Illegal Killing of Bighorn Ram Prompts CPW Investigation, Calls for Tips

On November 14, 2025 Colorado Parks and Wildlife made public an investigation into the illegal killing of a Rocky Mountain bighorn ram discovered in the Cabin Draw area along Middle Creek off Saguache County Road 38FF. The carcass had been reported by a member of the public on November 11. District wildlife managers responding with a CPW K 9 determined the ram had been shot that same day and found it roughly 200 yards off the county road.

CPW officials said the animal’s meat had spoiled before it could be salvaged. Investigators noted that the single bighorn ram license allocated to that area had already been filled earlier in the season, reducing the likelihood that the animal was taken accidentally during a licensed hunt. The department has asked anyone with information to contact District Wildlife Manager William Miedema or Operation Game Thief at 877 265 6648 or game.thief@state.co.us.

For residents of Las Animas County this incident is not merely a Saguache County concern. Bighorn sheep populations move across public lands and watersheds, and illegal takes in one county can undermine conservation and hunting programs regionwide. The loss of a mature ram affects herd genetics and local population stability, complicating management plans that depend on accurate population counts and lawful harvest reporting.

There are also clear legal and civic implications for local hunters and outdoor users. In Colorado willful destruction of big game is a felony and can carry fines up to $100,000 and possible lifetime suspension of hunting and fishing privileges. Those penalties reflect the state interest in protecting wildlife resources and maintaining the integrity of regulated hunting seasons, which support conservation funding and community recreation.

Law enforcement and wildlife managers rely on public cooperation to solve poaching cases. Timely reporting of suspicious activity, and prompt notification when downed or damaged wildlife is found, improves the chance that evidence can be preserved and that meat can be salvaged for lawful use where appropriate. For rural communities that value outdoor traditions, preventing and prosecuting illegal takes is also about protecting shared resources and maintaining trust in the system that governs access to them.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is continuing its investigation. Anyone with information about the bighorn ram found near County Road 38FF is asked to contact William Miedema or Operation Game Thief at the numbers and email provided.