The 14 men suspected of shooting and killing at least 32 bison belonging to ranchers Monte and Tracy Downare were camped in and around the old ranch house of the nearby Hawn Ranch, an investigator said Wednesday.
Park County Undersheriff Monte Gore said some of the men were staying in the old ranch house on the property, while others were staying in various outbuildings, such as the barn.
The shootings came just days after Austin, Texas, businessman Jeff Hawn — who owns Hawn Ranch — filed suit in Park County District Court claiming that the Downares’ bison were stampeding onto his property in South Park.
“The damage that (the Downares’) buffalo have caused to the property is staggering,” the lawsuit says.
The animal carcasses were found March 19 on the Hawn Ranch, other private property and on U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands.
Hawn’s attorney said neither he nor Hawn would comment on the situation.
The Downares have declined to comment while the investigation continues.
Gore said Wednesday that the weapons the 14 men had were confiscated and that the hunting party “seemed to be from and around the state of Colorado.”
Gore also said that within a day or two, investigators plan to fly over the area to see whether they can spot additional dead bison. He said it is quite possible more will be found.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
