A 66-year-old man who shot a herd of elk in Tillamook County, Oregon has blamed the shooting on “elk fever” when turning himself in to the police, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW).
The incident, which took place in January, resulted in the death of one elk and severe injuries to at least three others. ODFW reported the shooting on Thursday 16th March 2023.
OSP Fish & Wildlife Troopers responded to a call from a tip hotline and found three wounded elk on the day of the shooting. One cow elk had to be put down due to injuries, and a fourth elk had already been tagged by the perpetrator.
The next day, one of the remaining elk likely drowned after running into the Nehalem River, and another mortally wounded bull elk had to be put down by the troopers.
The perpetrator claimed to have obtained permission from the property owner to hunt, but the landowner informed officials that the suspect had shot the elk from the road and urged him to turn himself in.
Upon doing so, the man expressed remorse and attributed his actions to “elk fever.”
