David McNew, Getty Images
David McNew, Getty Images
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The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is seeking information on a pronghorn poaching that occurred near Cheyenne.

Cheyenne Game Warden Dillon Herman says a nursing doe was shot twice with a rifle on state land adjacent to the Otto Road Shooting Range eight miles west of Cheyenne.

"It occurred sometime within the 24-hour period of 7:00 a.m. July 11th and 7:00 a.m. July 12th," said Herman.

Herman says the area where the pronghorn was found is a high use area for recreational shooting.

"It's like a $75 fee to shoot at the shooting range for a year, but the state land is accessible to the public right next to it. So the people that don't want to pay the fee will just drive right over there next to it, park on the highway and then walk in there and take targets and things and shoot," said Herman. "What more than likely occurred here was somebody was out there target shooting and opportunity presented itself and they just said, 'Oh hey I wonder if I can hit that?' and did."

Herman says its likely the doe left a fawn somewhere that more than likely will not survive.

"It is unfortunate that it was a lactating doe, so instead of killing one animal they probably killed two," said Herman.

Herman is asking anyone with information on this crime to call the Stop Poaching Tip Line at 1-877-WGFD-TIP (1-877-943-3847). Tips may also be reported online. Informants can choose to remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward for information leading to an arrest.

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