Megnut
A piece of peace is peace enough.
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2018
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RbbmI would expect that Mr. Morphew was well acquainted with the Moffat burial area. Some of the best hunting units in Colorado are on the west side of the San Luis Valley.
The map below shows game management units (GMUs) around Salida. Units 66, 67 and 68 west of Saguache are some of the most hunted in southwest Colorado with unlimited tags sold in each area. GMUs 681, 682 and 82 are decent for pronghorn, deer and/or elk with easy access.
View attachment 458780
But aside from any potential hunting interest, these areas would be locations where an avid antler collector like Mr. Morphew might seek “sheds”. You may recall his interest in these sheds was so great that he detoured west from his intended route to Broomfield on Mother’s Day (at 4:30AM no less!) after spotting a bull elk (in the dark no less!) so he could later find its shed antlers (page 107 of the Arrest Affidavit). Mr. Morphew’s was further demonstrated by the fact that he couldn’t just wait for the deer around his house to shed, he had to tranquilize them, and cut the antlers off himself (page 86 of the Arrest Affidavit).
I’m assuming Mr. Morphew’s interest in these bony processes growing from the skulls of deer and elk, in addition to their obvious attraction for home décor, is that they sell for $8 to $16 per pound. In any event, this Morphew profit center is a possible explanation for his familiarity with the San Luis Valley and the Moffat burial area.
Antler lust.
And wasn't that, coincidentally, the name and intent of the Valentine's getaway with SD?... where they swapped bible verses....or somesuch.
JMO