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DUCHESNE — Utah conservation officers are seeking the public's help as they investigate who killed a bull elk and then left it to waste in eastern Utah last month.
The elk's headless carcass was located less than a mile from the nearest road in the Spring Hollow Area by U.S. 191, an area between Duchesne and Castle Gate, according to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. It's believed that the animal was killed about the week of Sept. 20.
Division officials said the person who killed the elk took some other parts beyond its head; however, they left the rest of the animal, including its front quarter and tenderloins, to waste. The person also littered the place before leaving.
"Conservation officers determined the individual used Havalon knives to harvest some of the meat," the agency wrote in a statement about the case Tuesday.
It's unclear if the elk was illegally killed, as there were some elk hunts running at the time the animal is believed to have been killed. But state wildlife officials point out that allowing any protected wildlife to be wasted is illegal and can result in a misdemeanor.
Wildlife violations can result in fines, restitution fees and other punishments, including the suspension of hunting and fishing privileges in Utah and all other U.S. states excluding Hawaii, as noted by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
Anyone who has information about the Duchesne County case is urged to call the officer over the case at 435-322-0599 or call the division's regional office at 435-781-9453. The agency says any requests for confidentiality will be respected and there may be a reward for information that leads to a conviction of anyone responsible.
In general, anyone with tips about poaching or illegal wasting in Utah can report their information by calling 800-662-3337, reporting it online or using the division's law enforcement app.
