I called the Forest Service's mining division to patch the hole when I got home from the hunt, thinking it was a vent shaft and would certainly kill somebody if they fell in (you couldn't see the bottom at all). We didn't see anything that the DWR could do about it at that point, so I didn't call them.
Then I got a call just two weeks ago from the Conservation Officer in the area that saw the pictures on this site. He was the one that pulled the elk out and is investigating some peculiarities in the area.
I don't want to go into details of his investigation because I don't know if he wants information released (not that I know very much, but I have my theory), but hopefully they can catch the guy they are looking for.
Grizzly