Colorado Parks and Wildlife seeks public's help finding individual who poached mule deer at Lake Pueblo State Park

Travis Duncan
Public Information Supervisor
720-595-8294 / [email protected]

PUEBLO, Colo. - Colorado Parks and Wildlife is asking the public for help identifying the person who shot a mule deer at Lake Pueblo State Park this past week.

On Sept. 12, 2024,  Colorado Parks and Wildlife Officers discovered a dead mule deer found at the park near Rock Creek Canyon Road and adjacent to the popular Kestrel Pond Swim Beach. Evidence recovered from the scene indicated that the deer had been poached.

“We need the public’s help,” said Gretchen Holschuh, District Wildlife Manager for the Pueblo West region. “This is poaching and it’s illegal and we want to catch the person who did this. This mule deer was treated unethically and that is something we take very seriously.” 

Holschuh said anyone illegally injuring or killing wildlife could face misdemeanor charges including harassment of wildlife, hunting big game without a license, illegal taking of wildlife, and careless use of a firearm among other charges.

Convictions could result in fines and surcharges ranging from $750 to $13,000 and up to six months in jail, depending on the charge, she said.

Holschuh encouraged anyone with information about the incident to contact CPW. To provide information anonymously about a wildlife violation, the public can contact Operation Game Thief at 877-265-6648, by dialing #OGT from a Verizon cell phone, or by email at [email protected].

A reward of up to $500 is available if the information leads to an arrest or citation.