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- Wildlife officers investigate a hunting guide for shooting at cattle in Utah.
- The guide, already suspended for prior violations, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge.
- Authorities emphasize vigilance against wildlife crimes and encourage reporting through available hotlines.
SALT LAKE CITY — Wildlife officers cautioned that there are "eyes and ears out everywhere" as they highlighted a recent poaching investigation that revealed a registered hunting guide had shot his bow at a herd of cattle.
According to investigators with the Utah Department of Natural Resources Division of Law Enforcement, officers received a tip about the guide that led to a poaching investigation.
Sgt. Dominick Barratt said during that investigation, officers executed a search warrant of the guide's cellphone, which uncovered video of the crime targeting an unknown rancher's cattle, as well as other wildlife-related violations.
"I think it's a pretty blatant violation. I think everybody knows you shouldn't shoot at anybody else's cows," Barratt said during an interview with KSL. "This particular individual was actually already on suspension for his hunting privileges from prior wildlife violations."
DNR officials declined to provide the man's name, saying they shared the case, including on the department's law enforcement Facebook page, to draw attention to the behavior, not the individual.
DNR officials said the man, in his early 30s, pleaded guilty to a class A misdemeanor of attempted destruction of livestock and that he faced long-term suspensions of his hunting and guiding licenses.
Whether it's cattle, other livestock or wildlife, officers encouraged people to obey the law.
"There are absolutely people out there who will blatantly poach animals for a set of antlers or a social media post," Barratt said.
Barratt warned that wildlife crimes do come to light, even when they happen in the middle of nowhere in Utah.
"They're under the belief that they're alone and not being watched," Barratt said. "I've worked in some very remote parts of the state, and as an officer, I've received information from people who are also in those very remote parts of the state, and there are eyes and ears out everywhere."
Barratt said the state offers multiple ways for people to provide Utah Turn-in-a-Poacher tips, including via a hotline at 800-662-3337.
