Editor's note: It's difficult to believe anyone would do such a thing, especially to a species that has been struggling due to the 1988 fires, drought and a parasite that has dramatically reduced its numbers. Chances are this criminal will be apprehended after bragging about it in a bar.

Three moose were shot and left to rot in the Antelope Basin area west of the town of West Yellowstone during the opening week of the rifle season for deer and elk, state officials said Thursday.

Jim Smolcynski, a game warden with Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said a cow, bull calf and young bull were found in an aspen grove 50 yards off of a road in the basin. He said in a press release the animals were killed sometime Monday or Tuesday and whoever shot them made no attempt to salvage the meat.

To read the entire story, click here.