Oregon "hunter" blames crime on "elk fever"

This is the strangest case of “elk fever” seen in a long time. In January, a 66-year-old man opened fire on a herd of elk in Tillamook County, Oregon, killing one elk and severely injuring three others. The man turned himself into Oregon State Police (OSP) after shooting the elk from the road, according to ABC News Channel 4.

OSP Fish & Wildlife Troopers responded to the incident, finding three wounded elk. A cow elk had to be put down due to injuries and another was found the next day, dead after running into the Nehalem River. All usable meat was donated to local tribes and a jail, according to the report.

However, the fourth elk? It was tagged by the suspect himself who said he had landowner permission to hunt the property. The landowner told police that the man field dressed a carcass and left. After talking with another hunter, the landowner called the suspect and “told him to turn himself in.”

While OSP said the man “showed remorse,” he blamed his actions on “elk fever.”

The investigation is still ongoing, but we want to know what you think: is this really a case of elk fever or a guy who just wanted to poach a few animals?