UT - Teen bow hunters shoot
To the Salt Lake Tribune -
letters@sltrib.com
9/10/07
To the Editor:
The incident in which two “frustrated” teen hunters from Orem
admitted to shooting at least nine cows with arrows is only the latest
example of how the Division of Wildlife Resources encourages children to
be violent toward animals. So vile were the teens’ actions that they
outraged even hunting groups - the same groups that would have
congratulated the children had they shot deer rather than cows. It is
easy to see the irony in this tragic situation.
Sadly, violence is taught to children by the Division of Wildlife
Resources under the guise of “Hunter Education.” The division is
partially to blame for acts such as these because they irresponsibly
encourage children to inflict wounds upon wildlife so severe that the
animals suffer and die of massive blood loss. The Division and the
weapons industry profited from these cow shootings through the sale of
weapons, ammunition, and hunting licenses.
The time has come to end the promotion of violence by state wildlife
agencies by encouraging them to promoting wildlife watching, an activity
that can support an economy far more robust than the one currently
supported by weapons and violence. To help make the world a safer place,
please visit
www.cashwildwatch.org.
Joe Miele, Vice President
The Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting
Frustrated deer hunters turn bows on cattle
By Nathan C. Gonzalez
The Salt Lake Tribune
09/09/2007
Frustrated that their August deer hunt was a failure, a pair of Orem
teens turned to shooting at least nine cows with arrows, the Utah
Division of Wildlife Resources said.
An anonymous tip led authorities to the two juveniles, who admitted
to shooting the cows over a two-week period, according to DWR
Conservation Officer Paul Davis.
"The two teens were frustrated that they hadn't harvested any deer
during the archery deer hunt and shot several cows during the first
weekend of the archery deer hunt in the Clyde Creek area near Strawberry
Reservoir," Davis said in a statement.
The juveniles admitted to authorities that they shot more cows about
a week later. They later confessed to shooting at least nine total cows
with arrows.
No cows have died from being shot because the arrows were topped with
practice points, instead of the more lethal broadhead, or razor, arrow
points designed for hunting big game, DWR said.
Authorities learned of the first shooting Aug. 18, which was the
opening day of the archery deer hunt. Five more cows impaled with arrows
were discovered the following weekend.
The incidents outraged archery hunters, livestock owners and the
community in general, DWR said.
The Utah Bowman's Association, Bowhunters of Utah, Hoyt and Easton
contributed reward money totaling $6,000 for information leading to the
arrest and conviction of the assailants. The investigation is ongoing.
ngonzalez@sltrib.com
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_6842580
