Moose, elk among animals illegally killed in Summit and Wasatch counties since Aug.

Photo: Utah DNR

The incidents that have occurred in Wasatch and Summit counties involve two illegally killed moose and four fish (Wasatch County) and an illegally killed elk in Summit county.

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah wildlife officials are highlighting recent poaching incidents in Summit and Wasatch Counties as part of a broader crackdown on illegal hunting across the state. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) reports that 104 animals have been illegally killed statewide since August 1..

DWR Captain Chad Bettridge provided details on the local incidents: “The incidents that have occurred in Wasatch and Summit counties involve two illegally killed moose and four fish (Wasatch County) and an illegally killed elk in Summit county,” he said. “All of these are still either under investigation or in court so additional information is not available at this time.”

These cases are part of a larger trend that has wildlife officials concerned. According to the DWR, between August 1 and September 9, conservation officers discovered a range of illegally killed animals across Utah, including:

– Nine deer
– Six elk
– Two moose
– One bear
– One pronghorn
– 60 fish
– 25 other protected wildlife species

The surge in illegal hunting activity comes as Utah prepares for its general-season rifle deer hunt, set to begin on October 19. This hunt is widely considered the state’s most popular.

During the early hunting season, DWR officers have made contact with approximately 9,900 individuals and inspected 3,600 hunting and fishing licenses. Bettridge emphasized the importance of hunter responsibility, stating, “Hunters need to take responsibility for knowing the law, having a current hunting or combination license and also knowing what species and areas their permits allow them to hunt before they go out into the field.”

With only 53 DWR officers patrolling the entire state, officials are calling on the public to assist in their efforts to combat poaching. “We need your help,” Bettridge urged. “Please keep your eyes and ears open and report suspicious wildlife activity to us.”

The DWR offers multiple channels for reporting wildlife violations:

1. Texting officers at 847411
2. Calling the Utah Turn-in-a-Poacher hotline at 1-800-662-3337
3. Using the UTDWR Law Enforcement app.
4. Report online through the DWR website; however, contact with an officer may be limited with this option. 

Officials stress the importance of gathering key information, particularly vehicle license plate numbers, when witnessing potential violations. However, they caution against direct confrontation with suspected poachers.

So far this year, officers have received 849 reports through the various channels. 

Don’t call UTiP for information

Officials advise that the UTiP hotline is not an information line and to only call it to report possible poaching and other wildlife-related crimes.

“Every time our officers receive a UTiP call, even if it isn’t related to a wildlife crime, they have to file a follow-up report,” Bettridge said. “Filing the report takes time away that could have been spent fighting wildlife crime in Utah. Please call the UTiP line only to report wildlife crimes. If you’re simply looking for information, call the nearest DWR office.”