HAMLIN, W.Va. — A Lincoln County man has been fined $1,171 for illegal possession of an elk shed.
Cole Mitchell, 19, of Alkol, W.Va. pleaded guilty to the charge Tuesday in Lincoln County Magistrate Court. In exchange for his guilty plea, five other charges of illegal possession of the elk sheds was dismissed.
Natural Resources Police obtained a search warrant acting on an anonymous tip and discovered five shed elk antlers along with a “dead head” which is an elk skull with both antlers attached in his home in Lincoln County.
Possession of elk parts from West Virginia was made illegal as part of the state’s elk reintroduction program.
Offices say Mitchell admitted he found the shed antlers on the Tomblin Wildlife Management Area in Mingo County. If necessary, the agency could trace all six antlers using DNA. The elk parts were all confiscated by the agency in the investigation.
