Local juveniles shoot deer near Orangeville

By DWR press release

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources officers are currently investigating and following up on two separate cases involving the alleged poaching of multiple deer. One in Tooele County and a case in Emery County. Officers believe the poaching took place over weeks or months. Suspects have been identified in each case and some charges have already been filed and others are forthcoming in the respective courts.
On the night of Jan. 7, 2016 in Tooele, the report of shots fired and of a suspicious vehicle prompted Tooele City Police Officers to stop a vehicle and detain the occupants. Evidence suggests the two occupants had just killed a 4X5 buck Mule Deer. UDWR officers were called to assist. The two suspects were arrested and booked into jail for killing two deer in recent days, one of which was the 4X5 buck. Further investigation indicates both suspects, and two others, are likely responsible for the illegal killing of at least six deer over the past several months.
Over the course of the last few weeks, several juveniles from Emery County have been linked to poaching multiple deer near Orangeville. So far, UDWR officers have investigated between 15-20 deer that they believe are linked to the juveniles. At this time it appears two of the juveniles are responsible for killing most of the deer, but two others may have been involved to a lesser extent. The deer poached include bucks, does, and fawns that were all shot over the last few weeks and left to waste. When the investigation is complete, charges for this case will be screened through the Emery County Attorneys office.
It isn’t very often UDWR investigates cases involving the illegal killing of this many deer, let alone two of this nature at the same time. Both of these cases are examples of how vulnerable deer are this time of year, when they are congregated on their winter range and just trying to survive the winter. UDWR officers urge the public to remain vigilant and to report all known or suspected illegal wildlife activity. As both of these cases are still under investigation, if you have any information about them, or other wildlife violations, please contact the UDWR by calling the Hotline at 800-662-3337.