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(Photo: File)SALT LAKE CITY — Officials from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will be stepping up their efforts against deer poachers.
This time of year, wintering deer often congregate in areas where they are exposed and vulnerable to poachers. The law enforcement wing of the DWR has been increasing patrols into areas where these deer are expected to be. But actually spotting poachers can be a very tricky task.
Sgt. Mitch Lane of the DWR said, "That's the hard part, to be in the right place at the right time under just the right conditions."
Sgt. Lane said DWR agents also will be speaking to as many people as they can out on the ranges.
"We're not just out there looking for poachers and violators of the law, but we're out there to talk with other people that might legally be watching deer or other protected wildlife," he explained.
DWR hopes people who enjoy these areas legally can become extra sets of eyes for them in finding people who are breaking the law.
"We're going to be out at all times of the day and night trying to talk to as many people as we can while in the process of trying to monitor and watch these wintering deer populations," Lane said.