A string of game-wasting incidents have Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks wardens looking for poachers.

On Monday, someone shot a cow moose on a road above Upper Miller Creek southeast of Missoula and abandoned its carcass, according to FWP warden captain Jeff Darrah. The cow had a calf of the year that will almost certainly not survive the winter without its mother, he said.

Other gunners killed three spike elk in a private field south of Hall and left them to rot last week. Bull elk must have a brow tine branching off their main antler to be legal game, and none of these young animals met that requirement.

“They were shot probably right from the road,” Darrah said. “It was a blatant act. If anybody has information, we need them to come forward. They would be eligible for TIP-MONT reward if we make the case.”

TIP-MONT is the toll-free hot line for reporting poaching and other hunting and fishing violations. Callers can talk to Darrah directly at (406) 542-5512, or use the anonymous hot line at 1-800-847-6668.

Darrah said there also have been several incidents of people in Missoula killing large buck deer within the city limits. The poachers are using crossbows, archery equipment or small-caliber rifles to shoot the deer in yards and parks.

“If you have large deer in your yard, and you hear suspicious activity, it’s possibly somebody poaching,” he said. “There’s no legal deer hunting within the city limits.”

In Kalispell, warden captain Jon Obst said his officers were getting lots of reports of people spotlighting game in private fields after dark. It is illegal to hunt between half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, and also illegal to use lights to attract or herd game.

“It’s the last week and the big push is on,” Obst said. “Our guys are out in the field on an almost 24-hour-a-day basis now. The season’s going to close come Sunday, and people just want to get out and fill their tag. But the penalty is so much harsher for those guys (who leave meat in the field). There’s no reason to cheat.”

Reporter Rob Chaney can be reached at 523-5382 or at rchaney@missoulian.com.