Utah Division of Wildlife Resources are tightening up their efforts on finding and prosecuting poachers.
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is concerned about the number of game killed illegally in the state. The poaching numbers in the Beehive state grew this year to a total of 1,283 wild animals and fish illegally harvested in Utah in 2022; these numbers are slightly higher than the number poached in 2021.
The estimated total cost of illegally-killed wildlife last year was $609,561. Here are the numbers of animals illegally killed last year:
- 179 deer
- 134 elk
- Five moose
- One mountain goat
- One bear
- 14 cougars
- 782 fish
Other illegally killed wildlife included small game animals, waterfowl and a variety of other species.
A total of 1,153 wild animals were illegally killed in Utah in 2021, and they were valued at more than $610,000 (because several of the big game animals were classified as “trophy” sized).
In 2020, a total of 1,079 animals — valued at over $387,000 — were killed illegally in the state. In 2019, a total of 1,065 animals were taken unlawfully, with a combined value of more than $384,000.
A total of 4,074 citations were issued in 2022, a slight decrease from the 4,394 citations issued in 2021. Last year, individuals were most often cited for fishing without a valid license.
In 2022, 66 people had their hunting or fishing privileges suspended in Utah, compared to 54 suspensions in 2021 and 35 in 2020. In 2019, the hunting or fishing privileges for 84 people were suspended. Utah is a member state of the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact. License suspensions in Utah are recognized in all the other states in the U.S., except Hawaii.
“Each animal that is illegally killed in our state is one less animal for legal hunters, wildlife enthusiasts and everyday residents to enjoy,” DWR Capt. Chad Bettridge said. “Poachers steal our ability to enjoy Utah’s wildlife.”
DWR is hoping to curb illegal taking of wildlife by adding drones as a law enforcement tool to investigate crimes in Utah’s backcountry. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has a conservation officer drone team.
DWR Captain Wade Hovinga said using drones will help them more effectively solve wildlife crimes.
“Having trained law enforcement drone pilots will also allow us to assist other law enforcement agencies with search-and-rescue efforts or any other investigations,” he said said. “Utah conservation officers are public servants, and these new tools will help us better serve the public, whether we’re solving poaching crimes or locating lost hunters.”
DWR is doing what they can to curb poaching, but they still would like the public’s help.
There are various ways the public can report illegal or suspicious wildlife activities:
- Call the Utah Turn-in-a-Poacher hotline at 1-800-662-3337. (The UTiP hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is the quickest way to report a wildlife violation. The number is also printed on your hunting and fishing licenses.)
- Use the UTDWR Law Enforcement app.
- Text officers at 847411.
- Report online through the DWR website.
DWR now has a text line to outdoorsman can use to offer tips. In 2022 they agency received 567 tips were submitted through last year, many of which resulted in successful investigations and prosecutions of wildlife-related crimes.
The hotline number received 1,010 tips last year.
“Our officers can’t be everywhere at once, so we need your help,” Bettridge said. “Please keep your eyes and ears open and report any suspicious wildlife-related activity to us. Working together, we can enforce wildlife laws to maintain healthy populations, and to also keep those recreating outdoors safe.”
Not all wildlife violations are committed intentionally. To learn about common illegal hunting and fishing mistakes, visit the DWR website.