Arizona Game and Fish is investigating the Nov. 9 shooting death of a spike bull elk, southeast of Flagstaff on the Coconino National Forest. Spokeswoman Shelly Shepherd said the suspected poacher left the animal’s body in the field, when the meat could have been salvaged and donated.

“Were individuals out just shooting randomly from the roadway? Is this a case of maybe they were out to get some game meat and were scared out of the scene by individuals or something else?” Shepherd said.

She said they see cases like this from time to time, but they are always puzzling. Shepherd said hunters occasionally make mistakes, but poachers have no regard for the state’s rules and regulations when it comes to wildlife. They are asking for help from the public to find those responsible.