Estes Park Area Chamber of Commerce board members reacted angrily to several recent wildlife poaching incidents in the Estes Valley.

Chamber board member Cory Blackman said it was important for the chamber to take a stand on the issues.

"The wildlife are obviously our friends and a major attraction for us," he said.

He recommended that the chamber support strict penalties against poaching and other illegal hunting acts.

Meeting on Wednesday, the chamber board agreed to send a letter to the Colorado Division of Wildlife, and to have a representative at a meeting called for Thursday night.

The board also is considering sending a letter to the state legislature, seeking stricter anti-poaching laws.

Board member Larry Wexler said the chamber should call for the strictest possible prosecution of last week's poaching case that made statewide headlines.

On Saturday a 7-by-9-point bull elk that was unafraid of humans was stalked and killed with a crossbow at the YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park Center.

Three other elk were illegally hunted in the Carriage Hills area on Saturday, and two more poaching incidents were discovered on Tuesday.

"This happens all too often in this valley," chamber president Jeff Barker said.

"I am a hunter and I'm disgusted by anyone who would do such a thing."

The chamber has been trying to educate people about the etiquette of watching wildlife without endangering themselves or the animals, and Barker said the new wildlife information radio station is now on the air.

The station can be found at 530 on the AM dial.

Barker said signs telling people about the station should be in place sometime in December.