Poacher fined, has hunting privileges suspended years after killing bull elk in 2019
07/30/2026
A poacher has been fined and his hunting privileges suspended after a tip led to an investigation years after he killed a bull elk.
The Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Law Enforcement said that sometimes, information about a crime can surface years after a crime was committed, and then court proceedings can take several more years. The resulting suspension can follow even later.
This case is one example of the system taking several years. The bull (or male elk) shown in the photo was killed in 2019, two miles outside of legal boundaries and eight days after the hunting season had ended.
For a while, nothing happened, but then several years later, a tip was provided to DNR officers who conducted a thorough investigation, which they said involved photo matching, interviews, and search warrants. A major question in the investigation was determining where the animal was taken to be processed, and many people were interviewed to trace the case back to the beginning.
After the investigation, the suspect pleaded guilty to a Class A misdemeanor wanton destruction of protected wildlife. He was ordered to pay $9,500 in fines and restitution, and his hunting privileges have been suspended for eight years.
DNR told ABC4.com that with all poaching cases, they avoid identifying the individual and instead want to highlight the case. This case was prosecuted in the Morgan County District Court.
The person who submitted the tip was eligible to receive a reward permit, which he mentored to his child.
DNR used this opportunity to remind the public that anyone with information about wildlife or other natural resource crimes should report it to the DNR Division of Law Enforcement. There are several ways to send a tip: through the UTiP hotline at 800-662-3337, the UTDWR Law Enforcement App, or by texting 847411.