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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
SALT LAKE CITY — Wildlife officials asked the public for help Friday with their investigation of four separate poaching cases.
Two cow moose and two trophy elk were recently killed and left to waste in three different counties, according to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. The most recent incident was in Uintah County — investigators said a cow moose was shot on or before Oct. 6 along the Red Cloud Loop, about 1 mile east of the Iron Springs Campground.
“The animal was killed with an immediately fatal gunshot and subsequently allowed to waste,” a statement from the DWR reads. “There are no cow moose hunts open in this area.”
Another poached cow moose was discovered by hunters on Oct. 5 northeast of Forest Road 83 in Wasatch County, near the Left Fork of Currant Creek, according to the DWR. Investigators said the cow was shot behind the shoulder one time and left to waste. They believe the incident occurred late in the afternoon on Oct. 4.
The two 7-point bull elk were killed days apart in neighboring canyons in the Book Cliffs, according to investigators. They said the dead elk were found in a remote part of the area.
“The first bull was killed on or before Sept. 23, 2014, at the head of Railroad Canyon in Grand County. This bull elk was a 6x7 with a ‘cheater’ point on the right brow tine,” a statement from the DWR reads. “The second bull, a 7x7, was shot and left to waste near the north end of South Canyon, in Uintah County. This animal was killed on or before Sept. 24, 2014.”
Those with information about any of the poaching cases, or any other wildlife crime, can call the Utah Turn in a Poacher hotline at 1-800-662-3337. Rewards are available for information that leads to the identification and prosecution of the individuals responsible for each of the poaching cases.
A Poaching Reported Reward Permit in the Book Cliffs limited-entry elk unit may be available for information about the cases involving the trophy elk.
