Case of the Missing Bones Solved!

By Dan Nitzel, NOHVA Business Manager

As some of you may have noticed, a large quantity of deer bones and heads were dumped early this winter at the Headworks OHV Park in the parking area.  Some of the bones can still be seen in the trees on the southeast corner of the parking area.  Here’s the story about them as it was explained to me.

Loup Power discovered the deer bones and heads in the parking area.  Thinking that some negligent hunters had dumped them there, the Headworks staff began the unpleasant task of cleaning them up.  While cleaning them up, it was discovered that there were a few ear tags from the hunters that originally checked them in.  The sheriffs department and the local game officer was call in to investigate. 

Upon their investigation, it was discovered that a hunter who shot one of the deer lived in Columbus.  The Sheriffs Department and the game officer traveled to Columbus to interview the hunter.  When they talked to the hunter, they discovered that he had taken the deer to a local meat processor to be processed.

Upon going to court, the meat processor was charged with multiple crimes and ended up making a deal to pleading guilty to illegal dumping as was convicted.  He also had to pay Loup Power for the time that they spent cleaning up his mess and a considerable amount of money in attorneys fees.  Being an avid sport ATV rider, there was some talk that he would be barred from riding his ATV there again, but that was bargained out of the plea agreement. 

I guess the purpose of this article is report what happened at the park after some people asked me about the deer bones.   While I do not hunt, I have several friends who are avid hunters and they exhibit a high degree of integrity in dealing with the ups and downs of every day life.   I am truly relieved that an arrant hunter was not the source of the deer bones.  But I am perplexed about the motives of the owner of the business that processed the meat. 

From my understanding, the dumper can still ride his ATV at the park as long as he doesn’t do any more dumping there.  Apparently, it is very important to him that he can continue to ride there as it was part of his plea agreement in court.  

Speaking for many of us who enjoy riding at Headworks, we think it is very important that we have the privilege of being allowed to ride there as well.  The dumping of refuse at the area by ATV riders is not conducive to our image and erodes everyone’s privilege to ride there.

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This page was updated on Monday, February 19, 2007