Document text
Reward goes out for calf killer Heifer was shot Sunday on range near Butte Falls By DANI DODGE BUTTE FALLS -- Bob Lozano can't put into "civil, printable" words what he thinks about the person who gunned down his 4-month-old heifer Sunday. But he is willing to put up $1,000 of his own money to help find and convict the calf killer. Other organizations are ponying up another $1,500, for a total of $2,500 in reward money. "It's a sad senseless thing," Lozano said Thursday. "To small operators, like I consider myself, it's a big, big loss. We had artificially inseminated the mother and were breeding for specific traits. ... We were counting on that calf to work into our future herd." Oregon State Police are investigating the shooting death of the 300-pound calf at the Hailicka Rock Pit about 4 p.m. Sunday. The area is off Fish Lake Road, just outside Butte Falls in an open range area. If found, the shooter could be convicted of first-degree criminal mischief, a Class C felony. One of Lozano's friends heard gunfire at the rock pit Sunday and went out to investigate. "The individual ... found it over there bleeding and the other cows licking it," said Senior Trooper Jeff Thompson. Thompson said police get calls about cattle shootings almost every year during hunting season. He said it's hard to know the motivation behind the carnage. "Sometimes it's just because they are there," he said. "Then, there are people who are flat against cows being in open range. They don't think the cows should be out there. That's a problem sometimes too." Police were not able to investigate immediately, and the calf was buried after wild animals got to it. Troopers went out on Wednesday and exhumed the body, taking the head to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Forensics Lab in Ashland. A bullet was extracted from the corpse. The calf had been shot between the eyes, Lozano said. Lozano was not insured for the loss. He said his herd is so tame, someone could have just walked up to the animal without it shying away. Lozano has lost cattle before, but this was the first time he could put a day, time and place on the shooting. He hopes those details, and the reward money, will help find the killer. "Individuals capable of this type of crime would sell their own mother's hide for 2,500 bucks -- they are that type of ilk," he said. "I think $2,500 should loosen some tongues." Anyone with information can call Oregon State Police at 664-4600, or leave a message for Thompson at 776-6236, Ext. 260. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA