officials said in a statement. "No further details are releasable with this ongoing criminal investigation."
By the account of Andy Bennett, who was fishing along the Snake River on Saturday afternoon, the elk was downed approximately near where the Schwabachers channel runs back into the river. From a bluff above the riverbanks, Bennett could see four men wearing blaze orange field dressing an elk.
"Not wanting to really confront people with guns, we just stayed back and called it in," Bennett said.
It turned out that a tipster had already alerted Grand Teton law enforcement rangers.
Germann confirmed that others were at the scene and had helped to carry some of the meat out. Citations were given only to Baltensperger, she said.
The poaching of the bull elk happened the day Grand Teton's hunt, called an "elk reduction program," started for the season. The hunt was authorized by the park's 1950 enabling legislation, and wildlife managers say it's still necessary to keep the Jackson Elk Herd in balance.
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Only cow elk hunting is allowed in the park, and since 2013 the east bank of the Snake River has been closed to hunting roughly to the south of Deadmans Bar. Signs mark the closure area, which became off-limits the year after hunters shot and killed a grizzly bear in thick timber along the river bottom.
There are two other active investigations into hunting incidents from this fall, Germann said. One was from an attempted take of an animal, she said, and there also was another incident of poaching.
Grand Teton's elk hunt comes to an end Dec. 13, although different areas within the park will close in phases beforehand.
A few more details emerged in the local Jackson Hole paper. He had a "cow only" tag. He also poached the bull in an area specifically closed to hunting, quartered the animal and took the head. Bystanders called it in and he was promptly stopped by law enforcement.
ecbuck, Well, hunting in a closed area and shooting a bull elk, for starters. Unfortunately, stupidity is not a legal offense, but dressing an illegally killed elk in sight of the highway ought to be added to the charge sheet just on general principals.
Unfortunately, stupidity is not a legal offense
Doubt it was stupidity - just total disdain for the law. Hope they string him up. The root of my comment, however, was questioning whether he was one of the "deputized" hunters or just a walk-on?
Prosecute this man to the fullest extent of the law.
Stupidity at this level should actually cause physical pain.