Cd’A man convicted of unlawfully killing trophy bull elk

COEUR d’ALENE — A man who killed a “well-known” trophy-class bulk elk with a rifle during an archery-only season is guilty of a felony offense, according to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

After a two-day trial, a jury convicted Coeur d’Alene resident Joel P. Rose of unlawful killing, possession or wasting of wildlife. 

Authorities said Rose killed the elk last September, near his residence on private property in the Wolf Lodge area. 

“The elk’s unique antler configuration made it an easily recognizable and well-known animal in the area that other hunters had pursued for several years,” a news release said. 

After receiving a tip through Citizens Against Poaching, investigators discovered a bullet that was recovered from the hide of the elk. 

Idaho Fish and Game conservation officers obtained a warrant to search Rose’s residence. Evidence collected there showed that the elk was killed by two shots from a rifle and that an arrow had been inserted into the carcass after the animal died, according to IDFG. 

Investigators also found a rifle equipped for long-range shooting and with a silencer. Ballistic analysis showed that the rifling characteristics from this rifle were consistent with the bullet recovered from the elk hide. 

“Additional evidence revealed that Rose had been specifically targeting the trophy-class bull elk during the archery-only season, which overlaps the rutting period for elk in North Idaho,” a news release said. “After the elk was killed with a rifle, Rose posed in photos with the elk with an arrow protruding from the carcass.” 

In Idaho, the unlawful killing, possession or wasting of wildlife with a single or combined damage assessment of more than $1,000 is a felony. Because the bull elk antlers scored greater than 300 inches using the Boone and Crockett scoring system, it was classified as a “trophy” per Idaho code and had an assessed damage value of $5,000. 

Rose is expected to be sentenced in August.