DWR conservation officers seek information on buck deer illegally killed in Kane County

UTiP line for information sharing. Photo: Courtesy of DWR UTiP Logo

CEDAR CITY, Utah—Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) conservation officers are seeking the public’s assistance in solving the case of an illegally shot and killed buck deer in southern Utah.

The incident was brought to the attention of DWR officers on June 16 by an individual who stumbled upon the lifeless deer while fishing in the East Fork of the Sevier River at the scenic Kanab Creek area in Kane County. Initial examination revealed that a gunshot wound was inflicted behind the left shoulder of the buck deer, possibly from a small caliber firearm.

Investigators suspect that the deer may have been shot further south from where it was discovered, as the river’s high flow and swift water movement could have transported the carcass. Judging from the lack of decomposition, authorities estimate that the deer had been shot within the previous week, between June 10-16.

“The deer was still growing its antlers at the time it was killed, and it had the potential to become a trophy buck deer,” Wyatt Mecham, DWR officer, said in a press release. “Illegal activities like this rob hunters and other wildlife enthusiasts of the opportunity to enjoy this deer.”

DWR officers urge anyone with information related to this unlawful act to come forward and assist in the investigation by:

• Call the UTiP Hotline at 800-662-3337
• The UTDWR Law Enforcement app
• Text 847411
• Online through the DWR website; however, contact with an officer may be limited with this option.

Mecham can be contacted at 801-386-1363 if you have any information about this case. There might be a reward for information that leads to the successful prosecution of those responsible, and confidentiality requests are honored.