Article Last Updated: 2/16/2006 09:18 AM
The Salt Lake Tribune
Editor's note: This collection of poaching convictions and
investigations is provided by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
unless otherwise noted.
Charges filed in bear shooting
It was opening day of the 2005 rifle deer season and conservation
officer Joe Nicholson heard that a black bear had been shot in the La
Sal Pass area.
Nicholson soon found brothers Tyrell Wilcock, of Phoenix, and Orrin
Wilcock, of Draper, who said the bear was threatening them and that they
shot it in self defense.
Witness reports and an investigation indicated the bear was shot
while walking away from the men. Authorities seized the weapon used in
the incident and charged the Wilcock brothers with wanton destruction of
protected wildlife, a third-degree felony.
Trophy buck buried in manure
Following up on a tip about a poaching incident in Millard County,
officers Wade Hovinga and Brian Nielson questioned a Delta man who
admitted to shooting a trophy buck mule deer twice with a .22-caliber
rifle and then burying the head and antlers under several feet of cow
manure. After learning the location from the suspect, the officers set
about the ugly job of digging the buck's head out of the manure. The
case is being reviewed by the Millard County attorney.
Youths charged in bear poaching
On Nov. 12, conservation officer Chris Rhea received a report that a
sow and two black bear cubs had been killed and left to rot in the
Devils Canyon area of San Juan County. Two youths face charges in
juvenile court.
Trapping violations
Division of Wildlife Resources law enforcement officers conducting a
routine inspection began an investigation into a Price man operating a
trapping line. The man faces two counts of wanton destruction of
protected wildlife for taking bobcats without a valid license, one count
of unlawful taking of protected wildlife for killing a cougar illegally,
nine counts of unlawful methods of trapping, 31 counts of failing to
check traps within a 48-hour period and one count of operating an
off-highway vehicle in a closed area.
Hot line
If you have witnessed a poaching violation or have reason to believe
poaching has occurred, call the Help Stop Poaching Hot Line at
800-662-DEER.
Obtain all pertinent information without placing yourself in danger.
- Compiled by Brett Prettyman
