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WDFW investigating illegal elk poaching, remains found near Brinnon school

A dead, poached bull elk was found near a school in Brinnon and officers are asking the public for help finding the person responsible.

Editor's Note: King5.com has chosen not to display the video or images due to the graphic nature of the content.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife investigators need help to track down suspects tied to an illegal elk killing.

Aaron Boling saw the remains near a school in Brinnon, Washington and wanted to document a scene that's upset a lot of people in the small town.

"Coming off our driveway, taking our kids home, somebody killed an elk and these barriers all along here border the Brinnon school," Boling said in a cell phone video sent to KING 5.

The carcass is recognizable as an elk, but barely. All that's left is its torso.

"They just left it to rot," Boling explained.

WDFW believes someone shot the elk at close range near the school, in an area where elk season is closed and discharging a firearm is illegal.

"This is an instance of a true poaching. A closed season elk was taken here and it's such close proximity to school and homes that discharge of a firearm isn't safe," said Sgt. Kit Rosenberger.

The elk herd in the area is accustomed to humans because they're not hunted, Rosenberger says, so they believe the suspect was able to shoot the elk at close range. In fact, while the officer was processing the scene, the elk herd was not far off.

WDFW believes the poaching happened Wednesday evening after dark. WDFW has recovered some evidence from the scene.

WDFW asks people who believe they have witnessed these crimes to call WDFW Enforcement at (360) 902-2928, online, or text or send photos to WDFWTIP at TIP411 (847411).

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