Energy companies, Chevron, EnCana and Williams, are offering a $10,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for poaching a quarter curl bighorn ram on Chevron’s private property north of De Beque, Colo. sometime between Oct. 25 and Oct. 27.

Additionally, Operation Game Thief has offered $1,000 on top of the $10,000 reward. The Colorado TIPS hotline may also give anyone who comes forward and testifies in court a bighorn sheep hunting permit.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife began its investigation on Oct. 30 when the poaching incident was reported. The ram was shot in the neck, and no attempts were made to keep the meat, head or horns.

"This is the worst kind of poaching case," Albert Romero, District Wildlife Manager for the De Beque district, said. "It appears that someone just shot and killed this animal for no reason at all.”

The ram was part of the De Beque Canyon bighorn sheep herd, but had recently found its way into the Kimball Creek area where it had become something of a celebrity to local residents and Chevron employees.

Criminal charges in this case could include trespassing, illegal possession of wildlife, waste, felony willful destruction and hunting in a closed unit. If convicted of all charges, the perpetrator in this case could face up to five years in jail, suspension of their hunting privileges in Colorado and 30 other states and more than $100,000 in fines, the wildlife division reports.

Anyone with information on this poaching case can contact Operation Game Thief at 877-265-6648. Callers that wish to remain anonymous may qualify for up to $1,000 in reward funds, but to qualify for a TIPS license and the $10,000 the caller must be willing to testify against the perpetrator.