This buck is one of more than 19 deer poached by some Emery County juveniles during the 2015-16 winter season.
Press Release
EMERY COUNTY — Back in December 2015 and January 2016, four juveniles from the Emery County area made numerous trips during which they killed several deer near the city of Orangeville.
An investigation by Utah Division of Wildlife officers revealed that at least 19 deer were killed and several more were possibly wounded and ran off. The deer were shot and killed and left to waste. A couple of them were intentionally run over by the vehicle of one of the juveniles. The juveniles involved in this case have been charged and convicted of multiple violations:
One juvenile pled to one count of Wanton Destruction of Protected Wildlife, a 3rd degree felony; one count of Waste of Protected Wildlife, a class B misdemeanor; one count of Discharging a Firearm from a vehicle, class B misdemeanor; one count of Spotlighting, a class B misdemeanor; and one count of Aggravated Animal Cruelty, class A misdemeanor. He was ordered to Juvenile Detention and to pay at least $550 in fines and $6,000 in restitution to the Help Stop Poaching program. His rifle was seized by the state and all of his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges were suspended for 13 years.
A second juvenile pled to one count of Wanton Destruction of protected wildlife, a 3rd degree felony. He was ordered to Juvenile Detention and to pay at least $550 in fines and $1,200 in restitution to the Help Stop Poaching program. He also received seven years suspension of all hunting, fishing and furbearer licenses.
The third and fourth juveniles each pled to one count of Wanton Destruction of Protected Wildlife, a class A misdemeanor, and one count of Waste of Protected Wildlife, a class B misdemeanor. Each one was ordered to pay a fine and $400 in restitution to the Help Stop Poaching program and each received three years suspension of their big game hunting privileges.
Poaching is a serious crime that robs sportsmen and other wildlife enthusiasts of the opportunity to legally harvest an animal or to view it in its natural habitat. If you have information related to the illegal killing of wildlife — or any other wildlife crimes — please call the UTiP hotline at 1-800-662-3337 or email us at turninapoacher@utah.gov.
A monetary reward may be available to those that provide us with information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for poaching. Requests for confidentiality will be honored.