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Elk hunt came too close to homes

Chuck Simonson, et. al.

Dear Editor,On Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 6:37 a.m., the densely populated area of Peach Valley awoke to the sound of numerous rifle shots, fired in very close proximity to all of our homes. Three hunters were firing into a herd of elk located in Murrs field that borders Highway 6 & 24 and County Road 263. There were also 10 horses in that same field. We were astounded when we read the Wednesday, Nov. 12, Post Independent to learn that these hunters were cited for hunting and shooting too close to Road 263, which borders the east end of the field, and this seems to be the only citation issued. Our concern is this: the hunters were supposedly shooting in a westerly direction. When you look toward the west from Road 263, there are two houses located within 1⁄2 mile of the hunters line of fire and many, many others that are well within the three-mile distance that (according to the DOW) a bullet can travel. Why were the hunters not cited for careless hunting or reckless endangerment? Also, the article in the paper states that three cow elk were killed in the field and two more were wounded and eventually shot and given to charity. By our count that makes five elk. Why were the three hunters not cited for shooting too many animals? Something is very wrong here. Sincerely, Chuck Simonson, Maria Sanchez, Scherry Simonson, Danette Lippman, Lenard Ivie, Bruce Lippman, Linda Colby, Cindy Kutnicki, Betty Janicek, Stan Kutnicki, Bill Moulton, Donald Nisbet, Martha Moulton, Janice Nisbet, Merry Dice, Barb Needham Chenoweth, Ron Perau, John James Chenoweth, Sharon Blanco, Dave Gibbens, James Blanco, Pat Vigil, James GornickPeach Valley residentsNew CastleEditors Note: The Post Independent article incorrectly reported the number of hunters and shot elk. There were five hunters, although only four had licenses for cow elk. The hunters killed two elk, wounded two more, and a fifth elk was accidentally wounded. The three wounded elk were later put down by DOW officers.


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