Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SUMMIT COUNTY — A bull moose was shot and injured in Summit County and Division of Wildlife Resources officials are seeking the public’s help in identifying the poachers.
The incident occurred Oct. 11 around 8 a.m. in the Soapstone Basin area, between Mirror Lake Highway and Highway 35, according to DWR Summit County conservation officer Brent Kasza.
Kasza received information about a poached bull moose and when he responded to the scene, he discovered the animal was still alive, but had been badly injured.
The young bull moose had been shot in the front leg and was bleeding badly, but was still mobile enough to run away, Kasza said. He attempted to follow the blood trail, but was unable to locate the animal again.
The witness who reported the poaching, observed two individuals on a ridge shooting at the moose, Kasza said. One of the individuals was identified as a male with facial hair and the shooters had two ATVs parked near them, Kasza said.
It is always better for someone to turn themselves in. We can usually tell their intent on a situation like that if they turn themselves in. Sometimes we give warnings, sometimes we give citations.
–Brent Kasza, DWR Summit County conservation officer
“When the moose was shot it wasn't actually moose season. It was during the elk hunt when it was shot," Kasza said. "What I’m pretty confident of, is that somebody had an elk tag and they thought it was an elk — they didn’t identify their target properly — and they shot it and it was a moose. And when they realized it was a moose, they fled the scene.”
Kasza said that if hunters accidentally shoot the wrong animal, they should always contact DWR officials.
“It is always better for someone to turn themselves in,” Kasza said. “We can usually tell their intent on a situation like that if they turn themselves in. Sometimes we give warnings, sometimes we give citations.”
Anyone with information about the shooting can contact the UTIP hotline at 800-662-3337 or contact Kasza at 801-541-3906. Monetary rewards, and sometimes reward permits, may be available to those providing information that leads to the successful prosecution of the poachers, DWR says.
