SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Oct. 4, 2025 (Gephardt Daily) — Wildlife officials have solved the killing of a bear out of season, thanking a tipster for making the case.
In the fall of 2024, officers received a report of a freshly killed bear during the general muzzleloader deer hunt. Upon investigation, officers found the bear had been shot three times by a muzzleloader, according to the Division of Law Enforcement in the Utah Department of Natural Resources.
With no suspects, officers used hunt lists and other investigative means to locate suspects, also aided by a tip from the public. Once located, investigation also found multiple other violations from the 2024 season including shooting a branch antlered bull without the proper permit, carrying instead only a spike permit, and multiple felons in possession of firearms.
“Officers also recovered pictures of one suspect posing with the dead bear shortly after killing it.”
The suspects, whose names were not released, were booked into jail and later convicted of wanton waste of protected wildlife and paid several thousand dollars in fines and restitution. License suspensions are still pending the legal process, the division said.
“This case was solved thanks to a tip from the public. If you have any information about wildlife or other natural resource crimes, you can report it to the Utah DNR Division of Law Enforcement. Your tips are crucial for protecting our state’s wildlife.”
How to report:
UTiP Hotline: 800-662-3337
UTDWR Law Enforcement App: https://wildlife.utah.gov/…/1134-utdwr-app-catch…
Text: 847411
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