The Estes Valley lost four elk to a pair of poachers within two hours Saturday, but each will face stiff fines for poaching offenses.

The most celebrated loss was that of Samson, a familiar 7-by-9-point bull elk that was almost a mascot at the Estes Park Center of the YMCA of the Rockies.

"The staff of YMCA of the Rockies are outraged by this senseless and tragic act," communications director Dave Thomas said. "His death is a loss to us all."

Division of Wildlife area wildlife manager Rick Spowart said Samson was felled by a single arrow from a crossbow fired by a poacher near a cabin at the entrance to the resort.

Spowart was alerted to the situation when a YMCA resident notified security officers around dusk that Samson was being stalked.

After responding to the scene, the security staff found a pickup parked in an unauthorized area and suspected that it belonged to the poacher, so they had it impounded. A rifle and game saw were found inside the vehicle, Spowart said.

Because of darkness, Samson was not found until the following day.

Spowart said the Samson's slaying was an obvious case of trophy poaching by a killer who wanted to sell the head and antlers for several thousand dollars.

He said the elk was probably the largest bull in the Estes Valley and his death was contrary to everything hunting stands for.

According to Spowart, Samson was unusually habituated to humans and was easily approachable.

Spowart recalled an incident last year when he was called to chase Samson out of a yard the elk wasn't welcome in, but Samson was so unafraid of humans that he chased Spowart out of the yard instead.

The wildlife officer said the elk always wintered on the YMCA grounds, often spending eight months of the year in the protected environs.

"National celebrity"

YMCA accounting clerk Jim Boyd recalled the animal as a "national celebrity" who had been photographed by thousands of guests.

Boyd said numerous guests returning on an annual basis often asked about Samson's whereabouts.

Although YMCA workers and residents were aware of the elk's wildness, they had a special affection because of the animal's awesome size and his special character, Boyd said.

He remembered that the elk would often go on porches to raid bird feeders, and when Boyd filled a central feeder with a bucket of sunflower seeds, Samson was never far away.

"He was just a neat friend," Boyd said.

Thomas said the poacher was a danger on the YMCA grounds.

"The discharge of a weapon within range of our staff homes and our guest facilities endangered over 1,000 people who were on our grounds that day," he said.

"The way in which this elk was killed is an atrocity," Thomas added. "Poaching is illegal, and the YMCA of the Rockies is working with the Colorado Division of Wildlife to assist in the prosecution of this crime."

Spowart declined to identify the 39-year-old Denver suspect involved in the killing until charges are formalized by the Larimer County District Attorney's Office.

After his truck was impounded, the suspect apparently hitchhiked back to Denver to try to avoid discovery.

But Spowart said the man called law enforcement officials Sunday in an attempt to get his pickup back.

He reportedly said, "I did something very stupid."

Spowart said Samson's killer may face a felony charge of willful destruction of wildlife, which carries a fine of up to $10,000 and one year in jail, as well as a lifetime suspension of hunting and fishing privileges in Colorado.

Additionally, misdemeanor charges are pending for hunting without a license, taking an animal illegally, hunting on private property without permission, hunting without required orange clothing, and waste for not field dressing the animal.

The misdemeanor charges carry an additional maximum fine of $1,600, raising the total financial liability to $11,600. Additionally, he said each of the fines is subject to a 37 percent victim and witness surcharge, putting the total maximum fine at $15,892.

Gray Fox massacre

As if losing Samson wasn't bad enough, three more elk were slain in a poaching incident on Saturday.

Spowart said his wife, Mary Thacker, animal control officer for the Town of Estes Park, was responding to a stray dog report in Gray Fox Estates south of town at around 4 p.m. when she noticed a yearling cow elk in poor condition.

Upon closer examination, Thacker saw that the elk had been shot, and she also found a trail of blood which led to a second cow elk that lay dead on a hillside.

Seeing even more blood, Thacker followed the trail over the hill where she spotted a shirtless 39-year-old Ricky Campbell of Loveland dressing out a third cow elk he had killed.

Thacker notified Larimer County Sheriff's deputies, who responded to the scene and took Campbell into custody.

Spowart said Campbell admitted to a situation of "very bad decisioning."

He said the poacher had a hunting license for another unit but was frustrated by his lack of success, so he came to Estes Park with the confidence that he would be able to bring an elk home, "no matter what."

Campbell has been charged with killing three or more big game animals, careless hunting for discharging a firearm within the city limits, hunting without a license, hunting on private property without permission, and hunting without required orange garments.

His maximum fines could total $11,400, which can climb to $15,618 with the addition of the 37 percent surcharge.

Meat to charity

All of Campbell's kills will be donated to charity or to hunters with like licenses.

Spowart said Samson's meat was of questionable quality and was given to a recipient for animal food.

He said the disposition of Samson's trophy head is up to the state, but Spowart has endorsed a YMCA request that the conference center receive the head and antlers as a memorial to the famed elk.

Spowart said the losses to poaching are a distressing side of hunting season that must be closely monitored.

He asked local residents to cooperate as the eyes and ears of the DOW where poaching is suspected.

Anyone unsure of a hunter's credentials or where poachers are spotted on private property is asked to contact the Estes Park Police Department at 586-4465.