Bowhunter Killed in Colorado After Being Mistaken for Elk

The body of 31 year old bowhunter Gregory Gabrisch was discovered last week after being fatally shot near the Kilpacker Trailhead in Colorado’s San Juan National Forest. 

Emergency crews spent nearly 10 hours searching before discovering Gabrisch’s body.

In a statement released by Dolores County Sheriff, Don Wilson, muzzleloader hunter Ronald Morosko and friend were elk hunting and moving toward a heavily wooded area they believed to contain a group of bulls. Reports claim the elk were responding to the two’s calls, leading Morosko to take a shot.

“When [Ronald] saw white in the pines, he took a shot at what he thought was an elk,” said Wilson.

In a separate statement, Morosko stated the deceased archer was wearing dark brown camouflage.

According to the 2021 Colorado Big Game Brochure, although hunters using any type of firearm during any rifle season are required to wear hunter orange or pink, hunters using archery equipment during limited September rifle seasons are not required to wear hunter orange or pink.

Following the incident, Morosko was charged with criminally negligent homicide, and was thereafter shortly released from a local Detention Center after posting his $10,000 bail.

“The incident is currently under investigation with our partners at Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office, and San Juan National Forest law enforcement,” said Wilson.

Morosko is scheduled to appear in Dolores County Court sometime this week for arraignment. His sentence carries a potential of up to three years in prison and a fine up to $100,000.

Kryptek extends condolences to the family of the deceased and reminds all hunters this season to take the necessary precautions to stay safe and informed.