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SALT LAKE CITY — With hunting season in full swing, Division of Wildlife Resources conservation officers have been busy trying to respond to and investigate several reported illegal poachings.
The first poaching case was reported in Bountiful on Skyline Drive near the Buckland Flats area, according to DWR. A dead doe was found shot in the head and left to waste. There is no rifle deer hunting season currently open in the area, DWR said.
The second poaching case occurred on Oct. 6 in the New Canyon area of Rich County, DWR said. A group of muzzleloader hunters were hunting deer in the area when they observed a blue, late ‘90s model Chevy or GMC truck with a white camper shell driving in the area. The group then heard a shot come from the direction of the truck, and shortly after, the blue truck drove past them at a high rate of speed.
The hunters said they further investigated and discovered a young fawn mule deer wandering by itself in the area. They then discovered a mature doe had been shot and left to waste, DWR said.
The next poaching incident was reported Oct. 10. A DWR conservation officer responded and found a bull moose lying partially in the road up Arthur’s Fork in American Fork Canyon, DWR said. Further investigation showed the moose had severe trauma resulting from a gunshot wound on the front shoulder.
The fourth poaching case was reported Oct. 27 on Monroe Mountain near Highway 24, DWR said. DWR conservation officers responded to the scene and discovered a “suspicious dead buck deer.” Investigators believe the large 7x7 buck deer had been shot and killed illegally. The DWR, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife and Mule Deer Foundation are offering a collective $3,000 reward for information about the poaching case.
The fifth recent poaching case occurred along the side of Highway 9 in Kane County around Oct. 24, DWR said. The 3x4 buck deer had been shot and left to waste. Investigators discovered the deer had been shot through the spine and “based on the nature of the injuries to the buck, it is almost certain the buck was shot and killed on the East Zion Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit (CWMU) behind a CWMU and ‘no trespassing' sign,” DWR said.
Investigators believe the deer was shot from or near Highway 9 and that whoever shot the deer then realized it was on a CWMU, and left without approaching the buck.
DWR officials are asking for citizens’ help in reporting and giving information regarding any poaching. DWR officials said any hunter who sees anyone shooting animals but not retrieving them or shooting after dark should report it.
“We need your help,” DWR Captain Mitch Lane said. “We need you to keep your eyes and ears open while you’re enjoying time in the outdoors. If you see something that doesn’t seem right, please let us know.”
Lane said conservation officers catch plenty of wildlife violators on their own, but the officers are spread pretty thin and any reports or additional information is also helpful.
“Even if what you saw doesn’t look like a big deal to you, let us know about it,” DWR Law Enforcement Section Chief Rick Olson said. “Some of our most significant cases started when someone called us with a small tip that led us to more information.”
Anyone with information about these or other poaching incidents 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.
