$1,200 reward offered to solve unlawful turkey shooting near Show Low

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is asking for the public’s
help in solving a case involving the recent unlawful killing of a
wild turkey within 50 yards of multiple residences in Wagon Wheel,
an unincorporated area located between the towns of Show Low and
Pinetop-Lakeside.

Although spring turkey season was open in the general
surrounding area of the forest, it is a violation to discharge a
firearm within ¼-mile of an occupied residence without the
resident’s permission.

According to wildlife manager Shawn Wagner, the case officer for
this incident, “On Saturday, May 2, at approximately 6:30 a.m., an
individual riding in a blue standard cab pickup with a wide gold
stripe along the bottom drove into this Wagon Wheel neighborhood
and shot a tom turkey inside the fenced front yard of one of the
residences. Upon retrieving the bird from the private yard via a
side gate, he left the area immediately.”

“We need help from the public to catch this suspect,” says
Wagner. “If anyone can identify the pickup or its owner, we need to
hear from you. This is a serious firearms safety violation.”

Wild turkeys have been known to frequent homeowner yards in this
area of Wagon Wheel.

To report information on this incident, or any Game and Fish
violation, call the department’s Operation Game Thief hotline at
(800) 352-0700. Caller identities may remain confidential upon
request. Callers are eligible to receive a reward of up to $1,200
for information leading to the arrest of the violator in this
turkey poaching case.