DWR Seeks Information On Two Illegal Wildlife Killings In Southern Utah

The public is being asked to help in two cases in southern Utah where wildlife was left to waste. Conservation officers with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources are seeking information in two unrelated cases where a deer and an elk were killed and then left to waste.

The first incident happened sometime in September in the town of Henrieville in Garfield County. A landowner there contacted conservation officers they found a 6x6 elk dead on the edge of the landowners hay field.

When a conservation officer arrived, he discovered that the elk had two wounds that the officer believed were caused by arrows. The elk had last been seen alive near the town September 4^th.

Based on the decomposition, investigators believe that the elk died sometime during that week. There was a limited entry archery hunt going on during that time. However, officers believe the elk was killed and then left to waste as opposed to a hunter not being able to locate the animal after shooting it.

The second incident took place in October near the town of Glendale in Kane County. On October 21^st, a hunter contacted the DWR reporting the a 3x4 trophy buck deer had been killed and left to waste on the Glendale Bench, south of the Bald Knoll Waterline Road near Glendale.

A DWR conservation officer arrived the following day and located the deer. Upon investigation the officer concluded the deer had been killed by a single gunshot wound and likely died close to the location where it was shot. Again, based on decomposition, investigators believed the deer died within two days of being discovered.

DWR is reminding the public that it is illegal to allow protected wildlife to be wasted and that such action can result in a class B misdemeanor.

Anyone who has information regarding these two cases, or any other wildlife related crimes in Utah, is being asked to contact DWR conservation officers. You can call the UtiP hotline by dialing 1-800-662-3337. Reports can also be made by using the DWR Enforcement app or by texting to 847411. Reports can also be made via the DWR website. All reports are confidential.

Every year, conservation officers in Utah conduct investigations into the illegal killing of wildlife. In 2022, officers confirmed a total of 1,283 wild animals and fish were killed illegally.