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SALT LAKE CITY — Division of Wildlife Resources conservation officers are asking for the public's help in locating the individuals responsible for illegally killing six elk throughout Utah and leaving them to waste.
5x5 bull elk killed in Emery County
DWR conservation officers received a call about the first poaching incident on Friday, Sept. 25, from a muzzleloader hunter who discovered a dead bull elk in the Tie Fork Canyon area, DWR said. The 5x5 bull elk had been shot with a rifle and was gutted and cut into two pieces. The head was removed and was dragged down a hill and hidden in some bushes along with the two halves of the carcass. However, the entire animal was left to waste, DWR said.
Conservation officers believe the elk was shot during the limited-entry any weapon bull elk hunt on the Wasatch elk unit.
"Someone with a limited-entry permit likely shot this bull and after gutting the animal, decided it was too small and wanted to kill a bigger elk," DWR conservation officer Sean Spencer said.
2 trophy bull elk killed in Uintah County
Officers are also investigating the suspicious deaths of two trophy bull elk on the Book Cliffs Unit in Uintah County. The 6x6 bull elk were discovered 3/4 mile from each other by concerned citizens who contacted DWR. The first trophy bull elk was located in the Big Park area several hundred yards from a nearby pond. Conservation officers responded to the scene on Tuesday, Oct. 6, and believe the elk died about one month prior to being discovered.
- Utah elk tags range from $50 to $513 for residents and from $393 to $1,505 for non-residents.
- Illegally killing an elk results in a $750 restitution fine
- Illegally killing a trophy elk — an elk that has six or more points on each side — is a $8,000 fine.
"The bull appeared to have been in prime condition and is not believed to have died of natural causes, even though the cause of death was not determined," DWR said.
The second trophy bull elk was discovered lying at the bottom of a wash in the Flat Rock Spring area. The 6x6 bull elk had a large hole extending from one side of its neck to the other, leading investigating officers to believe it did not die of natural causes. Conservation officers responded to the scene on Thursday, Oct. 15, and said it appeared the elk died 4-7 days prior during a spike-only hunt.
3 cow elk killed in Utah County
The last poaching incident occurred near the Lindon Boat Harbor at Utah Lake, DWR said. Conservation officers received a call about three cow elk carcasses that had been dumped and left to waste at the harbor. The cow elk were all skinned and cut in half, but all the meat was left there, DWR said. Investigating officers found two full elk carcasses and the back half of a third cow elk.
Depending on the unit and season, Utah elk tags can range from $50 to $513 for residents and from $393 to $1,505 for non-residents, according to the 2015 Big Game Application Guidebook. Poaching is not only illegal, but it results in a loss of revenue that goes toward state wildlife management programs. Restitution fines are typically $750 for an elk that is illegally killed, but the minimum fine for poaching a trophy elk — an elk that has six or more points on each side — is $8,000, according to West Vernal District conservation officer Bryan Clyde.
The number of animals poached in Utah has increased by more than 30 percent over the last two years, according to the Associated Press.
Anyone with information can call the UTIP hotline at 1-800-662-3337 or email the information to toturninapoacher@utah.gov. Rewards are often available for information leading to the successful prosecution of wildlife crimes, and tipsters can remain anonymous.
