Law enforcement
Posted Wednesday, 16 January 2013 00:00
SAN JUAN COUNTY — The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is seeking the public's assistance in identifying those responsible for several recent unsolved big-game poaching cases.
The remains of a buck, doe and fawn were recovered from a hunting camp just off of Deer Neck road in Lisbon Valley. There are no doe/ fawn hunts that take place in San Juan County on public land. Female deer are our most important asset in building a healthy deer herd, and the loss of these animals is harmful.
Another incident occurred in late November in the Warren Allen area, which is located four miles southwest of Blanding, Utah. A large-bodied buck deer was found with multiple bullet holes in the body. The head of the deer had been removed and the body was left to waste. The responsible individual(s) had driven off-road for several miles, destroying habitat that the deer depend on to make it through the winter. A rancher who was checking his cattle found the deer and contacted DWR conservation officers.
Another incident occurred in December in the West Summit area, near the Colorado border. Two cow elk were shot near a road and were left to waste. There was no attempt to recover the animals. This violation was also reported by concerned citizens.
In late December, a large buck deer was illegally killed on winter range east of the Lisbon Valley copper mine (in the Island Mesa area).
Poaching is a serious crime that affects hunters, wildlife watchers and the general public. Anyone with information related to any of these wildlife crimes is asked to contact the UTiP hotline at 800-662-3337. Monetary rewards are being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the illegal killing of the big game animals listed above. Requests for confidentiality will be honored.
