KDFW turns bad situation into a good cause

On Monday, November 13, 2023, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife (KDFW) answered the type of call they do not like to receive.  The caller gave information to officials regarding a poached elk, shot and left lying in a wooded Pulaski County area, just north of the McCreary/Pulaski County line.  The poached elk, either an original or offspring from one of the fifty elk captured and relocated to McCreary County from other parts of KY approximately two years ago as part of Kentucky’s Elk Restoration Project.

According to KDFW Police Lieutenant Chris King, one positive outcome came about as a result of the gruesome act.

“We were able to save the meat and get it awarded to the Beulah Mountain Christian Academy in Beulah Heights,” King said.  “After field dressing, the meat went to Custom Cuts for processing and then on to the children at the Academy.”

According to Shane Scoggins, Director of Beulah Mountain Christian Academy, Lt. King called and asked if the Academy could use the meat.  With sixteen resident youth and a total of twenty children attending the school, the answer was naturally, “Yes.”

“There was about $400 worth of elk meat when the meat was picked up at Custom Cuts,” Scoggins said.  “Chris came out on Saturday, and we took some pictures.  Then, on Sunday, we had our first meal of elk!  One student said it was better than beef!”

Apparently, that student has excellent taste buds since, according to The Kitchen Journal, elk flavor, in short, is similar to beef, but has a cleaner, sweeter taste that might also be described as rich but mild.

“We are totally enjoying the meat and thanking Fish and Wildlife for considering us,” Scoggins exclaimed.  “We are blessed Chris thought about us.

As disappointed as Lt. King is about the poaching, he is relieved KDFW found a silver lining.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had an elk poached when we are trying to restore elk to this area,” King said.  “However, it is rewarding that we were able to award the meat to a good cause.”

Elk poaching is illegal, and Lt. King urged anyone with information about the elk poaching or any other type of poaching to call the KDFW hotline at 1-800-25 ALERT.