WASATCH COUNTY, Utah, Nov. 13, 2023 (Gephardt Daily) — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources conservation officers are seeking information from the public about a bull moose that was shot and left to waste last month.
Officers received a report of a bull moose that was killed in the Strawberry River Drainage in Wasatch County. Investigators estimated that the incident occurred sometime between Oct. 7 and 12.
“Upon further investigation, officers determined that the moose was killed by a bullet, which traveled through both front shoulders, rendering the moose incapable of traveling very far after being shot,” a Utah DWR news release says.
“There was a bull moose hunt taking place in the area during the same timeframe the moose is believed to have been shot. However, due to the location of the wound, officers believe the animal was killed and left to waste, rather than the hunter being unable to find the animal after shooting it.”
Anyone with information regarding the illegal killing of this moose, or any other wildlife-related crimes in Utah, is encouraged to report it to DWR conservation officers in one of the following ways:
- By calling the UTiP Hotline at 800-662-3337
- The UTDWR Law Enforcement app
- By texting 847411
- Online through the DWR website; however, contact with an officer may be limited with this option
Anyone with information on this specific case can also contact DWR Officer Ethan Justinger at 385-450-0276. A reward may be available for information leading to the successful prosecution of those responsible, and requests for confidentiality are respected.
Every year, Utah conservation officers conduct numerous investigations into the illegal killing of wildlife. In 2022, officers confirmed a total of 1,283 wild animals and fish were illegally killed, valued over $609,000.
