Trophy bull elk illegally killed in Book Cliffs; DWR seeks poachers

Trophy bull elk illegally killed in Book Cliffs; DWR seeks poachers

(Division of Wildlife Resources)


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UINTAH COUNTY — Division of Wildlife Resources conservation officers are seeking information about the illegal killing of a trophy bull elk in the Book Cliffs area.

The poaching incident occurred on Friday, Sept. 25 in the Big Pack Mountain area along Willow Creek, according to DWR. West Vernal District conservation officer Bryan Clyde was alerted to the poached 6x6 trophy bull elk and discovered it had been shot twice: once in the spine on its hindquarter and once in the front shoulders.

Clyde said after further investigation, a gut pile was located near the trophy elk carcass, suggesting that another animal had also been killed and field dressed in the area. However, the trophy elk was left to waste.

"Whoever shot this was well aware that it was down," Clyde said. "It may have just simply been that they didn't have room for the second one or maybe it was getting too late in the day. … Maybe they shot into a group and hit two of them. Either way, this animal was poached and left to waste completely."

Clyde said it is likely the elk was shot during the end of the rifle bull elk season on the Book Cliffs unit.

"This was a limited-entry area," Clyde said. "The Book Cliffs unit is very sought after. People wait 15 plus years generally to draw those units."

Poaching a trophy bull elk —an elk that has six or more points on each side— results in a minimum of $8,000 in restitution, Clyde said.

Anyone with information can call the UTIP hotline at 1-800-662-3337 or email the information to toturninapoacher@utah.gov. Rewards are available for information leading to the successful prosecution of wildlife crimes and tipsters can remain anonymous.

Contributing: Marc Giauque

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