Broomfield Teen fined $20K For Illegally Killing Bull Moose

HOT SULPHUR SPRINGS, CO -A Broomfield teen who was convicted of poaching for illegally killing, then abandoning a bull moose in Grand County last year was fined $20,000 last week. The dead moose was one of three, along with a bull elk shot and abandoned in Grand County, game wardens said.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife reported that Callan Hyatt,19, pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor wildlife violations including hunting in a careless manner, failing to locate wounded game, failing to dress wildlife, illegal possession of wildlife and hunting without a license.

Hyatt was charged under the 'Samson law' - for the illegal take of a bull moose, and fined $10,000. He received a warning for a felony charge of willful destruction of wildlife. Hyatt could receive up to a five-year suspension of his hunting and fishing privileges, the agency said.

Officials learned of the dead moose the day after Hyatt killed it when a hunter called in a tip, the agency said. By that time, the animal's meat had spoiled.

Hyatt admitted that while hunting elk, "he saw movement in the trees and fired his rifle in the direction without properly identifying the target, subsequently wounding a moose," the agency said in a press release.

Hyatt did not possess a moose license, the agency said. The proper response to the incident would have been to pursue the wounded moose as is required by law, tracking it, field-dressing it and reporting the incident, the agency said. If Hyatt had followed the correct protocol, his fine would have been $70.50.

Investigators matched footprints in the snow to Hyatt and recovered a .270 caliber bullet from the carcass that matched Hyatt's rifle, the agency said in a press release.

Hyatt made "poor choices," said District Wildlife Officer Jeff Behncke.

"We understand hunting mistakes and accidents will happen, but we expect sportsmen and women to take immediate responsibility for their actions," Behncke said in a statement. "Thankfully the vast majority of hunters are ethical and do the right thing in cases like this; unfortunately, there are a few that may prefer to try and evade authorities."

If a hunter accidentally kills the wrong species, "you should call us right away and field dress the animal immediately so that it does not spoil," Behncke said.

This case was "one of the worst illegal killings and waste of a bull moose in Grand County in recent years," said Deputy District Attorney Kathryn Dowdell of the 14th Judicial District in a statement.

Two other dead moose and a dead male elk were found abandoned in a region called Game Management Unit 28 in Grand County.

The public can report wildlife crimes anonymously by calling Operation Game Thief at 877-265-6648. Rewards are available if the information leads to an arrest or citation.