Coeur d'Alene man charged with illegal elk killing

COEUR d’ALENE — Prosecutors said a local man killed an elk using illegal means and then tried to hide the evidence.

A grand jury indicted Joel P. Rose, 61, of Coeur d’Alene, Oct. 9, on charges of unlawful taking of wildlife and alteration and/or concealment of evidence, both felonies. 

The charges stem from Sept. 10, when prosecutors said Rose shot a trophy bull elk with a silenced rifle during an archery-only hunt. 

Rose allegedly concealed fired bullet casings, stabbed a bull elk with an arrow after it had been fatally shot by a rifle and buried the animal’s ribcage and internal organs on his property, according to court records. 

Prosecutors said he “altered or concealed” evidence because he knew it was about to be discovered in a criminal investigation and was trying to prevent the evidence from being found or used. 

After jurors indicted Rose on the charges, a $10,000 warrant was issued for his arrest. The warrant was returned Monday. 

The elk had a single damage assessment of more than $1,000, according to court records. In Idaho, unlawfully killing any wildlife within a 12-month period with a single or combined reimbursable damage assessment of more than $1,000 is a felony. 

Taking a big game animal with a rimfire or centerfire cartridge firearm during an archery or muzzleloader only season qualifies as a “flagrant violation” of the law and is punishable by revocation of hunting privileges for a minimum of one year and a maximum of life. The fine for unlawfully killing a trophy elk is $5,000. 

Destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence is punishable by up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.